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Christian Conference of Asia
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About CCA
Program Clusters: Special Programs:
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In
Focus
Dignity
of Human Beings: Safeguarding Life
Interfaith Workshop on Small Arms and Trade
Bangkok
An Interfaith workshop on Small Arms and Trade brought
together more than 32 participants from 10 countries in the Asia-Pacific region
including Sweden, the USA and Canada to address the violence caused by the
proliferation of small arms. The Workshop held at the Bangkok Christian
Guesthouse from 26-27 March 2012, aimed at promoting collaboration and exchange
of experiences between and among representatives from faith communities and
faith-based organizations from the Asia-Pacific region as well as to explore
the regional relevance of issues related to military expenditure and
development, armed violence, human security, and ongoing initiatives for
increased arms control such as the Arms Trade Treaty.
Pieter-Jan van Eggermont, the Program Officer of the
Human Security and Disarmament Program of the Swedish Fellowship of
Reconciliation (SweFOR), one of the organizers of the Gothenburg Process Workshop
in Bangkok, presented the history of the Gothenburg Process since its
initiation in 2001, a joint ecumenical undertaking by the three Swedish
ecumenical institutions—the Christian Council of Sweden, the Swedish Mission
Council and the SweFOR (and later the Life and Peace Institute)—to highlight
the “growing transfers of military equipment, primarily to the South and to see
that an inclusive dialogue with all the actors involved are developed and
maintained.
Case studies of faith-based advocacy initiatives
undertaken in India and the Philippines in support of the Arms Trade Treaty
were also presented in the Workshop. Resource persons, revisited their faith
traditions from Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism. There was also a commitment shared to
undertake activities within the resources and capacities of each group, such as
prayers, vigils, engaging the media, awareness-raising seminars, and signature
campaigns. A final recommendation was
the setting up of an email group to continue networking among the participants.
In
his welcome address, Carlos Ocampo, from the Christian Conference of Asia,
reflected on the Chiang Mai consultation that took place in May 2008 and
reiterated the commitment made by the participants to disseminate information
on the negative impact of increasing arms trade in Asia and to support civil
society organizations and governments promoting a legally binding and effective
Arms Trade Treaty. Asian churches, he
said, are also being enjoined by the World Council of Churches to participate
in the Arms Trade Treaty Campaign which will culminate in July 2012.
From
2004, the Gothenburg process, has been engaging churches, civil society groups,
peace organizations, governments, the United Nations as well as manufacturers
of small weapons in a dialogue to influence future developments in the arms
industry and to continue bringing to people’s consciousness the sacredness of
the life and dignity of human beings and the need to safeguard life and human
security.
Carlos OCampo
posted by communications on Friday, July 27, 2012 |
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