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------Original message------ From: John Ashworth <[email protected]> To: "Group" <[email protected]> Date: Sunday, October 2, 2011 2:07:22 PM GMT+0300 Subject: [sudan-john-ashworth] Fwd: Communique Ecumenical Conference Juba, September 2011 Below and attached please find the communique of the Ecumenical Conference held in Juba on 28-29 September 2011. BEGIN Kush I - International Ecumenical Conference on the Republic of South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan Juba, September 28-29, 2011 Communiqué We, the Sudanese Church, Partner Churches and Partner faith based organisation in the International and African community of Nations, gathered in Juba, Republic of South Sudan September 28-29, 2011 for an international Ecumenical Conference for remembrance and thanksgiving on the role of the Ecumenical movement in the struggle for Peace, Justice and Human Dignity, and to discern the future role of the Church. First and foremost, we have professed that all the glory and thanks belong to God for his faithfulness, guidance and grace, leading us to this new political dispensation. The Sudanese Church expressed its gratitude for the immense role played, the unwavering commitment and solidarity of the broader ecumenical family including several member Churches and faith based organisations from all over the world and the African continent. The Church also offered thanksgiving for the peaceful birth of the New Republic of South Sudan, and reflected on the next steps and challenges in Nation Building. Accordingly, we, the participants, agreed on the following: 1. Historical role and place of the Church in Sudan The Church in Sudan[1] is as old as the Sudanese nation as a whole. The Church remembers its historic role in peace making, development and nation building in Sudan including mediating the Addis Ababa peace agreement; launching the People to People Peace Process in the second phase of the civil war; playing a central role including a series of For a in Uganda and Kenya for Church and Civil Society in the process which brought about the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA); and the full and peaceful implementation of the right of Self determination for the people of South Sudan. In line with its historic role and responsibility, the Church will remain engaged in the future development of the Republic of South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan. 2. The future role of the Church Peacemaking, Reconciliation and Healing of Memories The Church will continue to use its experience, unique leverage and credibility as well as sound moral standing to address internal conflicts, going along with severe human rights abuses, in the new Republic of South Sudan; ongoing conflicts in Abyei, Darfur, Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, and simmering conflicts in Eastern Sudan through all levels of the People to People Peace Process. It will work to reconcile people, communities, ethnic groups and the two neighbouring countries, and will increase activities in the field of trauma counselling and national healing. Women contributed immensely as peace-builders in Sudan, and they keep on being key players. Their role needs to be fully acknowledged and supported. The stories of the brave Sudanese women working for peace, human rights and dignity in both the North, the South and in the Diaspora have to be told and documented. As Youth plays a decisive role for either peace or conflict, they need to be put in the centre of activities. Service Delivery for Justice and Peace The Church will continue to advocate for unhindered humanitarian access to all people in need and to provide support in crucial areas including health, water and sanitation, education and livelihoods, which are essential in the development process. The Church will also work to alleviate suffering through humanitarian and other forms of assistance including disaster relief Advocacy The Church will continue to engage in strategic advocacy domestically, regionally and internationally to highlight critical issues of concern in the nation building processes in South Sudan and Sudan, such as: Freedom of religion; social and economic justice; peace; respect for human dignity; human protection; the rule of law, equal distribution of the natural wealth of the two countries; and the need to develop means and strategies to safeguard that early warning is answered by early action. Even as we celebrate and give thanks for the full implementation of the Right of Self determination in South Sudan, we, the Church are painfully conscious of the continuing strife and suffering of the people due to armed conflict in parts of South Sudan, such as Jonglei, Unity and Western Equatoria State (LRA); as well as in Abyei, Southern Kordofan, Darfur, Blue Nile and other marginalised areas of the Sudan. The Church calls for unhindered humanitarian access, cessation of hostilities, and increased international solidarity in the cause of peace in these areas. It urges serious and deliberate action of the parties concerned to find a just solution as quickly as possible. On the future relations between the Republic of South Sudan and Republic of Sudan, we recommend: To maintain the integrity of the CPA. All outstanding provisions including post referendum arrangements be concluded as swiftly as possible The Referendum for Abyei and transparent and popular consultations for Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile as stipulated in the CPA be concluded urgently All existing peace and reconciliation agreements signed by the parties to resolve post independence crises and challenges in the transitional states to be respected and implemented without any further delay. To actively stipulate and take part in reconciliation processes between the two countries on all levels Governance and constitutional development The Church will participate actively in governance issues including promoting transparency and accountability in the public sector. It will seek all means to actively participate in the constitution making process in order to ensure that the process is participatory and inclusive. It will not cease its efforts to safeguard the rights of minorities, to get religious and ethnic diversity fully acknowledged, and respectively freedom and rights to be guaranteed and written into the constitutional frameworks of the two states. Building a nation cannot be done without a solid foundation, which is rooted in national values and ethics. Integrity, Respect, Justice, Peace, Human Dignity, Accountability, Prosperity and Hard Work for the benefit of all people provide such core values, which need to be enshrined in the constitutions. We urge especially the government of South Sudan to learn from the experience of countries, which got their independence much earlier, and not to repeat the mistakes done by then. 3. Ecumenical Relations and Unity Among Churches The Church in Sudan will continue to strengthen and expand its ecumenical spirit and ecumenism as an instrument to enhance Church unity and to mobilize, to the fullest extent possible, the vast resources, expertise and knowledge of the universal Church for the benefit of the cause of peace, justice and development. The need for continuing partnership, solidarity and accompaniment The Sudanese Church appreciates and affirms the role of the international and African ecumenical family for standing with the people of Sudan throughout the years of conflict and the subsequent peace process. The attainment of independence in South Sudan has not ended the fundamental conflict affecting the whole of Sudan. Therefore international partnership, solidarity, accompaniment and support are still needed, as already affirmed by various bodies present at the conference. Building on existing knowledge and expertise Over the years, the Sudanese Church has benefited from vast experience and commitment of several individuals, organizations and institutions in the cause of peace. The Church will therefore continue to tap this vast knowledge and apply critical lessons and advice from its friends and partners to confront the challenges ahead. Documentation of history and ecumenical memory The Church will make every effort to document its historical experience in the long and continuing journey for peace, human dignity and development and to bring the lessons of this rich historical experience to inform current and future interventions in promoting peace, reconciliation, healing of memories, respect for human dignity and justice for all the people of Sudan and South Sudan, as well as the rest of Africa and the whole world . Juba, Republic of South Sudan, September 28, 2011 Signed on behalf of the participants: Chair Sudan Council of Churches (SCC,) Rev. Michael Taban GS All African Conference of Churches (AACC), Dr Andre Karamaga Head of Africa Desk World Council of Churches (WCC), Dr Nigussu Legesse For Sudan Ecumenical Forum (SEF), Dr Sam Kobia, Ecumenical envoy A signed copy is available at SCC ________________________________ [1] As the Church knows no boundaries, and for the sake of easier reading, the term “Church in Sudan” refers to both the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan END ______________________ John Ashworth Sudan Advisor [email protected] +254 725 926 297 (Kenya mobile) +249 919 695 362 (Sudan mobile) +27 82 853 3556 (South Africa mobile) +44 750 304 1790 (UK/international) +88 216 4334 0735 (Thuraya satphone) PO Box 52002 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya This is a personal e-mail address and the contents do not necessarily reflect the views of any organisation -- The content of this message does not necessarily reflect John Ashworth's views. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, John Ashworth is not the author of the content and the source is always cited. You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "sudan-john-ashworth" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.co.za/group/sudan-john-ashworth -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
Kush1comm.doc
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