The Council's service to uprooted people is based on the work of local member churches and the Council's ecumenical constituency. It provides an ethics-based global perspective for concerns related to refugees, internally displaced people and international migrants. The programme directions are set by WCC member churches, regional working groups and the Global Ecumenical Network on Uprooted People. The response to the WCC Central Committee's invitation to member churches to mark 1997 Ecumenical Year of Churches in Solidarity with Uprooted People provided a prime example of the broad-based participation of churches around the world.

Since its founding as the Refugee Service in 1946 (preceding formation of the WCC), the programme has been an initiator, a catalyst and a facilitator. It has four main objectives:

• to facilitate diaconal service to and with uprooted people as a central part of the life of the churches;
  
• to influence policy at the global, regional and national levels by projecting a Christian perspective towards ethically-based responses;
  
• to change the situation facing uprooted people by supporting and facilitating practical actions of solidarity at the local level;
• to address the causes which force people to flee their communities.

Refugee-family from Sierra Leone, in a Ministry of Health Center for Internally Displaced Persons. Liberia 1996

The main priority of the programme is to empower the churches to engage in solidarity, advocacy and ministry to and with uprooted people. Capacity-building binds and underpins all activities. During the past half century, the service has evolved a specialized role in advancing both church and civil society responses to the causes and consequences of the forced displacement of people globally. The programme works actively with counterpart international Christian organizations and related international civil society organizations. It has developed a critical partnership with the main international organizations addressing refugees, internally displaced persons and migrants, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the International Labour Office (ILO), and the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA). The WCC has developed a particular credibility in its advocacy and action because its work is based in and on a direct relationship with an engaged, local, national, regional and global constituency. Staff in the programme have specialized knowledge and experience on issues, policy and programmatic services related to refugees, internally displaced people and migrants.

The International Affairs, Peace & Human Security team's inter-related work programme on uprooted people comprises five areas:

• Research, analysis and reflection for understanding and policy development;
  
• Resource sharing and capacity-building for diaconal work by the churches;
  
• Mobilizing and coordinating practical actions by the constituency;
  
• Communications and networking to share information and analysis as a basis for developing common policies;
  
• Advocacy to influence international, regional and national policies which affect the lives and well-being of uprooted people.

Within WCC's International Affairs, Peace & Human Security Team, two programme staff members have particular responsibility for work with uprooted people: Melaku Kifle and Elizabeth Ferris, with the administrative assistance of Beth Godfrey. Other International Affairs, Peace & Human Security staff liaise with working groups on uprooted people in different regions.

Important publications UPROOTED PEOPLE newsletter - Issue 20, October 2002 UPROOTED PEOPLE newsletter - Issue 19, May 2002 UPROOTED PEOPLE an index of back issues available on the web "The Church of the Stranger: Risking to be with Uprooted People" - WCC speech at the Fourth World Congress on Migration, Vatican, 5-10 October 1998 A moment to choose: Statement on Uprooted People issued by the WCC Central Committee in 1995 A moment to choose: Statement on Uprooted People (resource book) Global Campaign brochure

Important organizations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Information on treaties, debates on human rights, particularly about migrants and internally displaced persons. UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) International Organization for Migration (IOM) Includes a special page on the human rights of migrants. December 18 - human rights of migrant worker Online Network for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, USA Information on refugees' and migrants' situation in the USA. Includes a page on the UN Convention. US Committee for Refugees Publishes annual World Refugee Survey and regular issues papers on situations affecting refugees and internally displaced persons.