Geneva

An international alliance of church groups has been formed to promote justice and peace issues. The alliance, launched in Geneva, was inspired by the Jubilee 2000 campaign against debt and by the International Campaign to Ban Land Mines.

The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, which held its founding meeting here, links 45 representatives from a range of organizations, including the World Council of Churches, Christian World Communions, several Catholic organizations, regional ecumenical organizations from all parts of the world, and international ecumenical bodies.

The alliance plans to promote joint action by its members to influence the policies and practices of governments, international institutions and the corporate sector.

This is the first time that such a comprehensive and wide-ranging group of ecumenical partner organizations engaged in fighting for justice and peace, for development and human rights, for ecological integrity and sustainable conditions of life has come together, said Dr. Konrad Raiser, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, at the opening session.