This June, people of faith from around the world will convene in Rome, Italy to participate in a historic solidarity conference. Pagtatanim: Sowing Seeds of Faith Solidarity for the Filipino People’s Struggle for Peace is an interfaith conference to strengthen the solidarity movement for the Filipino people, and mobilize faith communities to accompany and support the most marginalized in the Philippines.
Pagtatanim is being convened by human rights and faith organizations inside and outside the Philippines: the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP), the International Interfaith Network for the Philippines, and Ecunemical Voice for Peace (EcuVoice).
Pagtatanim is also being co-sponsored by a number of faith institutions and organizations:
- World Council of Churches
- World Communion of Reformed Churches
- World Christian Student Federation
- United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society
- Disciples of Christ and United Church of Christ – Board of Global Ministries
- United Church of Canada
- Anglican Church of Canada
- KAIROS – Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiative
With rising state violence amid ongoing economic crisis, it is clear that the poverty and misery of the Filipino people remains unresolved. The current times call for ongoing broad global upsurge from the faith sector to witness and accompany the Filipino people in their struggle for a just and lasting peace.
People of faith have acted in solidarity with the Filipino people for many decades. In the 1980s, faith communities around the world played a critical role in denouncing the brutality and corruption of the Marcos regime. Country-wide church networks shared information to the international community about Martial Law and campaigned for an end to the regime.
Today, people of faith and faith institutions continue to accompany the Filipino people by directly relating with faith organizations in the Philippines, and through membership of solidarity networks like ICHRP. There is an urgent need to expand this solidarity movement in the current context of widespread poverty, militarization, and state terror.
Pagtatanim will convene people of faith to continue this tradition of solidarity and action towards a just peace in the Philippines. All are welcome to join! Make sure to register soon if you plan to attend – registration will close at the end of this month (May).
More information on the conference, and a registration and payment form, can be found at ichrp.net/pagtatanim
