The moderator of the World Council of Churches’ central committee issued a strong
affirmation of human rights yesterday and said violators of those rights "must be
held accountable to humanity".
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Celicia (Armenian Orthodox Church), expressed a vision
of a better world if the WCC’s member churches help diverse ethnic and religious
groups learn "to live together as one community" and if ecumenical leadership
takes advantage of today’s "committed and visionary young people."
Aram deplored the fact that many individuals and nations that commit acts of genocide, war
crimes and injustice are not called to justice. "The popular saying, ‘you can
run but you cannot hide,’ is being turned on its head," he said.
Delegates and visitors applauded as he called for the prosecution of human rights
violators. "There is a crying need to bring to justice and to make accountable those
responsible for policies leading to violations of the rights and dignity of women and
children, communities and nations," he said.
Member churches could help create a healthier environment for human rights by working
together with other faiths to "seek a global ethics based on shared ethical values
that transcend religious beliefs and narrow definitions of national interests."
The 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December will be
commemorated by the assembly.
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