(World Council of Churches (Geneva) At a recent event in Geneva, 120 members of migrant communities representing various local churches were given an orientation to the upcoming World Council of Churches (WCC) assembly in Busan, Republic of Korea. The event featured reflections on justice and peace issues, especially in relation to migrant workers.
Organized by the WCC and Witnessing Together in Geneva, a programme of the John Knox International Reformed Centre, the event was held on 14 September at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland.
Titled “A Day at the WCC 10th Assembly”, the event was patterned after the programme of the WCC assembly, which will address the theme “God of life, lead us to justice and peace” from 30 October to 8 November in Busan.
Prof. Hyunju Bae, a Korean theologian and presenter at the event, shared the significance of the WCC assembly theme and its implications in regard to challenges faced by migrants.
“The God of life challenges us to seek justice and peace for the migrant communities,” said Bae, who will be moderating an ecumenical conversation and leading the Korean-speaking Bible study at the Busan assembly.
“In our contemporary globalized world we experience the rule of empire, the upsurge of migration, as well as the increased pain of uprootedness, discrimination, exclusion, and dehumanizing and debilitating spiritual alienation,” she said.
In this situation, Bae said, the church needs to revitalize its original legacy of being an inclusive community where people from the margins are embraced and welcomed.
She went to say that although migrants in irregular situations are often undertaking work in society that is characterized by 3 D (it is dangerous, difficult, and dirty), their essential contributions to the economy are not recognized, they are highly stigmatized and simply stereotyped as the “dangerous other.”
“It is therefore our call to question these perceptions,” urged Bae.
On a similar theme, a presentation was made by Martine Bagnoud of the interprofessional worker’s union (Syndicat interprofessionnel des travailleurs et travailleuses) focusing on the situation of migrant workers in Switzerland.
Bagnoud reported that the number of domestic workers in irregular situations in Switzerland is currently over 40,000, out of which 90% are women.
She noted that domestic workers are at risk of exploitation, abuse and violence. “There is a drastic lack of social protection of undocumented domestic workers, and there is a need to establish legal options that can help them protect their rights,” said Bagnoud.
She invited event participants to sign an online petition requesting the Swiss Federal Council to ensure the rights of domestic workers and improve their working conditions.
WCC staff members presented on various themes which will be brought into focus at the Busan assembly. Among the presenters were Rev. Dr Jooseop Keum, Rev. Dr Deenabandhu Manchala, Rev. Dr Dong Sung Kim, Dr Andrew Donaldson and Michel Nseir.
The event also featured colourful presentations, prayers and songs by church choirs from migrant churches, including a special presentation featuring children in a musical directed by the Focolare Movement.
