 The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) in partnership with the Swiss Evangelical Alliance (l’Alliance évangélique suisse) opened a new office in Geneva, Switzerland in early August as part of its long-term efforts to strengthen the voice of the Persecuted Church and to influence world leaders in the neighbouring United Nations.
“In a day of growing global complexities, it is critical that WEA increases its impact on the global stage,” said Geoff Tunnicliffe, International Director of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA).
Janet Epp Buckingham, Director of Law and Public Policy at the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, said the new office is strategically located to make the greatest impact on human rights advocacy.
“With the new Human Rights Council meeting three times a year, Geneva is clearly the meeting place for dealing with issues of human rights,” said Buckingham.
“This office will be the focal point for WEA’s advocacy for religious freedom around the world.”
Johan Candelin, executive director of the WEA Religious Freedom Commission, commented, “As WEA is taking its work to a higher level at the United Nations in New York and in Geneva with the Human Rights Council, the new WEA UN office will play an important part in the work as a base for the Evangelical UN work.”
Hansjörg Leutwyler, General Secretary of the Swiss Evangelical Alliance, added, “The new office will give the persecuted church not only a voice at the United Nations but will also give the Evangelical Alliance a more visible face and profile in our nation.”
NECF Malaysia is a member of WEA, which is made up of 127 national evangelical alliances located in seven regions, and 104 associate member organisations. WEA’s vision is to extend the Kingdom of God by making disciples of all nations and by Christ-centered transformation within society.
WEA exists to foster Christian unity, provide an identity, voice and platform for the 420 million evangelical Christians worldwide, and unify Christians worldwide through local churches in 122 countries, bringing peace, religious liberty, justice and reconciliation to their communities.
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