International Christian Bodies Welcome Adoption of New Human Rights Standards Church-Related Organizations Laud UN Council's Openness to Civil Society
GENEVA, 3 July 2006 (LWI) - 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 - the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Franciscans International, Dominicans for Justice and Peace and Pax Christi International - 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.
"The adoption of this convention confirms a shift in international law towards the rights of victims to truth, justice and reparation," stated Dr Guillermo Kerber, a specialist on human rights at the WCC. "It 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."
The church-related organizations also noted that non-governmental organizations enjoyed a high degree of access to the discussions in the context of the Council's first session, and they welcomed this transparency. "We 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," said Mr Peter Prove, Assistant to the LWF General Secretary for International Affairs and Human Rights, who also paid tribute to the "skilful stewardship" of the presidency of the first session.
"It is hoped that this Convention will go a long way in eliminating impunity and bringing peace to the families of the disappeared," Etienne De Jonghe, Secretary General of Pax Christi International, stated.
In their joint statement to the UN Council, the WCC, LWF, Franciscans International, Dominicans for Justice and Peace, and Pax Christi International committed themselves to working with the new Human Rights Council "as a key international instrument for the promotion of justice and human dignity," The five organizations also underscored that the Council will be judged by whether it "actually increases the chances for life in dignity and in sustainable communities for people suffering discrimination, deprivation, oppression and violence." (407 words).
(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 140 member churches in 78 countries all over the world, with a total membership of 66.2 million. The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects of mission and development work. Its secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)
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