World Council of Churches Office of Communication
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10 December 2001

WCC Special Fund to Combat Racism grants


To mark Human Rights Day on Monday 10 December, the World Council of Churches (WCC) has announced grants totalling US$ 70,000 from its Special Fund to Combat Racism to ten anti-racism projects around the world.

The grants recognize three categories of particular concern: anti-racism work, support to women suffering under racism, and the situation of Indigenous Peoples. Special Fund grants over the past 30 years have gone to groups in 50 countries and have totalled over US$12 million.

The complete list of recipients of this year's grants is:

1. Action for World Development, AUSTRALIA, US$ 7,000
This Aboriginal People's organization raises awareness on racism and works for the rights of the Indigenous Peoples of Australia. It also promotes ecumenical action for justice.

2. Koori Anglican Fellowship, AUSTRALIA, US$ 7,000
The Fellowship addresses past and present issues of denial, destruction and denigration of incarcerated Indigenous women, as well as reclaiming ancestral values.

3. Grupo de Trabalho Missionário Evangélico, (GTME), BRAZIL, US$ 7,000
This organization of Indigenous Peoples accompanies local initiatives in the city of Cuiabá in the struggle for land rights and spiritual awareness.

4. Movimento Afrodescendente do Pará, (MOCAMBO), BRAZIL, US$ 7,000
This African-descendant people's organization addresses cases of racially-motivated violence. The situation of African descendants in relation to the criminal justice system is a major area of their work.

5. United Presbyterian Church, BRAZIL, US$ 7,000
Through its social project to combat racism, the church addresses issues of race and gender, and racism and violence, among others.

6. The Ketlënan National Association (KETNA), COLOMBIA, US$ 7,000
KETNA defends the rights of self-determination, to land and territory of the Indigenous Peoples of St Andrew.

7. Movimiento de Mujeres Dominico Haitianas (MUDHA), DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, US$ 7,000
MUDHA, a women's organization, advocates for the rights of Haitians in the Dominican Republic through awareness-raising against racism and xenophobia.

8. Central European Romani Educational Opportunities Centre (CEREOC), SLOVAK REPUBLIC, US$ 7,000
CEREOC, a Romani non-governmental organization, through the Romani Legal Defence project, is addressing the present alarming human rights situation of the Roma People.

9. Pan African Women's Organization, SCOTLAND, US$ 7,000
Addressing racism suffered by the community of African origin or descent, this organization works on empowering women and youth. Awareness-raising on racism, participation in decision and policy-making processes are other major areas of its work.

10. Himalayan Heritage Foundation, NEPAL, US$ 7,000
The foundation promotes the rights of Himalayan people through community organizing, cultural survival, studies and training on traditional Tibetan languages and knowledge.


For more information contact:
the Media Relations Office
tel.: (+41 22) 791 6153 (office);
e-mail: media
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The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now 342, in more than 100 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but works cooperatively with the WCC. The highest governing body is the assembly, which meets approximately every seven years. The WCC was formally inaugurated in 1948 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Its staff is headed by general secretary Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church in Germany.