BWA in Action BWA Produces GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS DIRECTORY T

he Baptist World Alliance has pro- duced a directory of human rights organizations around the world.

Comprising more than 700 organizations,

it includes groups that operate globally, others that are regionally focused and some that do human and justice work in specific countries. “It is our desire that Baptists and other Christian groups will draw on these resources to address human rights problems and concerns in their particular locale,” the BWA declares. The directory “can be used as a source of information for those who seek advocacy and referral services for human rights causes.” However, the BWA issues a declaimer. “This directory cannot be interpreted as a recommendation

or endorsement of any

particular group or organization. Each Baptist group or organization needs to do its own due diligence as to whether a group, as a potential partner, is compatible with its sense of call or mission.”

updated

It is expected that the directory will be as information on other groups

becomes available. Production of the directory is the first

The directory is available on the BWA website at: www.bwanet.org

in a series of steps to provide resources to Baptist churches and groups in particular, and the wider Christian community in general. Future resources will include an online paper offering a theological understanding of Baptist engagement in freedom and justice work, as well as case studies and practical advice on participating in justice issues.

DISASTER RESPONSE AND DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE D

uring the course of calendar year 2015, BWA, through Baptist World Aid (BWAid), processed 43 applications for disaster relief grants. Twenty-five projects were funded in 22 countries. BWA was the first Baptist organization to send assistance to the Nepal Baptist

Church Council (NBCC) following a massive earthquake that killed nearly 9,000 and impacted the lives of eight million people in Nepal. BWAid established links between the NBCC and Respond 24, whose team arrived on the scene as part of their work as first responders. Hungarian Baptist Aid assisted Nepal Baptists by providing medical aid, food, water and

temporary shelter. Links were also established between NBCC and ACT Nepal Country Forum. Through this means, NBCC accessed relief supplies for distribution. Working with Multi-Purpose Community Development Service, the relief and development arm of NBCC, BWAid continues to collaborate with Baptists in Nepal to provide long-term recovery and rehabilitation. Another challenging relief project undertaken during 2015 was the refugee and

migrant crisis arising out of the conflict in the Middle East, especially Syria. BWAid provided assistance to refugees in seven countries in Europe and the Middle East. This was done through partnership between BWAid and local BWA member organizations. This partnership enabled BWAid to offer swift response to the refugee and migrant crisis.

Development Projects

The development projects that BWAid supports contribute to the amelioration of the situation faced by the more than 800 million people who go to bed hungry every night. BWAid provided support for 38 development projects in 14 countries, more than

half of which were agriculture-based. These farming projects, which are based in rural communities, enable beneficiaries to earn enough funds to pay for their children’s school fees and to purchase warm clothes and blankets, thus they no longer sleep in bales of cotton and can keep warm in the winter. Other development projects provided access to clean water, supported malaria- prevention, contributed to facilities for rural development and funded micro-finance projects.

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