Swords into Plowshares

Emrace diversity, End discrimination,

December 10 is designated as Human Rights Day - a day to mark the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.

The Presbyterian United Nations Office and the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program offer a variety of materials to help plan worship services or other observances of Human Rights Day: worship resources, information about the day and the declaration, and links to UN offices that work to protect human rights.

The Declaration was one of the first major achievements of the United Nations. Its adoption marked the first time in history that a document considered to have universal value was adopted by an international organization. It was also the first time that human rights and fundamental freedoms were set forth in such detail.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights represents a common statement of goals and aspirations — a vision of the world as the international community would want it to become. The Declaration is one of the best known and most often cited human rights documents in the world. Over the years, the Declaration has been used to defend and advance people's rights. Its principles have been enshrined in and continue to inspire national legislation and the constitutions of many nations. References to the Declaration have been made in charters and resolutions of regional intergovernmental organizations as well as in treaties and resolutions adopted by the United Nations.

Human rights have been the focus of many statements by Presbyterian General Assemblies. The 161st General Assembly (1949) voted its support of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, taking a concrete step on a matter about which Assemblies had been advocating for nearly fifteen years. The action marked the beginning of declarations by Assemblies in the area of human rights principles. These policy statements and resolutions have been both general — addressing the rights of all human beings — and specific, addressing the rights of persons in particular situations.

Urge Balance in U.S. Denunciation of Israeli and Palestinian Violence

From the Presbyterian Washington Office:

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass a resolution that will block "any further consideration" of the Goldstone report. The detailed report found credible evidence of war crimes by Israeli forces and Hamas in Gaza during Operation Cast Lead, which left 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis dead.

House Majority Leader Hoyer justified his vote in favor of the resolution saying the report is "distorted." He also said the 1.5 million people living in Gaza are suffering "in major part from the determination of their imposed leaders to pursue indiscriminate terror." He failed to mention that their hardship results from severe restrictions on movement of people and goods imposed since 2007 by Israel and Egypt, a condition many have defined as collective punishment.
 
If your Representative voted for H. Res. 867, please tell them now that they are undermining U.S. credibility internationally.
 
Israel's security is on the line and the U.S. must remain balanced in order to guide both parties to peace and security.  Fear mongering does not help Israel, the U.S., or the Palestinians get any step closer to a better future for our children.

Only a balanced approach can lead us to a better future. There are 36 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives that opposed the resolution. These brave leaders need to hear from you too. Please thank your Representative if they opposed H. Res. 867. 

Fight impunity, uphold the rule of law, and contact your Member of Congress today.
 
Background Reading
Reflections from the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program
 
"Israel and Gaza Deserve Better than a Misguided Resolution," Congressman Brian Baird, November 4, 2009
 
Letter to the President on the Goldstone Report from Churches for Middle East Peace [pdf]  
 
 
General Assembly Guidance - Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The 218th General Assembly (2008) voted to do the following:
 
Be a voice for the victims of violence in both Israel and Palestine. We ask PC(USA) members, congregations, committees, and other entities to become nonpartisan advocates for peace. As such, we will not over-identify with the realities of the Israelis or Palestinians. Instead we will identify with the need for peacemaking voices in the midst of horrific acts of violence and terror.
1.    Focus our energy on the United States government, demanding that it assume an intensive and unrelenting role as a peacemaker, bringing together the opposing parties in forums where reasonable people can reach reasonable compromises about highly complex issues.
2.    Condemn all acts of violence against innocent civilians. We will avoid taking broad stands that simplify a very complex situation into a caricature of reality where one side clearly is at fault and the other side is clearly the victim.

UN General Assembly to consider UN probe into Gaza conflict

The United Nations General Assembly will meet on November 4 to consider the report [PDF] of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict. The Mission was appointed on April 3, 2009 “to investigate all violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law that might have been committed at any time in the context of the military operations that were conducted in Gaza during the period from 27 December 2008 and 18 January 2009, whether before, during or after.”

The four-person Mission presented its report [PDF] to the United Nations Human Rights Council on September 29, 2009. The report [PDF] concluded that both parties to the conflict likely committed war crimes during the fighting. The report has generated a great deal of discussion, controversy, and criticism.

The October 23 edition of Bill Moyers Journal featured an interview with Justice Richard Goldstone who served as the head of the Mission. Justice Goldstone came to prominence investigating the behavior of security forces during the apartheid regime in his native South Africa. He served as chief prosecutor of International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavian and Rwanda and has been part of investigations into Nazi war criminals hiding in Argentina and war crimes in Kosovo.

Moyers interviewed Justice Goldstone about “the report, his critics and why he believes international humanitarian law is an important part of the peace process.” View video and read the transcript of the interview.

Here are some other perspectives on the report:

• Amnesty International
• Human Rights Watch
• B’Tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories 
• UN Goldstone Gaza Report sponsored by the Association for Human Rights in Israel™ 
• Breaking the Silence - testimonies of Israeli soldiers who participated in Operation Cast Lead in Gaza
• Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has been involved in mission efforts in the Middle East for nearly two centuries. The denomination’s long-standing witness in Israel and Palestine involves working with partners in Israel and the Occupied Territories. Since 1948, General Assemblies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its predecessors have made statements calling for a just peace for Israelis and Palestinians.

General Assemblies have supported the work of the United Nations since 1946. Assemblies have seen the United Nations as a peacemaker, and a peace-builder, a forum for U.S. foreign policy making, and a guarantor of law and human rights in a troubled world. In addition, assemblies have consistently endorsed international law and supported human rights as they have proclaimed the life-giving vision of Jesus.

Q&A - The CTBT

Ask your Senators to work to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) calling for a global ban on nuclear tests was rejected by the United States Senate ten years ago. Over 180 countries have signed the treaty. Nine countries, including the united States, still need to ratify the CTBT for it to enter into force. 

Since 1946, General Assemblies [PDF] of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its predecessors, acting out of faith in Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace, have understood that working for God’s intended order and life abundant involves seeking international disarmament and arms control measures. Assemblies have called for the creation of test ban treaty and have called the United States to ratify the treaty.

In a video presentation, Deepti Choubey addresses issues around the CTBT in Q&A format, describes the CTBT’s importance and how it impacts U.S. security. Choubey is deputy director of the Nonproliferation Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Those questions and answers in the presentation are:

•    What is the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty?

•    How will the CTBT impact the United States?

•    Will the United States ratify the treaty?

•    What are the prospects for the treaty entering into force?

•    How does the treaty relate to President Obama’s goal of a world free of nuclear weapons?

•    Does the CTBT influence U.S. national security?

30 years working for rights for women

December 18, 2009 marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).  A working group of the United Nations Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality (IANWGE) has planned a number of activities in 2009 to celebrate this important anniversary and created a special anniversary website.

The website contains:

• Examples of CEDAW’s successful implementation from around the world, which serve to illustrate how national partners and the global community can work together to ensure gender equality is a reality for all women and girls.
• A calendar of regional and country level events being organized by the UN and its partners to celebrate the Convention’s 30th anniversary.
• Information on the global anniversary celebration at UN headquarters in New York on 3rd December, 2009.
• Electronically available publications and resources on CEDAW.
• Background information on the Convention and its Optional Protocol.
• A link to Inter Press Service’s special CEDAW website, which features articles on CEDAW’s implementation and interviews with CEDAW experts from around the world.

The United States has signed, but not ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

The 199th General Assembly (1987) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) urged the United States to ratify the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Since then, other assemblies have reaffirmed this call.

Trick or treat for Unicef - the quick post

A longer post will follow, but here is a quick reminder to Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF.

Events in Guinea

On September 28, a violent crackdown on unarmed demonstrators in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, led to the deaths of at least 150 people. Many rapes were also reported.

The trouble in Guinea goes back to last December, when a military junta led by Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, an obscure junior officer, took control of the small West African nation six hours after its longtime dictator, Lansana Conté, died.

Camara first indicated his rule would be temporary. That has not been the case. This led to the demonstration on September 28 and the violence by security forces directed at the demonstrators.

Richard Moncrieff, West Africa project director for the International Crisis Group, was interviewed about events in Guinea by the New Yorker.

The International Crisis Group suggests that if military rule in Guinea is not rapidly ended, there is a serious risk the country will slide into a civil war that could affect all West Africa. They have issued a policy briefing that focuses on the events of September 28 and their implications for the stability of the country and the sub-region, discusses dangerous fractures within the military and signs that various members are raising ethnic militias, warns that Guineans will not accept an attempt by the army to remain in power and calls for the end of military rule and a re-opening of the democratic transition process.

The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security has issued an open letter to the United Nations Security Council concerning the situation in Guinea.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced that he will set up an international commission of inquiry into these events.

A prayer for United Nations Day

Here is a prayer for the United Nations for use in relation to United Nations Day (October 24) or any appropriate time:

God of compassion, walk alongside all of your global stewards who work to create a more just and peaceful world. Equip the United Nations community with a sense of urgency and humility that lets your will be done. Each day you give bread enough for all, grant us also the wisdom to ensure that everyone has enough.Teach the world’s leaders to forgive, to extend welcome across borders. Show the world a new path beyond greed, oppression, and division. We pray for a world united. We pray for the power to save succeeding generations from war. We pray for a glory that reaffirms the dignity and worth of every person. We pray that your grace might ensure life in larger freedom forever, for all of your children. Amen.

Jessica Hawkinson
Associate for International Relations and Education
Presbyterian United Nations Office

Photo of the United Nations General Assembly by UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras.

Worship resources for United Nations Day

October 24 is United Nations Day. The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program and the Presbyterian United Nations Office offer worship materials for use on Sunday, October 25 or another time.

Download O God Who Formed Creation [PDF], a hymn by the Rev. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, co-pastor of Limestone Presbyterian Church.

Find prayers, bulletin inserts, and more.

Here is one prayer:

Great God,
supreme ruler of all the earth,
give vision to those who serve the United Nations.
With justice and goodwill, may they take down barriers
and draw the world together in peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

— from Peacemaking through Worship: Volume I by the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program

Happy Birthday, United Nations!

October 24 marks the birthday of the United Nations. On 24 October 1945, the United Nations was formally established after a majority of its founding members ratified a treaty setting up the world body. In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution recommending that the day be observed by Member States. Traditionally, it has been marked throughout the world by meetings, discussions and exhibits on the goals and achievements of the organization.