Enviro News Asia, Geneva — The World Council of Churches (WCC) reaffirmed its commitment to advancing climate justice, health equity, and human rights following the conclusion of the 62nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), which ended on July 8.
Marking the 20th anniversary of the Human Rights Council, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2006, the session adopted 28 resolutions addressing a wide range of global human rights issues, including humanitarian access in armed conflicts, the protection of healthcare during conflicts, and neglected tropical diseases. The Council also extended eight country-specific and thematic human rights mandates.
During the session, an urgent debate was held on July 3 regarding the humanitarian situation in and around El Obeid, North Kordofan, Sudan. The Council adopted a consensus resolution condemning war crimes, including drone attacks targeting civilians and critical infrastructure, and requested the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan to investigate alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.
The WCC joined a statement delivered by Franciscans International supporting the Special Rapporteur’s report on internally displaced persons. The statement highlighted the humanitarian crisis in West Papua, where more than 122,931 Indigenous Papuans remain displaced by conflict with limited access to shelter, clean water, healthcare, education, and livelihoods. It also drew attention to the situation in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, where more than 600,000 people have been displaced amid ongoing violence. The organizations called for stronger protection of civilians, improved humanitarian access, independent monitoring, and greater accountability for human rights violations.
On climate change, the WCC supported a statement presented by the Geneva Interfaith Forum on Climate Change, Environment, and Human Rights, welcoming the Special Rapporteur’s report on transforming food systems for climate safety and global health. The statement emphasized the links between industrial food systems, fossil fuel dependence, and environmental degradation while urging governments to promote Indigenous and peasant agroecology, phase out subsidies for industrial agriculture, and protect Indigenous rights through inclusive food system reforms.
The WCC also partnered with the National Council of Churches in Australia during the adoption of Australia’s Universal Periodic Review. The joint statement expressed solidarity with Australia’s First Nations peoples, citing persistent systemic inequalities, including poor health outcomes, lower life expectancy, and disproportionately high incarceration rates. It called for stronger government action to advance truth-telling processes, establish a national Treaty Commission, raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14 years, and strengthen protections for women affected by violence.
The statement further urged Australia to adopt human rights-based climate policies, prohibit new coal mine developments, phase out existing coal production, increase climate finance for Pacific Island nations, and sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
The WCC said its participation in the 62nd Human Rights Council reflects its ongoing commitment to promoting human dignity, environmental justice, peace, and the protection of vulnerable communities through international cooperation and multilateral engagement. (*)
