From 17 to 28 May 2021, the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) hosted an online intensive, two-week training programme on human rights. Twenty-five young adults from 10 countries across Asia, Latin America and Europe came together to study issues of human rights and the defence of human dignity, as a Christian duty. The theme, ‘Being […]

From 17 to 28 May 2021, the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) hosted an online intensive, two-week training programme on human rights. Twenty-five young adults from 10 countries across Asia, Latin America and Europe came together to study issues of human rights and the defence of human dignity, as a Christian duty.

The theme, ‘Being Defenders of Human Rights and Human Dignity’, was aimed at training young church workers and budding theologians in human rights advocacy, as well as in understanding the basis and principles of human rights and human dignity. Participants attended a variety of sessions:

• studying and reflecting on the Christian and interreligious notions on human rights and human dignity;
• the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other standards of human rights from the global to the local contexts;
• human rights mechanisms in the United Nations, and regional and national institutions focused on human rights work;
• victories and challenges for human rights advocacy and action in the Asia-Pacific;
• prospects for human rights defence in Asia-Pacific;
• specific rights of women, of children, of the family, of refugees, migrants, and stateless persons, and of minorities and indigenous peoples; and
• the role of the church and the ecumenical movement in promoting the rights and dignity of all people.

Presentations were made by renowned defenders of human rights as well as specialists in human rights jurisprudence, social and political scientists, theologians, and UN human rights officials. We were very blessed to hear the voices of such people from different countries.

Dr Mathews George Chunakara (General Secretary of the CCA and a long-term human rights educator) facilitated sessions on the ‘Indivisibility of Human Rights: Concepts, Principles, Philosophical Bases, Historical and Traditional Perceptions’ and ‘Human Rights and Human Dignity: Interreligious Perspectives’. He presented a strong foundation for the universality and indivisibility of human rights, and discussed the concept of human dignity from the perspectives of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism.

Sr. Elaine Seow (Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity,Taiwan) facilitated the session on ‘Biblical and Theological Bases of Human Rights and Human Dignity: Old Testament Perspectives’. The story of the covenantal relationship of people with God, the suffering and injustice rooted in the violation of this covenant, and the limits of the human condition were the themes analysed by Sr. Seow from an Old Testament perspective.

Bishop Reuel Norman Marigza (General Secretary of the National Council of the Churches in the Philippines) facilitated the session on ‘Biblical and Theological Bases of Human Rights and Human Dignity: New Testament Perspectives’. “The Great Commandment in Matthew 22:36–40 and the Golden Rule in Luke 6:31 form the foundation of the New Testament basis of human rights. The Biblical call is for us to surrender ourselves and our ‘rights’ as exemplified by Jesus in Philippians 2:6–7, while focusing instead on the common good or duty towards all,” explained Bishop Marigza.

Deaconess Norma Dollaga (United Methodist Church, Philippines) took the session on ‘Contextual Bible Study: Human Rights and Prophetic Witness’. She explained how the Seven of the Ten Commandments became the framework to address the challenges of human rights ministry — “All humans have God-given dignity, but it is distorted by oppression, exploitation, colonisation, and enslavement.”

Dr Reynaldo Racaza Ty (faculty of Peace and Culture, Payap University, Chiang Mai), outlined the history and background of the socio-economic and geopolitical climate that shaped the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) as well as contemporary challenges and dilemmas.

Jennifer Philpot-Nissen (International Affairs of the World Council of Churches, Geneva) examined the nine core human rights treaties and the mechanisms to put them in place once they came into being. She shared the steps that human rights defenders can take to engage with the UN review mechanisms such as the Universal Periodic Review, different treaty bodies, special procedure mechanisms and human rights advocacy at the United Nations.

Basil Fernando (Asian Human Rights Commission, Hong Kong, and an internationally recognised human rights defender), addressed the group in three sessions on ‘Human Rights Advocacy in Asia: Professional (NGO) and Non-Professional Contexts’, ‘Human Rights in Asia: Struggle for Democratic Governance’, and ‘The Role of Human Rights Defenders’. Mr Fernando illustrated examples of different peoples’ movements for democratic governance in Asian countries, and guided the students through the different levels of advocacy to be followed up as well as the importance of documentation and communication in human rights work.

Prof. Dr Vitit Muntarbhorn (Professor Emeritus of Law, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok and UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights) conducted a session on ‘Regional Mechanisms of Protection of Human Rights in Asia’.

Prof. Muntarbhorn elucidated upon human rights guidelines, frameworks, and systems in different regions, focusing especially on ASEAN and SAARC which followed a cooperative rather than confrontational approach to human rights. “Human rights must be understood as a relationship between individuals and communities, who are the rights-holders, and the state, which is the duty-bearer,” said Prof. Muntarbhorn. He added that the state had the “duty to respect, duty to protect, and duty to fulfill” human rights.

Nicholas Booth (United Nations Development Programme) facilitated the session on ‘The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Human Rights’. Mr Booth highlighted the usefulness of the complementarity of the SDGs and human rights frameworks: “Human rights frameworks are not bound by time pressures, are more focused and specific, and have strong accountability mechanisms to highlight shortcomings and violations. The SDGs are time-bound, more measurable, and are meant to be achieved by all.” He also focused on human rights that were compromised because of COVID-19.

Doreen Buettner (UN Women) facilitated a session on ‘Gender Equality within a Rights-based Framework’. Ms Buettner focused on women’s human rights and access to justice in Asia and the Pacific. She explained that although the articles of international conventions were substantive, there were shortcomings in their actualisation, especially in the justice procedures to address gender-based violence.

Prof. Dr. Faizan Mustafa (Vice-Chancellor of the NALSAR, Hyderabad India), facilitated the session on ‘Right to Freedom of Religion and Belief in Asia’. Prof. Mustafa highlighted the issues of conflating religion and politics, and the different challenges it posed in terms of persecution and oppression in several Asian countries.

Dr Matthias Reuss (United Nation’s High Commission for Refugees – UNHCR), spoke on the ‘Rights of Migrants, Refugees, and Stateless People’. He reminded students, “In all areas there are major gaps regarding the respect, protection, and fulfilment of the different and specific rights of migrants, refugees, and stateless persons. Challenges of xenophobia, racism, and disrespect for minorities or religious groups impede the full realisation of their rights.”

Beverly Longid (Global Coordinator of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self Determination and Liberation) facilitated the ‘Rights of Indigenous People and Ethnic Minorities’, giving an account of the manner in which minority groups and indigenous peoples suffer multiple layers and forms of discrimination. She further stressed the need for affirmative action measures for accelerated access to institutions.

Prof. Dr Sarasu Esther Thomas (Centre for Women and Law at the National Law School University, India), lectured on the theme ‘Right to Family Life and International Law’. Prof. Sarasu Thomas described the differences between the ‘social family’ and the ‘legal family’, and also the changing nature of the family as well as the rights of the family, the international standards that impacted the rights of individuals within the family, and provided critiques of international human rights law.

John Pattiwael (Coordinator of the CCA’s Asia Advocacy Network on the Dignity and Rights of Children and human rights lawyer, Indonesia), facilitated the session on ‘Rights of Children’. Attorney Pattiwael highlighted the different responsibilities of all stakeholders invested in the wellbeing of children. He further illustrated models of cooperation between churches, ecumenical bodies, and faith-based organisations aimed at ensuring the holistic protection of children.

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Towards the end of the training course, Dr Mathews George Chunakara stated that in a world where the rights of the voiceless needed to be defended more vigorously, the Institute on Human Rights (IHR) was a unique opportunity to empower and equip prospective human rights defenders with adequate knowledge and skills.

We also had opportunity to discuss our own contexts in small breakout groups. Although Australia has more to do in the human rights space around first nations people, asylum seekers, migrant workers, domestic violence and those who are homeless, there are deep concerns and issues in other countries. This programme allowed me the opportunity to reflect on the implications for human rights within the LCA International Mission partner churches.

In a world where the rights of the voiceless needed to be defended more vigorously, the IHR was a unique opportunity to empower and equip us with knowledge and skills, as we ‘follow in the footsteps of Christ, who incarnated good news to the poor, freedom to the captives, sight to the blind and freedom from oppression’ and as we ‘affirm that all people are made in the image of God and are loved by God’.

Jesus emphasised the rights and needs of the most oppressed, not because they matter more than other people, but because they are the least able to protect themselves from injustice. As followers of Christ, we must also concern ourselves with protecting the rights of all, so that every person may live life in its fullness.

Throughout the intensive, the CCA encouraged us not to be afraid to proclaim the good news of liberation. We should not be content with our personal peace but seek peace based on justice. We should not be content with seeking God in our daily devotions, but seek the presence of God in serving the dispossessed and the marginalised. As we do these things, the peace of God, the courage of Christ, and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit will be with us always.

The ‘Defenders’ Commitment’ which outlines the affirmations and actions that the 25 students of the IHR will adopt in their human rights work can be found here.