Asia is earth’s largest and most populous continent and has historically been home to 60% of the planet’s human population. In spite of strong economic growth and advancement in human development, it has the largest number of poor, undernourished and vulnerable people in the world. The extent of widespread human deprivation contrasts with the large armies, modern weapons, and expanding military budgets. Human security in Asia is threatened and hampered due to various factors, such as increasing poverty, inadequate health care, economic exploitation, exploitation of natural resources and environmental degradation; armed conflicts and violence; militarization, arms build-up, nuclearization, spread of small arms and light weapons; domination and intervention of major powers from outside the region as well as within the region; ethnic and religious conflicts, political unrest and violations of human rights in various forms. Armed conflicts and violence, terrorism and counter-terrorism, and armed insurgency have taken the lives of hundreds of people in Asia. The influx of small arms and narcotics are also major concerns in the region. Growing tendencies of ethnic solidarities, identification with rising religious fundamentalism and ethnocentric cultural aspirations destroy national unity and integration in several Asian nations.  Over the years governments in Asian countries have used religion, ethnicity and caste to strengthen their base and to maintain their power, resulting in discrimination, and feelings of insecurity and fear among the minorities. Much of the state machinery and economy is spent in policing and maintaining law and order, which affects the quality of life and freedom of all citizens. Freedom of expression and the democratic space in Asia is disturbingly shrinking. In the name of security, legitimate dissent and protest is suppressed, including those raised by minorities, indigenous peoples, non-governmental organizations, even opposition political parties, thus shrinking political diversity.  Attacks on whistleblowers, journalists and human rights activists continue to shock the world. Many nation-states have aggressively asserted their roles while the participation of citizens and civil society organizations in the political process has diminished.  

Asian churches and the ecumenical movement have a responsibility to address these realities in Asia. It is important that churches take keen interest in its search for mission and witness in all kinds of emerging situations and work together to envision a new paradigm for collective action. CCA has been regularly deliberating on the emerging trends in Asia and the sub-regions. More needs to be done and during the next five years CCA has to keep a close watch on all the aspects that affect the fabric of life and reclaim its prophetic witness and advocacy. The CCA will encourage member churches and councils to analyse and understand the emerging Asian issues and evolve ecumenical responses, and facilitate collective ecumenical action as part of the prophetic witness of Asian Churches at the regional and global levels. Activities include training in advocacy at national, regional and international levels on emerging Asian Issues for church workers and reflections on theological imperatives on advocacy and prophetic witness of churches.