Resources

In the complex world of peacebuilding , the frequent invisibility of women has become a focus of attention. The challenge is perhaps best exemplified in the important United Nations Resolution 1325, which centers on women’s roles. This report shines a…

This paper aims to: Highlight the work of local churches as key actors in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and resilience building.It does this by: using existing evidence to identify opportunities, gaps and challenges collecting further evidence generating discussion and engagement…

Working paper 591 The world is facing multiple challenges with huge impacts on humanity, requiring action from citizens, policy-makers and activists. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets demonstrate the scale and ambition of the current global agenda.…

Number 77 March 2020 This edition of Humanitarian Exchange, co-edited with Anne Harmer, focuses on the response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Although at the time of publication the outbreak appeared to have ended,…

Episcopal Relief and Development with their partners use Six Climate Resilience Participatory Learning & Action Tools with communities: 1. Transect Walk - Resource attached The Transect Walk is a group exercise that entails walking between two points to intentionally cross…

13-17 May 2019, Geneva, Switzerland

Fuji Technology Press, Ltd. In studies of disasters, cases of religious communities providing support to victims at times of disaster have been reported. Such support can be understood as a function of social capital within religious communities. This paper considers…

This process is based on Tearfund’s experience in the Philippines, in response to Typhoon Haiyan (2013). Typhoon Haiyan (locally named Yolanda) hit the Philippines on 8 November, 2013. Humanitarian assistance focused on some of the hardest hit areas in the…

Preliminary report by Child Rights International Network (CRIN) that maps the scale of child sexual abuse committed by clerics of the Catholic Church and evidence of cover up attempts by the Vatican and Church authorities. It provides an overview of…

One in three women worldwide has experienced physical or sexual violence from their partner; this includes at least 90 million Catholic women. The mutual love and honor promised in marriage is not understood; hearts are broken; bodies and spirits are…

JLI Mobilisation of Local Faith Communities- March 2018 webinar slides Webinar Agenda: Hub Introduction and 2018 Work (Andrea Kaufmann) Role of Local Faith Actors in the context of the localisation agenda (Catriona Dejean) Lauren Kejeh, Tearfund and Lydia Tanner, The…

Guidelines for church leaders in areas where disasters (earthquakes, fires, flood etc.) are common. Chapters include:  Introduction Chapter 1 – The local church and disasters Chapter 2 – Organising ourselves Chapter 3 – Risks, needs and capacity assessments Chapter 4 – Displaced people…

A Toolkit for Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction & Management for members and partners of the Anglican relief and development community Episcopal Relief convened a global Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management Working Group to collaborate on creating these tools. Twelve…

This webinar by Donald Kerwin, Executive Director for the Center for Migration Studies (CMS), was devoted to a discussion of Catholic teaching on migrants, refugees, and newcomers. Mr. Kerwin discussed the Biblical touchstones of Catholic teaching on migrant and refugees, key principals that guide the Church’s…

Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security Prepared by the Soka Gakkai International October 2017 In March 2011, the northeast region of Japan known as Tohoku1 was hit by a natural disaster of enormous magnitude: The Great East Japan Earthquake.…

An Anglican Priest from the Diocese of Colombo speaks to the strength of the faith community in conflict and disaster responses

Forum on localizing response to humanitarian need

OUR COLLECTIVE VISION Our aim is to support churches seeking to collaborate and coordinate in disaster management to enhance community resilience to disasters and conflict. WHAT WE DO CAN DO invests in supporting church collaboration in disaster management by: -Investment…

Mandate of the Diocesan Committee for Social Action: Study and Reflection on the Social Issues and needs in the light of Christian Principals and Gospel Values. The Board of Social Responsibility is the Social outreach arm of the Church of…

The Church of Ceylon has been focusing and building capacity on DRR. Presently networked with the other main line Churches though National Christian Council and organized regional trainings on Disaster preparedness and response. We have trained close to 200 clergy…

It is expedient to tell the story of the humanitarian response of ACT Philippines Forum to the disaster wrought by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. ACT Philippines Forum was barely organized when Typhoon Haiyan struck. The humanitarian work was an acid…

In 2015 Africa experienced its worst drought in 60 years. The unusually strong El Niño weather pattern in 2015-2016, coupled with record-high temperatures, had a catastrophic effect on crops, vegetation, livestock, and water resources. Unfortunately, the drought has continued into…

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has offices in 17 countries across Asia, the most disaster- prone region of the world. ADRA recognizes the importance and urgency of increasing resilience to disasters through an inclusive, integrated community-managed disaster risk…

Focus on local actors; the key to humanitarian effectiveness Local actors are often the most effective in conducting humanitarian operations. However, despite their critical role, they struggle to attract the funding and support they need. The 2015 World Disasters Report…

Loving one another A biblical discussion toolkit on gender-based violence. This booklet is based on the invaluable work carried out by the Anglican Service of Diakonia and Development (SADD) of the Anglican Church of Brazil. Gender-based violence (GBV), especially violence…

This publication is collection of testimonies in English and in Japanese, from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Written by Masahiko Murakami, Ken'ichi Kurosawa, Yoshihiro Matsumoto's stories might be appropriate. Mikio Yamane's testimony introduces our organizational activity. Published by Soka Gakkai…

The HRF-Indonesia was established in 2001 and became operational in 2002. Since then, it has provided Indonesian and international NGOs with rapid and flexible funding for humanitarian projects targeting the most vulnerable population. Here's their latest report.

Click here to read what IMA World Health is doing related to Faith-Based Organization (FBO) Engagement: http://imaworldhealth.org/faith-based-organization-fbo-engagement/

Disaster response tends to progress in recognizable stages through a cycle that ideally begins with advance preparedness. Warning signs may precede the impact of disasters like tornadoes and hurricanes, allowing time for additional protective measures, though other events, such as…

More than 65 million people are displaced globally, outpacing the international community’s ability to respond. Not only are more people displaced today, but they are displaced for longer, with the average duration of protracted refugee situations at the end of…

After the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, Soka Gakkai's headquarters, its local organizations, and its individual members were engaged in relief and recovery activities. This report covers those activities conducted by September of the same year.

Faith leaders, as trusted and respected members of their community, have played a hugely significant, and often unsung, role in the Ebola crisis. In the midst of confusion, fear and panic, communities have often turned to them for guidance. They…

The leadership of the Church in the Philippines has historically exercised a powerful influence on politics and social life. The country is at least 80% Catholic and there is a deeply ingrained cultural deference for clergy and religious. Previous attempts in the last 14 years to pass a reproductive health law have failed because of the opposition of Catholic bishops. Thus the recent passage of the ‘Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012’ (R.A.
10354) was viewed by some Filipinos as a stunning failure for the Church and a sign of its diminished influence on Philippine society. This article proposes that the Church’s engagement in the reproductive health bill (RH Bill) debate and the manner of its discourse undermined its own campaign to block the law. The first part of the article gives a historical overview of the Church’s opposition to government family planning programs. The second part discusses key points of conflict in the RH Bill debate. The third part will examine factors that shaped the Church’s attitude and responses to the RH Bill. The fourth part will examine the effects of the debate on the Church’s unity, moral authority, and role in Philippine society. The fifth part will draw lessons for the Church and will explore paths that the Church community can take in response to the challenges arising from the law’s implementation.

When it comes to dealing with population growth, there are a number of misconceptions about the position of the Catholic Church. Official teaching during the twentieth century gradually moved toward the acceptance of limiting family size and endorsed the concept of responsible parenthood during the Second Vatican Council. One cannot, therefore, justifiably claim that the church is against birth control. It is an entirely different matter, however, when it comes to the practical question about how a couple might go about regulating fertility. Since the publication of Pope Paul VI’s 1968 encyclical, an intense controversy has taken place within the church about the use of artificial contraception. Behind that controversy lies an important methodological issue. For, the traditional teaching to which Paul VI returned in his letter was based upon the presumption that it is possible to morally judge a physical, material act without any consideration of the persons who performed that act, the circumstances within which it took place, or the reasons why the act was chosen. This behavioural approach to morality stands in some contrast to the way that other moral questions are dealt with. Inflicting pain or even taking a person’s life, for instance, can be justified for a good reason when one acts in a virtuous manner to instil discipline or safeguard justice. Until this methodological controversy is addressed, the problem of using artificial means to regulate fertility will not be resolved. A helpful key for solving the methodological ambiguities is to use moral language in a consistent and understandable manner.

This article discusses the similarities derived from the experiences of female survivors of these two disasters.