The World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee has expressed appreciation for the establishment of the UN Peacebuilding Commission, and urged WCC member churches to encourage and support its efforts.

The WCC governing body has reiterated its welcome to the Peacebuilding Commission established by the UN in December 2005 in a statement adopted today at its four-day meeting in Bossey, near Geneva, . It called the related peacebuilding fund launched last October a "major step forward".

While urging WCC member churches to "encourage and support the efforts" of the commission, the WCC's governing body also called on UN member states to "provide full moral, material and human resources, backing and support to ensure the successful functioning" of the commission.

The UN Peacebuilding Commission is designed to support post-conflict stabilisation initiatives, such as implementation of peace agreements and prevention of the recurrence of conflict. It is also expected to extend the period of attention by the international community to post-conflict recovery.

In its statement, the WCC executive committee emphasised the "importance of participation of regional and local actors", particularly of "those affected by the conflict" in the deliberations of the commission. It also reiterated the need to "recognise the role and contribution of the churches and civil society organisations engaged in peacebuilding activities".

The WCC's executive committee will conclude its four-day meeting today.