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News: Church takes the lead on human rights education
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- Category: Upholding Human Rights
- Published on Tuesday, 14 December 2010 08:07
- Written by Jennifer
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NEWS
Church takes the lead on human rights education
The Uniting Church in Australia awarded Government’s Human Rights Framework Education Grant
13 December 2010
The Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) has been granted funds from the federal government to educate church members on human rights as part of the Australia’s Human Rights Framework – Education Grants program.
The grant came as welcome news to the President of the UCA, Rev. Alistair Macrae, who has called for the public and politicians to remember the human rights violations continuing in our own backyard.
“Working for the greater protection of human rights is integral to our responsibility as a Church. We must speak up against public policy that dictates that some people are less worthy, such as Indigenous Australians, asylum seekers, and people who are homeless,” Rev. Macrae said.
“Part of this education initiative is to help people and church members understand the importance of human rights and how they contribute to a just, peaceful, inclusive and prosperous society, where all people are valued.”
The funding will go towards the production of a human rights education kit and program specifically for church members that is framed around theological and biblical foundations that drive a positive and active Christian response to human rights.
Rev. Elenie Poulos, National Director of UnitingJustice Australia, the Church’s national policy and advocacy unit, said “We have been pleased with the current Government’s commitment to promoting and upholding human rights, particularly in response to strong recommendations from the National Human Rights Consultation Report on the need for better human rights education.
“This grant will help us advance a significant program in the area of human rights and assist us to continue to live out the commitment the church made in 1977 to ‘oppose all forms of discrimination which infringe basic rights and freedoms’,” Rev. Poulos said.