16Days Activities and Commemorations

The World Council of Churches' Just Community of Women and Men invites you to observe the 16 Days of Activism under the theme Ecumenical Advocacy and Action. Activities are varied, including daily liturgical activity, exhibitions, book launches and other events.

The 16 Days Against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that begins on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and ends on 10 December, Human Rights Day.

WCC Resources will be added to their website throughout the 16 Days Visit 16 Days against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence for more information.

It is interesting to note that this year the UN commemorates 75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights this year, and it is also the WCC’s 75th anniversary.  

Child Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) tool

The Child Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) tool, developed by the Australian Human Rights Commission with support from UNICEF. The tool will help governments and service providers assess how children's rights and wellbeing will be affected by new laws and policies.

Visit -  Safeguarding Children: A child rights impact assessment tool for more information. 

International Day of People with Disability

International Day of People with Disability occurs annually on the 3 December.

The theme for IDPwD 2023 is ‘United in action to rescue and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for, with and by persons with disabilities.’  

This would be a great day for churches and religious organisations to explore ways in which they can encourage involvement and improve the experiences of people with disability within our churches and activities, and reflect on their implementation of the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. Although focussed on children, the principles can be broadened to consider all people with disabilities in our communities.  

How is your church respecting diversity and promoting equity? 

Some areas churches leaders might like to focus on are ways in which they could improve, or already are:

• enabling children with disabilities to participate in decisions affecting them (Principle 2), 
• providing accessible ways for children with disabilities to provide feedback and input into child safe practices (Principle 3),  
• proactively anticipating children’s diverse circumstances, and providing support and responding to those who are vulnerable (Principle 4)
• creating physical and online environments that are safe and accessible for people with disabilities, and promote safety and wellbeing (Principle 8)