The international conference, “Churches against Racism”, delivered a strong message stating that they called for action with and on behalf of the marginalized, the poor and those facing exclusion.

The conference was held on the 14-17th June in Utrecht, The Netherlands and the message was delivered in the presence of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. During the conference the participants looked specifically at the issue of Dalits being treated as ‘untouchables’ in India, a result of caste-based discrimination, which is rampant in the country.

Some fifty church leaders, activists and theologians attended the international conference which was organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) in cooperation with the Council of Churches in the Netherlands, the association of migrant churches in the Netherlands SKIN, the missionary and diaconal agency KerkinActie, the interchurch organization for development cooperation ICCO, and Oikos, an ecumenical organization raising awareness on poverty and sustainable development.

Read the full text of the message delivered at the conference

Read more about the World Council of Churches’ work on solidarity with Dalits for just and inclusive communities