International conference calls for stronger global action for ensuring people’s security and peace with justice in Myanmar

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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09 December 2025

CCA General Secretary Dr Mathews George Chunakara delivering the opening address

Chiang Mai, Thailand: The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) organised an International Conference on “Towards a Global Advocacy for People’s Security, Peace with Justice, and Democratisation in Myanmar” from 26 to 28 November 2025 in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Building on the recommendations of the international consultation held in Bangna, Thailand, in 2024, CCA initiated the Myanmar Ecumenical Solidarity Accompaniment Programme (MESAP). The 2025 international conference served as a follow-up platform to deepen collaboration, strengthen advocacy strategies, and develop more concrete collective actions in response to the worsening situation in Myanmar.

The international conference brought together over 60 participants, including representatives of churches, ecumenical organisations, civil society organisations, peace activists, social workers, and academics.

Dr Mathews George Chunakara, General Secretary of the CCA, opened the international conference and, in his opening address, outlined the emerging trends in Myanmar’s crisis. He stated that as the situation in Myanmar remains volatile, finding a path towards a peaceful political resolution continues to be a crucial challenge.

Dr Chunakara explained that what is happening now in the country is manifested at different levels, including the efforts of the resistance movement that are spreading across the country. This movement is not only focusing on reinstating democracy but also pushing for a federal democratic system that devolves power to ethnic administrations that have been critical to Myanmar’s existence for decades.

He added that the impact of the crisis has multiple implications, including widespread illicit trade, drug production, cyber scams, and human trafficking. Different studies have revealed that the country has become a global epicentre of methamphetamine and opium products.

The CCA General Secretary further referred to the most recent decision of the US administration to terminate the designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Myanmar citizens.

Explaining the complexities and wider repercussions of the newly introduced policy of the US under the pretext of Myanmar’s “notable progress in governance and stability”, Dr Chunakara added that the new policy of the US government will affect thousands of Myanmar citizens living in the US who will be forced to leave as the TPS designation is withdrawn.

The three-day international conference provided a space for discussions on coordinated and systematic advocacy to ensure people’s security, sustain peace, and help end the ongoing crisis in Myanmar.

The participants, attending the conference from Asia, Europe, and North America, highlighted the grave challenges and daily struggles confronting the people of Myanmar, further exacerbated by the deadly March 2025 earthquake, which caused extensive devastation across several regions. Armed conflict continues nationwide, resulting in widespread displacement, the collapse of essential services, and severe disruptions to education. A growing mental health crisis particularly affecting children, youth, and ethnic communities was noted as an urgent concern requiring coordinated humanitarian and psychosocial response efforts.

Despite these escalating hardships, participants affirmed the resilience of the Myanmar people and their enduring aspirations for peace, security, and a dignified future in their homeland. They stressed that sustainable peace would require structural and systemic reforms, together with strengthened international solidarity and more effective global advocacy.

The international conference served as a platform to analyse emerging opportunities, formulate collective strategies, and reinforce ecumenical collaboration for long-term engagement on Myanmar.

Key sessions included: “Myanmar’s Fragile Landscape: Armed Conflicts, Humanitarian Crisis, and Prospects for Local Peacebuilding”; “Voices from Grassroots, Civil Society and Displaced Communities”; “Myanmar Elections in December 2025”; “Inclusive Leadership Amid Crisis: Empowering Women, Youth, and Ethnic Communities for Peacebuilding and Reconstruction”; “Faith and Resilience in the Midst of Turmoil”; “Faith-based Approaches and Collaboration in Peacebuilding”; “Building Effective Global Advocacy through Multilateral Organisations and Civil Society”; and “Churches and Faith Communities Responding to Myanmar’s Crisis”.

At the conclusion of the conference, participants adopted a communiqué outlining shared commitments and proposed directions for strengthened global advocacy and solidarity with the people of Myanmar, and affirmed continued support through the ecumenical initiative of the Myanmar Ecumenical Solidarity Accompaniment Programme (MESAP).