Messages & Statements on Global Issues
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“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” – Bishop Desmond Tutu
“As we are writing this, bombs are falling over Gaza, where 24 people have just been killed in the past hour only, increasing the numbers of those murdered to 103 (including 27 children) and injuring over 580 and flattening many multi-story buildings to the ground, and wiping out whole families... One soul lost is too many.” – Excerpt of the Statement from the Palestine Youth Ecumenical Movement (PYEM)
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World Student Christian Federation
Statement on the Human Rights situation in Colombia
RED ALERT IN COLOMBIA
Buenos Aires / Geneva May 5, 2021
Since April 28, the Colombian people have gone out to the streets in the framework of a National Strike called by various unions and social movements, teachers, students, women, workers, small and medium-sized businesspeople, farmers, indigenous peoples and Afro-descendant communities.
The strike was called with the aim of requiring Iván Duque’s government not to present the tax reform bill in the National Congress. Despite the fact that the government announced that they are going to modify the text of the reform, the Colombian citizens are still on strike saying NO to a health reform that aims to deepen the privatization process of health in Colombia, along with many other discontents for the critical situation in terms of health, poverty, unemployment, hunger and violence that the country has been experiencing for several years and which have worsened with the Covid-19 pandemic. According to DANE1 statistics, 42.5% of the Colombian population lives in poverty.
The Church has celebrated the Easter of our Lord Jesus Christ and we continue in hope, announcing the Good News of the resurrection in our world. The year 2020 and what goes on in 2021 has been a time of great challenges and learning for humanity: a stage of trials, struggles and crisis, in which we should seek the paths of understanding, solidarity and mutual understanding between nations. From the faith that we profess, this is the path that we live and seek: the path of peace and justice that emanate from the Kingdom of God.
The report presented by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor of the United States government on March 30 before the Congress, on alleged violations of human rights in Cuba, once again, ignores the Cuban reality and its history.
These foreign relations policies, of continuity with the past administration, continue to affect mainly Cuban families, but also the American people, and threaten the construction of peaceful and harmonious relations in the region, preventing spaces for mutual understanding and growth.
We, leaders of Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs), councils and alliances of churches at the national, regional and international levels, which develop different cooperation networks among and with organizations and churches in the Republic of Cuba, consider that;
On March 3, 2021, one of the biggest protests in the history of Myanmar took place in different cities of the country and at least 38 protesters were killed, including a 19-year-old young lady named Kyal Sin who was shot to death in Mandalay. Many of the students and young people went to the streets and protested against the military coup. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), more than 400 protesters were arrested in Yangon during the crackdown on March 3. We have been informed that 14 of the students coming from SCM-Yangon Region were arrested and they are not allowed to contact nor see their lawyers and families. The names of the students are listed below:
Student Christian Movement of India seeks your prayers and support for immediate relief and long-term rebuilding. Please support our SCM in their efforts to help the people in the communities in Kerala. The details of how you can help are in the information below.
SCM of India Appeal for Support
Due to heavy floods and unexpected rains, the Kerala state in India is going through a devastating situation where hundreds of people and animals lost their lives and millions of people are homeless. They are all staying in shelter camps supported by the Government agencies and civic bodies.
SCMI seeks your prayers and support for immediate relief and a long term rebuildingwork. Your small support will be much helpful to restore life in Kerala.
The World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) and the Student Christian Movement of Nigeria raise its collective voice to denounce and condemn the actions of some officials in the Nigeria Government in the ongoing persecution of thousands of people within several Christian communities in Nigeria.
They are openly pursuing an anti-Christian agenda that has resulted in countless murders of Christians all over the nation and the destruction of vulnerable Christian communities.
The Student Christian Movement (SCM) of Nigeria has significant work among students, youth and senior friends in the affected areas – Kaduna, Borno, Benue, Plateau, Kogi, Edo and Ebonyi states. Disrupted educational careers, loss of viable means of livelihood built over many years (farms, businesses etc.), loss of one or both parents (especially the male), have become the order of the day.
The SCM as a student body raises its voice to support the ability of displaced persons to settle down in identified peaceful areas. Humanitarian intervention and International Advocacy are new areas of our local movement and are in need of urgent support.