VIOLATION OF SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL RIGHTS IN THE EUROMED REGION – MAKING PEOPLE FLEE – WHAT COULD CHURCHES DO? Vivi Akakpo, Executive Secretary, Women and Migration All Africa Conference of Churches

INTRODUCTION In the last two days or so, we have been speaking about Violations of Social, Economic and Cultural Rights. My attempt in this presentation is to focuss on possible actions by churches in order to reduce a bit those violations. I will also give some examples of good practices that could be emulated and improved.

WHAT CAN CHURCHES DO? Despite the complexity of the situation about the violations of Social, Economic and Cultural Rights in the EuroMed Region, churches have been working for the promotion of these rights. I see three levels of action where they could improve on their interventions:

LEVELS OF ACTION BY CHURCHES Local/National Institutional/Organisational International

LOCAL / NATIONAL Churches will work together with CSOs dealing with Social, Economic and Cultural Rights and build strategic partnership with them; Study the available Legal Instruments on CESCR and make them accessible to members;

LOCAL / NATIONAL (Cont…1) Speak out on violations of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) with a special emphasis on Women & children; Participate in the elaboration of shadow reports; Advocate for the respect of the rights and know where to turn to in case of violations.

LOCAL / NATIONAL (Cont…2) Lobby the national governments on the ESCR and their violation; Include Human Rights in the curriculum of schools and seminaries where it is not done; Build relationships with churches from each side of the EuroMed Region.

INSTITUTIONAL/ORGANISATIONAL Building the capacity of Member churches on issues pertaining to Social, Economic and Cultural Rights; Advocating for these rights and lobbying governments; Raising the alarm when there is violation of these rights;

INSTITUTIONAL/ORGANISATIONAL (Cont…1) Making available the different Legal Instruments protecting Social, Economic and Cultural Rights in the EuroMed Region; Encouraging individual Member churches to study national Legal Instruments related to ESCR.

The AACC has an observer status with the African Union and has opened an Office in Addis Abeba to be the voice of African Churches through Advocacy and extensive sharing. I mentioned the visit of a WCC-AACC Team to Israel related to migrants trapped in the Sinai Desert. The report of this visit will obviously serve as an advocacy tool at the AU about the violation of the ICESCR in that region.

INTERNATIONAL Collaboration with Ecumenical Organisations/Agencies dealing with Human Rights and CESCR (WCC, CEC, CCME, Bread for the World…) In June 2008, at the eve of France Presidency of the European Union, the Church and Society Commission of CEC facilitated a visit of African and European Church Leaders with the

INTERNATIONAL LEVEL (Cont…1) French Government to discuss challenges between European and African Relations on Globalisation, Migration, Climate Change and Peace building among other issues.

INTERNATIONAL (Cont…2) The AACC is trying to work together with CCME on deportations of undocumented migrants from Europe to Africa. It is still a difficult process but we are working on it. The AACC took an active part in the World Council of Churches (WCC) process of the Church of the Stranger. Moreover,its Member Churches benefited from different trainings and exposures in the migration field by the WCC.

CONCLUSION The diaconal and justice work churches have been doing is commendable. In an era of new forms of challenges facing the EuroMed Region, churches will need to be proactive in reading the signs of time by engaging their governments early enough.

CONCLUSION (Cont…1) Churches in the EuroMed Region will need to address poverty and feminisation of poverty as the main push factor of people fleeing. They should also invest in peaceful conflict resolution to reduce a bit the number of people fleeing.