News Archives » human rights
Human Rights Day Resource Available December 10th, 2010
The theme for Human Rights Day 10 December 2010 is human rights defenders who act to end discrimination.
Human rights defenders acting against discrimination, often at great personal risk to both themselves and their families, are being recognized and acclaimed on this day. VIVAT International has prepared a very useful resource for the occasion.
Congo Week of Action: October 17- 23 October 14th, 2010
The Missionary Oblates JPIC office joins millions around the world in commemorating the Congo Week of Action.
Faith communities, civil society groups in fifty countries and about two hundred universities will mark the week-long set of actions which is designed to raise awareness about the devastating situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and mobilize support on behalf of the country’s people. It will take place from Sunday October 17 to Saturday October 23. 2010.
Democratic Republic of Congo remains one of the largest and most neglected humanitarian crises today with more than six million deaths since 1998. Millions of people have been displaced and many thousands of women and children have
Click here to read more »
UN Warns Governments to Respect the Rights of all Migrants October 1st, 2010
The Global Migration Group, which consists of twelve UN agencies, the World Bank and the International Organization for Migration, has a issued a warning to all governments to respect the rights of migrants – especially the millions of undocumented immigrants who are particularly vulnerable to abuse.
The inter-agency statement affirms the duties of governments to control border crossings, but stresses that this must be done in accordance with international human rights law. Global Migration Group is an inter-agency group which aims to promote the wider application of international and regional norms and better coordinated approaches regarding international migration.
Read the U.N statement on the Rights of Migrants (Download PDF)
The Oblate JPIC office welcomes this U.N statement protecting the rights of migrants. The issue of migration is experienced by Missionary Oblates serving around the world. At the local level, each Oblate community and region has developed its own initiatives to respond to migrants. Some of the programs are focused on pastoral care, joining interfaith action to support immigrants and advocacy initiatives.
Issues of migrants are closely monitored by the JPIC office and we engage at various levels to promote their rights. The office continues to engage the issue in the US, by supporting congressional actions for comprehensive immigration reform. At the international level, we encourage corporate initiatives to fight human trafficking and improve the rights of migrant labor in corporate supply chains.
Elders Speak Out on Sri Lanka August 17th, 2010
The Elders, an independent group of eminent global leaders, brought together by Nelson Mandela, who offer their collective influence and experience to support peace building, help address major causes of human suffering and promote the shared interests of humanity have recently issued a statement of concern about Sri Lanka.
They are alarmed that since the brutal end to the twenty-five year civil war in May of 2009, Sri Lanka has made no real progress on reconciliation and that the government’s “persecution of critics is ‘terrifying’.” Additionally, the group feels that “Sri Lanka’s disturbing actions [have been] met by ‘deafening global silence’. According to Kofi Annan, a member of the 12-person group, “The international community cannot be selective in its approach to upholding the rule of law and respect for human rights. Impunity anywhere is a threat to international peace and security everywhere.”
Read the Elders’ full statement on Sri Lanka here…
UN Human Rights Commissioner Decries Killing of Top Congolese Human Rights Defender June 3rd, 2010
Floribert Chebeya Bahizire, a long-time and deeply committed human rights defender in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been killed.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay expressed shock and great sadness at the news of the Mr. Chebeya’s death. His body was found on the outskirts of Kinshasa on Wednesday. Human rights organizations in Kinshasa reported his disappearance after he was summoned to police headquarters the previous day.
