World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) welcomed the Advocates International (AI) as its newest Global Partner, adding strength to the alliance's efforts in promoting religious freedom and human rights.

"We are delighted that Advocates International has become a WEA Global Partner," said Dr Geoff Tunnicliffe, the International Director of the WEA. "With a network of tens of thousands of Christian lawyers around the world, the work of promoting religious liberty and human rights will be greatly strengthened as AI is linked more strategically with WEA."

Advocates International is a network of Christians in law and related professions worldwide working relationally, professionally, and spiritually for issues regarding religious freedom, human rights, conflict resolution, and integrity.

Sam Ericsson, the President and CEO of Advocates International, revealed the pre-existing relationship between the two organisations which has lasted for more than a decade.

"Advocates International is honoured to be in partnership with World Evangelical Alliance," said Ericsson. "It is not a new partnership, but actually dates back to 1992 when AI had one country in its network." Since that time, we have worked with John Langlois and Johan Candelin of the Religious Liberty Commission and most recently with Geoff Tunnicliffe."

Today, Advocates informally links some 30,000 Christian lawyers, judges and law students in 150 countries on six continents.

"I suspect that more than 90 percent of the time when a pastor or church around the world has a legal problem impacting religious freedom that the lawyer helping them is within our network," said Ericsson. "We look forward to working closely with WEA in the years ahead."

Global Partner membership is given to international organisations that specialise in a field that contributes to the WEA's mission and objectives. There are currently nine other Global Partners serving the WEA constituency.

The World Evangelical Alliance is made up of 128 national evangelical alliances located in seven regions and 104 associate member organisations.