The WCC, through its International Affairs, Peace and Human Security team, maintains a consultative relationship with the UN and its related agencies. One such agency is the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR). Working cooperatively with ecumenical partners such as the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, and Franciscans International, the WCC seeks to :

• provide a space in which church-related groups advocating for human rights can make the most effective use of UN structures and system;
• mobilize public opinion;
• identify issues not presently on the Commission's agenda;
• provide background information on specific areas of human rights concerns.

The economic, social and cultural rights of the Papuan people will be the main focus of the World Council of Churches' (WCC) involvement in this year's 61st session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR).

As in previous years, the WCC is assisting human rights representatives from the South to attend the 12 March-22 April session. The WCC accredited delegations this year will be from Papua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Nepal and Colombia.