CCA General Secretary offers condolences on passing of Pakistani human rights defender Joseph Francis

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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13 February 2026

Chiang Mai, Thailand: The General Secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) offered condolences on the passing of prominent Pakistani human rights defender M.A. Joseph Francis, founding National Director of the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS), Lahore, Pakistan.

CLAAS was established in 1992 by Joseph Francis with a deep commitment to addressing the acute need for legal aid, protection, and rehabilitation of victims of human rights violations, particularly individuals charged under Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws. Over the years, CLAAS has become a beacon of hope, advocating for the marginalised and persecuted in Pakistan and for other vulnerable groups facing human rights violations, including women and children from religious minority communities.

Recalling his close association with Joseph Francis as part of his human rights advocacy work at the United Nations, the CCA General Secretary Dr Mathews George Chunakara stated that despite personal risks and threats to his life from religious extremists, Francis dedicated his entire life to defending the human rights of persecuted religious minorities in Pakistan.

Reflecting on Francis’ tireless efforts over the decades to defend the rights and dignity of victims of religious intolerance and human rights violations, Dr Chunakara said, “Joseph Francis demonstrated extraordinary courage and steadfastly advocated for legal protection for those accused under Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy cases. He was also instrumental in providing shelter for many young women from minority religious communities in rural Pakistan who had been rescued after being abducted for forced marriages.”

Mr Francis was widely respected, both nationally and internationally, for his leadership in defending human rights and for rendering legal aid to vulnerable people.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to human rights, he was appointed an Honorary Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2011 and was the recipient of numerous other honours and commendations for his unwavering commitment to justice and the protection of religious minorities.

The Christian Conference of Asia extends heartfelt condolences to Mr Francis' family and the staff of CLAAS during this difficult time.