CCA urges Asian churches to unite in ending human trafficking and exploitation across Asia

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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30 July 2025

Chiang Mai, Thailand: On World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) has called on Asian churches and faith communities to stand united against the organised crime of human trafficking.

The 2025 campaign theme, “Human Trafficking is Organised Crime – End the Exploitation,” highlights the urgent need to dismantle trafficking networks and strengthen justice systems across the region. While awareness of the issue has increased, responses remain fragmented. Survivors still face significant barriers to protection and justice, and weak law enforcement allows traffickers to operate with impunity.

In a statement issued on 30 July 2025, CCA General Secretary Dr Mathews George Chunakara drew attention to the diverse yet interconnected nature of trafficking across Asia. “Human trafficking remains one of the most pervasive and highly organised criminal enterprises in the region. Transnational syndicates exploit legal loopholes, migration routes, and digital platforms to recruit, control, and abuse vulnerable individuals. Victims are coerced into labour, sexual exploitation, and criminal activities, while perpetrators often evade accountability,” he said.

The CCA General Secretary urged churches to renew their commitment to justice and compassion. “Churches must support trauma-informed and survivor-led approaches, amplify survivors’ voices, and collaborate across borders to advocate for policy reform. On this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, let us affirm that advocacy is not optional but a sacred duty, one that requires initiating collective action to combat human trafficking”, stated Dr Chunakara.

To strengthen regional efforts, CCA is organising an International Consultation on “Combatting Forced Migration, Human Trafficking, and Increased Cyber Crime in Asia” from 13 to 15 August 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand. The consultation will provide a platform to equip churches and ecumenical institutions to respond more effectively to these pressing issues through advocacy, pastoral care, and network-building.

The full text of the CCA’s Statement on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2025 can be found here: