Poems of dignity and hope by refugees in Kenya: online launch

On World Refugee Day, join us to hear refugees’ inspiring voices of dignity and resilience in this event that will combine the reading of their poems with perspectives from a distinguished panel of speakers.

Often when we collect testimonies from refugees, we focus on the ordeals they went through, their efforts to build a new life, their challenges, and their hopes. Here, we asked refugees something different: defining who they are poetically and celebrating the gifts they offer to their community.

LWF links the KADANA refugee platform to national and international forums to amplify the voices of refugee communities. This vibrant organization aims to promote and protect the human rights and socio-economic development of refugees and asylum seekers and peaceful coexistence with host communities in Kenya.

Panelists:

• Said Abukar (Nairobi), Jackline Irankunda (Kakuma), Mark Okello (Dadaab): refugees from Kenya, authors of the poems and members of KADANA, the platform by refugees for refugees
• Martin Junge, General Secretary, Lutheran World Federation
• Gillian Triggs, Assistant High Commissioner for ProtectionUNHCR
• Françoise Mianda, Chief, East and Southern Africa Section, OHCHR

Moderator:

• Mary Obara, Program Coordinator, LWF Kenya

Registration

Event languages: English, with interpretation into French

Live-streaming

'I am Hope' - Poems by refugees

NIFEA Webinar on “Zacchaeus Tax: A Reparatory Tax System for a Just and Sustainable Recovery”

The global tax system offers a powerful tool to respond to the socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and to repair systemic challenges, such as widening inequality and climate change. Ahead of a crucial G20 International Taxation Symposium, the webinar will discuss how proposals from social movements for tax justice and reparations – as called for in the ecumenical Zacchaeus Tax campaign – can help us achieve a just and sustainable recovery from the pandemic. 

Provisional program:

• Opening and introduction: Rev Dr Gordon Cowans (moderator) 
• "How and why is tax justice critical for a just and sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic?":  Dr Manuel (Butch) Montes 
• "What are the models and practices for a reparatory global tax system and what could it deliver?":  Dr Priya Lukka 
• "What does recovery and reparation look like?":  Ms Adetola Onamade and Ms Marina Tricks (TBC) 
• "Introduction to ZacTax toolkit and how can we, as churches, advocate for the ZacTax proposals?":  Rev Philip Peacock and Dr Justin Thacker 
• Q&A moderated by Dr Gordon Cowans 
• Closing remarks: Mr Gorden Simango 

Moderator:

• Rev Dr Gordon Cowans is moderator of the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, principal at Knox Community College, and a member of the Ecumenical Panel on a NIFEA. 

Speakers:

• Dr Manuel (Butch) Montes is senior advisor at Society for International Development and a member of the Ecumenical Panel on a NIFEA. Previously he worked with the South Centre, the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs and the East-West Centre. 
• Dr Priya Lukka is an international development economist and visiting research fellow at the Goldsmiths University in London. Previously she worked with ChristianAid in the UK. 
• Ms Adetola Onamade and Ms Marina Tricks are students involved in anti-racism, decolonial and climate justice movements. Together with another young person, they are suing the UK Government for failing to honour climate obligations under the Paris Agreement. 
• Rev Philip Peacock is executive secretary for justice and mission at the WCRC and formerly Associate Professor in the Department of Theology, Ethics and Social Analysis at Bishop’s College in India. 
• Dr Justin Thacker is a theologian and medical doctor and currently coordinates the UK-based Church Action for Tax Justice. 

Organizers:

• World Council of Churches
• World Communion of Reformed Churches
• Lutheran World Federation
• World Methodist Council
• Council for World Mission

Registration

Languages: English

Let’s end human trafficking

On 30 July, the United Nations commemorates World Day against Trafficking in Persons.

The day provides an opportunity to sound the alarm about the crime of human trafficking and for governments, faith based organizations and other partners to reaffirm their commitment to end this gross violation of human rights.

In collaboration with the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation will host a webinar to lift up voices of women and men in Asia who have survived human trafficking.

This discussion will highlight the gendered dimension of human trafficking, as well as its impact on the rights and dignity of those affected and their families. It will show how COVID-19 has further exacerbated the problem as more people fall prey to traffickers under the guise of ‘employment.

Register

#ENDviolence and The Lutheran World Federation partnership

Showcasing LWF’s global work towards ending violence against children 

90 minutes of interactive dialogue, children’s testimonies, and presentations of LWF child violence prevention country initiatives from a number of LWF country programs and member churches including Argentina, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Colombia, El Salvador, Jordan, Myanmar, South Sudan, Sweden, Uganda and Uruguay. 

Opening remarks

• Dr Howard Taylor, Executive Director of the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children
• Rev Dr Martin Junge, General Secretary The Lutheran World Federation

Stakeholder interventions

• Dr Najat Maalla M'jid, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence against Children
• Archbishop Dr Antje Jackelén, Church of Sweden
• Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, #ENDViolence Board Member, World Council of Churches, Acting General Secretary

Agenda

• Two videos on LWF World Service Country Operations and LWF Member Churches work to end violence against children;
• Messages from children from LWF operations around the globe;
• Statements by church leaders and LWF World Service Country Representatives;
• Official launch of Pledges

Closing remarks

• Rev Dr Martin Junge, General Secretary The Lutheran World Federation
• Dr Howard Taylor, Executive Director of the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children

Registration Link

This virtual global training aims to strengthen regional collaboration and connections amongst faith-based gender justice advocates. Based on lessons learnt over the last six years of training, the course will focus more on building capacity to Connect the National, to the Regional, to the Global. 

There has been a sharp increase in gender-based inequality over recent years, including sexual and gender-based violence. As religious fundamentalisms and the pushback on women’s rights continue to rise, there is an urgent need to strengthen capacity for advocacy, locally and globally. 

This training is the first step towards localizing the women’s human rights advocacy training program. The global training precedes the Africa regional pilot, which will run from 11-18 October 2021. During the course, trainers from Africa will jointly design their regional training. 

LWF’s long-standing engagement with its member churches includes support through multi-year projects designed by churches to address priority needs in their congregations and wider community. 

First-time proposals of long-term projects should be new initiatives to run for a maximum of three years, beginning in 2023. As projects can only be extended once, those currently in the first cycle—2020 to 2022—may request a maximum extension of another two years. 

Churches prioritize a wide range of projects: capacity strengthening for their workers; diaconal services; livelihood initiatives; advocacy for human rights; environmental care and actions to mitigate climate change impact; and women’s and youth empowerment among others.  

Long-term projects are granted a maximum limit of EUR 50,000 per year.  

How to apply:  Please note all LWF project applications are processed online. Follow this link to find all information on applications.

Languages: English, German, Spanish, and French

Opening: 2 September 2021

Deadline: 9 January 2022

Related Materials

Applications for long-term LWF Member Churches’ Projects 

Awareness, Action, Accountability; focus on femicide

The campaign seeks to raise awareness on gender-based violence and inspire action to prevent and respond to GBV when and where it happens. LWF has a long history of engagement in the 16 Days campaign. The theme for this year is ‘Awareness, Action, Accountability; focus on femicide’.

Key activities

• 24 November – 14:00 -15:30 CET
  • Webinar showcasing LWF’s action commitments
• 26 November
  • Tanzania national Dialogue to explore link between disability and gender-based violence
• 1 December
  • Youth social media takeover
• 8 December – 14:00 -15:30 CET
  • LWF and Side by Side Webinar on amplifying the churches’ prophetic voice for gender justice

We invite you to join us in this campaign.

16 Days 2021 campaign - Online Media Kit

• Sharable campaign resources:
  • Prayers and liturgies
  • Contextual Bible Studies
  • Practical GBV resources
  • Profiles of gender champions

Together we can and will make a difference. 

Webinar for launch of 16 Days advocacy campaign

LWF joins the rest of the world in marking the 16 days of Activism against gender-based violence. The campaign, which turns 30 this year, takes place under the global theme ‘Awareness, Action, Accountability; focus on femicide’.

During this webinar we will focus on LWF’s concrete commitments to step up action towards a world with no violence and explore what the LWF action commitments mean for the work of country programs and our member churches around the globe.

Moderator

• Lilian W. Kantai from LWF Kenya

Opening

• Video by LWF General Secretary Rev Anne Burghardt

Panelists

• LWF Nepal
• Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa
• LWF Colombia
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in Colombia

Register online

Languages: English, French, and Spanish

16 Days 2021 campaign - Online Media Kit

2 webinars sounding the alarm on Femicide and Sexual and Gender-based Violence in a global context

This two-part series focuses on femicide, which is the priority issue for this year’s 16 days of Activism campaign. The webinars will sound the alarm on the impact of femicide, kidnapping and trafficking on both survivors and their families.  

LWF and partners hosting the webinars will issue a call to action for churches, faith-based organizations and other community-based groups to work to effect change and offer accompaniment to those affected by femicide and sexual and gender-based violence across the globe.

The webinars will also offer a liturgical space for grieving, trauma transformation and accompaniment by honouring memories and the sharing of stories. Participants will be inspired to strengthen advocacy and action using local, national, regional and intergovernmental resources to effect transformation. 

The first webinar on 25 November will offer perspectives from Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, and Pacific Regions. The second one on 2 December will focus on Latin America and the Caribbean and North America.

Register

Languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and French

16 Days 2021 campaign - Online Media Kit

General report from delegation members

Lutherans were significantly present at the recently-concluded United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) held in Glasgow. We all carry hopes and adjust our actions to care for creation at this time of climate crisis.

With deep investment in our shared future and earthly home, hear a general report on the COP26 from Lutheran delegation members and impressions from young adults from the U.S., Indigenous communities and globally that can propel where we go from here.

Co-hosts:

• The Lutheran World Federation
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Natan Schumann from the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil and Michelle Schwarz from the Lutheran Church of Saxony, Germany, will speak as members of the LWF delegation.

Register

Related Materials

LWF Climate Justice