WCC FEATURE: WCC Webinar - Second International Decade for People of African Descent

In the face of enduring racial injustice, how will the church respond? As the United Nations inaugurates the Second International Decade for People of African Descent (2025–2034), the World Council of Churches (WCC) is calling on all Christian anti-racism actors, racial justice advocates, and ecumenical partners to seize this critical moment in history. Albert Street School, Johannesburg, South Africa, Photo: Paul Jeffrey/Life on Earth Pictures 26 August 2025 Join the WCC’s Strategic Webinar  “The Second International Decade of Solidarity with People of African Descent: The Role of Christian Anti-Racism Actors”  Date: Friday, 29 August 2025  Time: 15:00–17:00 CET  Online Event – Open to all upon registration Why this moment matters The first international decade (2015–2024) aimed to affirm the dignity, rights, and development of People of African Descent. It is now widely acknowledged—by states, civil society, and ecumenical actors—that the decade did not deliver the transformative impact it promised.  Structural racism persists. Injustice deepens. People of African Descent remain disproportionately burdened by poverty, climate crisis, health inequities, and systemic neglect. But the second decade offers another chance—and a clear challenge: Will we rise to the occasion? Coming out of the ecumenical Berlin conference 2025, the WCC continues in its quest to remember the past, reappraise the present, and reimagine the future for an alternative world that affirms, defends, and engenders life, justice, and peace for all. Prophetic role for the church The global church has a vital role to play in making this decade a turning point. Ecumenical actors must not only respond to injustice but lead the way in dismantling it. This webinar offers a space for honest reflection, critical dialogue, and bold imagining of what Christian commitment to racial justice can look like over the next ten years. This event, convened by the WCC, as its commitment to the goals of the Collective for Anti-Racism Ecumenism (CARE), will explore how churches and ecumenical partners can contribute to global solidarity with People of African Descent through: Reparative justice Decolonizing theology and mission Advocacy for systemic transformation Community-based development led by affected communities Speakers We are honored to host prominent global leaders from the United Nations system, each offering unique insights on how churches and ecumenical partners can engage with the second decade: Dr Ashwini KP, UN special rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism Dr Barbara G. Reynolds, member, UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent Dr Michael McEachrane, member, UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent Their contributions will help ground our work in international frameworks while challenging us to think theologically, ethically, and practically about racial justice. What to expect This two-hour online engagement includes: Keynote presentations from UN mandate holders Interactive small group discussions to reflect and strategize Collective feedback session on possible ecumenical interventions for the second decade The event is not just a discussion—it is the first step in building a global Christian response to racialized injustice against People of African Descent in the frame of the second international decade.  Register now here and mark your calendar  “True faith is not indifferent to the cries of the oppressed. Let us be the generation that stood up, spoke out, and changed the story.” — WCC Anti-Racism Programme   Read the "Communique" of the Berlin conference  Watch all videos from the "Berlin 2025" conference Learn more about the WCC work on overcoming Racism, Discrimination and Xenophobia WCC offers new anti-racist and anti-bias material for churches and communities   See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland