WCC NEWS: WCC contributes to International Conference on Family Planning in Colombia

The World Council of Churches (WCC) contributed to the International Conference on Family Planning in Bogota, Colombia, being held 1-6 November.  Gracia Violeta Ross, WCC programme executive for HIV, Reproductive Health, and Pandemics speaking at the International Conference on Family Planning in Colombia. Photo: Monar Bormet 07 November 2025 The conference united leaders, advocates, and innovators from across the sexual and reproductive health and rights community to exchange ideas, forge partnerships, and drive progress toward achieving and safeguarding sexual and reproductive health and rights for all. The WCC is one of four cochairs of the conference’s Faith Committee, which organized an interfaith pre-conference as well as faith-based activities during the conference.  During the closing ceremony of the conference on 6 November, the Faith Committee presented three key takeaways from the conference.  “We acknowledge the challenges and the need for continuous education and advocacy to reduce stigma and promote access to family planning in our faith communities,” read the Faith Committee’s input. “We commit to working together as youth and faith leaders to challenge harmful misconceptions and uphold the dignity, health, and agency of young people.” A third commitment from the Faith Committee was “to partnering in advocacy to influence policies, for sustained funding, and equitable access to family planning supplies and services.” Gracia Violeta Ross, WCC programme executive for HIV, Reproductive Health, and Pandemics, shared a personal testimony entitled “Faithfully Fierce: From Testimony to Transformation.”  She shared her journey as a pastor’s daughter living with HIV, and highlighted how churches worldwide confront stigma and lead transformative action in youth sexual and reproductive health. "If you are a person from the community, have the courage to tell your testimony about sexual and reproductive health,” she said. “If you are a religious leader or are part of a faith community or of the general community, have the courage to listen without prejudice, listen with love. When we speak with authenticity and when we listen without prejudice, then transformation happens.” See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland