CCA calls for urgent action to combat technology-facilitated violence against women

Programme Review and Programme Direction

Two key deliberative sessions during the 15th CCA General Assembly are the Programme Review and Programme Direction sessions.

The Programme Review and Programme Direction sessions will both be conducted in three groups relating to the CCA’s programme areas, namely, (i) General Secretariat (GS), (ii) Mission in Unity and Contextual Theology (MU) and Ecumenical Leadership Formation and Spirituality (EF); and (iii) Building Peace and Moving Beyond Conflicts (BP) and Prophetic Diakonia (PD).

Assembly participants will have the option to join one of three groups for both the Programme Review and Programme Direction sessions. For the sake of coherence, the assigned group will remain the same for both sessions.

General Secretariat

The General Secretariat oversees the coordination of programmatic, administrative, and financial activities of the organization. The GS comprises various departments such as church and ecumenical relations, relations with ecumenical partners, finance, administration, and communications, which provide crucial support and services for the implementation of programs and contribute to the overall functioning of the CCA.

Programmes: Relations with member churches and councils, ecumenical partners; advocacy at the United Nations; ecumenical responses to emerging issues in solidarity; income development and finance; and communications.

Mission in Unity and Contextual Theology (MU) and Ecumenical Leadership Formation and Spirituality (EF)

Under the MU programme area, the CCA accompanies Asian churches to strengthen their mission and witness in multi-religious contexts, revitalise and nurture church unity and the Asian ecumenical movement, and develop contextual theological foundations.

Programmes: Asian Movement for Christian Unity (AMCU); Congress of Asian Theologians (CATS); Asian women doing theology in the context of wider ecumenism; contextualisation of theology in Asia and ecumenical theological education.

The EF programme area focuses on nurturing and developing ecumenical leaders in Asia. The programme aims to enhance spiritual formation and theological understanding, enabling people to actively engage in ecumenical dialogue and collaboration.

Programmes: Ecumenical Enablers’ Training in Asia (EETA); Asian Ecumenical Institute (AEI); Youth and Women Leadership Development; Ecumenical Spirituality and Nurturing of Contextual Liturgical Traditions; Asia Sunday

Building Peace and Moving Beyond Conflicts (BP) and Prophetic Diakonia and Advocacy (PD)

The BP programme area is dedicated to promoting peace, justice, and reconciliation in Asia’s diverse contexts. Through training, advocacy, and dialogue, the programme addresses the root causes of conflicts, empowers communities, and fosters sustainable peacebuilding initiatives.

Programmes: Pastoral Solidarity Visits; Churches in Action for Moving Beyond Conflict and Resolution; Young Ambassadors of Peace in Asia (YAPA); Ecumenical Women’s Action Against Violence (EWAAV); Eco-Justice for Sustainable Peace in the Oikos.

The PD programme area focuses on promoting justice, human rights, and social transformation in Asia. Through advocacy, capacity-building, and raising awareness, the programme addresses systemic injustice, empowers marginalised communities, and advocates for prophetic actions and meaningful change.

Programmes: Human Rights advocacy; Migration, Statelessness, and Trafficking in Persons; Asian Ecumenical Disability Advocacy Network; Asian Advocacy Network on the Dignity and Rights of Children (AANDRoC); Ecumenical Solidarity Accompaniment and Diakonia in Asia (ESADA); Health and Healing; Good Governance; Action Together to Combat HIV and AIDS in Asia (ATCHAA).

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25 November 2025

Chiang Mai, Thailand: On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, observed annually on 25 November, the General Secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), Dr Mathews George Chunakara, called for urgent and coordinated action to address the rapid rise of violence against women and girls, particularly in digital spaces.

Dr Chunakara expressed deep concern over the persistence and escalation of gender-based violence across Asia. He emphasised that technology-facilitated violence has become one of the fastest-growing forms of abuse, fuelled by rapid digital transformation and insufficient regulation. Women and girls are increasingly subjected to online harassment, image-based abuse, stalking, hate speech, and deepfake manipulation. These digital violations inflict profound psychological harm and often spill over into physical violence.

“These forms of abuses are rooted in the same gender inequality and patriarchal systems that sustain physical and structural violence. Misogynistic content and harmful social norms online reinforce discrimination and normalise hatred against women, resulting in coercion, psychological trauma, and even femicide,” said Dr Chunakara.

Calling for decisive action, Dr Chunakara urged governments to strengthen laws by criminalising technology-facilitated violence, enhancing privacy and data-protection frameworks, and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable. He also called on technology companies to adopt stronger safeguards, remove harmful content swiftly, and operate with greater transparency and responsibility.

“The response must go beyond laws and regulations to reach the moral and spiritual heart of society. CCA reaffirms the Church’s vital role in raising awareness, challenging harmful norms, and speaking with moral authority against all forms of gender-based violence,” stated the CCA General Secretary.

Dr Chunakara encouraged churches and faith communities across Asia to provide safe spaces for survivors, offer pastoral and practical support, and take a leading role in promoting equality, dignity, and respect.

The full text of the CCA General Secretary’s statement can be found here: