The World Council of Churches (WCC) has stated that its main involvement this year in the 61st session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) will be the economic, social and cultural rights of the Papuan population in Indonesia.

The WCC is currently aiding human rights representatives from the south to attend the UNCHR, which takes place from 12 March till 22 April. Delegations have sought for WCC-accreditation and this year the Council’s backing went to delegations from Papua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Nepal, Guatemala and Colombia.

The UNCHR will be asked by the WCC to communicate with the Indonesian government that "its present measures to divide the province [of Papua] against the wishes of the people can only lead...to further denial of their socio-economic and cultural rights."

In addition the Commission will also be asked to "ensure that the province of Papua gets a just share of the proceeds earned from the exploitation of its abundant natural resources."

A study on the economic, social and cultural rights of the Papuan people will also be presented to the Commission, and will later be presented publicly on 31st March 2005. The study has been commissioned by the German churches, along with the help of the WCC, and was carried out by Papuan academics and human rights defenders.

During the UNHRC, from 2-4 April, representatives of faith-based organisations attending the session will communicate and come up with a strategy to move forward the situation regarding human rights of the Papuan people.

In addition, on the 6th April, the World Council of Churches will hold a meeting to discuss, along with other leading ecumenical bodies, reforms of the UN Commission on Human Rights itself.


[Source: wcc-coe.org]