The World Council of Churches (WCC) released an “Out of the Shadows” page sharing resources for helping individuals, churches, and communities act against violence and abuse against children.
The new page explains why the World Council of Churches (WCC) joined the “Out of the Shadows” campaign through its “Churches’ Commitments to Children” programme, in collaboration with the Just Community of Women and Men programme and the EHAIA programme. The campaign aims to support local churches and regional partners in protecting children and adolescents from sexual violence.
The Out of the Shadows page offers several resources for free download, considering two regional contexts: Asia and Africa. All primary resources are translated into Spanish and French. The page also compiles news related to the various capacity-building workshops organized by churches in Africa and Asia.
WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca said that the “Out of the Shadows” webpage adds to the tools churches can use to improve the lives of children across the world.
“Churches have shown they are committed to protecting children at the grassroots level. The Out of the Shadows toolkit supports them to have an even greater impact,” he said. “The WCC, together with its partner UNICEF, strives to support good practices of churches that create a world in which children can grow up with a sense of joy, wonder and love.”
Frederique Seidel, programme executive for Child Rights, expressed her gratitude to all churches who helped develop the Out of the Shadows toolkit. “Thanks to the work in the pilot countries and the support by Ignite Philantrophy and The Economist Intelligence Unit, church communities worldwide will be better equipped to stop child abuse and ensure access to support for those at risk,” she said.
