“Whatever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you do to me” Matthew. 25:40
This month brings the change of season, and with the ground-breaking Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) verdict in favour of the 11 applicants on 8th March, challenging the church’s 2016 ruling against same sex relationships. We are hopeful that this ruling will have a positive ripple effect in the wider Church Communities that will lead to the inclusion and celebration of all LGBTI people. You can read IAM’s full statement here and learn more about IAM’s involvement in the DRC process, since 1995 in the 2018 Annual Report which will be published in April 2019.
Autumn, in the Southern hemisphere, has also witnessed the horrific xenophobic mosque massacre in Christchurch, New Zealand that left many from migrant Muslim communities dead, having to deal with immense loss and pain. Our condolences go out to the families of the victims and the rest of New Zealand.
The new season also marked yet another Human Rights Day in South Africa on 21 March in remembrance of the Sharpville Massacre which took place in 1960. This massacre occurred as a result of protest against the apartheid regime.
Cyclone Idai left Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi ravaged. We are extremely grateful for the humanitarian efforts and support given. A special thanks to all South Africans involved and, in this way, giving true meaning to what it means to help a neighbour.
We seek to remember and honour those whose human rights and dignity are being violated on a daily basis; people who find themselves in the terror of domestic violence, those who are bullied or discriminated against because of the colour, age, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation or HIV status; those whose rights are violated as they are denied proper housing, security, education and the right to basic resources.
We acknowledge and regret the seemingly apathetic mindset of religious institutions. During the years of apartheid these institutions were the forerunners that brought about change and freedom. Their silence on human dignity and equality is troublesome.
At IAM we will continue to find new ways, big and small, to stand and advocate for the human dignity of ALL people.
“To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.” Mr Nelson Mandela