World churches back rights for indigenous and vulnerable peoples
-03/07/06
Internation
World churches back rights for indigenous and vulnerable peoples
-03/07/06
International church and ecumenical organizations have welcomed the adoption of a new International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, and a Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, both of which were agreed at the inaugural session of the UN Human Rights Council which concluded in Geneva on 30 June 2006.
Five church-related organizations ñ the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Franciscans International, Dominicans for Justice and Peace and Pax Christi International ñ had earlier submitted a joint statement to the UN Council urging the adoption of these measures, and have been at the forefront of civil society advocacy on these issues in recent years.
ìThe adoption of this convention confirms a positive development in international law towards the rights of victims to truth, justice and reparation,î stated Dr Guillermo Kerber, the WCC programme executive responsible for human rights and impunity issues.
He continued: ìIt also signals that the newly-formed UN Human Rights Council is able to act decisively in support of the fundamental dignity and rights of people, and to confront impunity, and this is to be applauded.î
The church-related organizations also noted that non-governmental organizations enjoyed a high degree of access to the discussions in the context of the Councilís first session, and they welcomed this transparency.
ìWe very much hope that this openness to civil society, and the interactive nature of this session, are signs of how the Human Rights Council will conduct itself in the future,î said Mr Peter N. Prove assistant to the Lutheran World Federation general secretary for international affairs and human rights, who also paid tribute to the ìskilful stewardshipî of the presidency of the first session.
ìIt is hoped that this Convention will go a long way in eliminating impunity and bringing peace to the families of the disappeared,î added Etienne De Jonghe, secretary general of Pax Christi International ñ the international Catholic peace movement.
The convention recognizes the ìextreme seriousness of enforced disappearance, which constitutes a crime and, in certain circumstances defined in international law, a crime against humanityî and holds states accountable for taking effective measures to prevent such disappearances.
Likewise, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples affirms unequivocally that ìindigenous peoples have the right to the full enjoyment, as a collective or as individuals, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms,î and holds states responsible for realizing this.
In their joint statement to the United Nations Council, the WCC, the LWF, Franciscans International, Dominicans for Justice and Peace, and Pax Christi International committed themselves to working with the new Human Rights Council ìas a key international instrument for the promotion of justice and human dignityî.
The five organizations also underscored that the Council will be judged by whether it ìactually increases the chances for life in dignity and in sustainable communities for people suffering discrimination, deprivation, oppression and violence.î
The full text of the joint written submission is available here.
[Also on Ekklesia: Christian world bodies welcome UN Human Rights Council 21/06/06; WCC calls for balanced United Nations human rights body; Human rights groups urge EU caution on Turkmenistan; Church leaders call for change in the Philippines; Churches urge Sudan government to end hostilities; Human rights lawyer deplores deriding of Guantanamo suicides; Church agency condemns Indonesian human rights decision; Christian human rights group praises Egyptian action; Human rights and church groups protest against World Cup sex slavery; Christians welcome new UN rapporteur on North Korea; US church leaders renew Guantanamo Bay closure call]
World churches back rights for indigenous and vulnerable peoples
-03/07/06
International church and ecumenical organizations have welcomed the adoption of a new International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, and a Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, both of which were agreed at the inaugural session of the UN Human Rights Council which concluded in Geneva on 30 June 2006.
Five church-related organizations ñ the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Franciscans International, Dominicans for Justice and Peace and Pax Christi International ñ had earlier submitted a joint statement to the UN Council urging the adoption of these measures, and have been at the forefront of civil society advocacy on these issues in recent years.
ìThe adoption of this convention confirms a positive development in international law towards the rights of victims to truth, justice and reparation,î stated Dr Guillermo Kerber, the WCC programme executive responsible for human rights and impunity issues.
He continued: ìIt also signals that the newly-formed UN Human Rights Council is able to act decisively in support of the fundamental dignity and rights of people, and to confront impunity, and this is to be applauded.î
The church-related organizations also noted that non-governmental organizations enjoyed a high degree of access to the discussions in the context of the Councilís first session, and they welcomed this transparency.
ìWe very much hope that this openness to civil society, and the interactive nature of this session, are signs of how the Human Rights Council will conduct itself in the future,î said Mr Peter N. Prove assistant to the Lutheran World Federation general secretary for international affairs and human rights, who also paid tribute to the ìskilful stewardshipî of the presidency of the first session.
ìIt is hoped that this Convention will go a long way in eliminating impunity and bringing peace to the families of the disappeared,î added Etienne De Jonghe, secretary general of Pax Christi International ñ the international Catholic peace movement.
The convention recognizes the ìextreme seriousness of enforced disappearance, which constitutes a crime and, in certain circumstances defined in international law, a crime against humanityî and holds states accountable for taking effective measures to prevent such disappearances.
Likewise, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples affirms unequivocally that ìindigenous peoples have the right to the full enjoyment, as a collective or as individuals, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms,î and holds states responsible for realizing this.
In their joint statement to the United Nations Council, the WCC, the LWF, Franciscans International, Dominicans for Justice and Peace, and Pax Christi International committed themselves to working with the new Human Rights Council ìas a key international instrument for the promotion of justice and human dignityî.
The five organizations also underscored that the Council will be judged by whether it ìactually increases the chances for life in dignity and in sustainable communities for people suffering discrimination, deprivation, oppression and violence.î
The full text of the joint written submission is available here.
[Also on Ekklesia: Christian world bodies welcome UN Human Rights Council 21/06/06; WCC calls for balanced United Nations human rights body; Human rights groups urge EU caution on Turkmenistan; Church leaders call for change in the Philippines; Churches urge Sudan government to end hostilities; Human rights lawyer deplores deriding of Guantanamo suicides; Church agency condemns Indonesian human rights decision; Christian human rights group praises Egyptian action; Human rights and church groups protest against World Cup sex slavery; Christians welcome new UN rapporteur on North Korea; US church leaders renew Guantanamo Bay closure call]