Swords into Plowshares

Security Council meets on civilians in armed conflict

Twice a year, the United Nations Security Council has an open debate around the role of civilians in armed conflict.  Today, the Security Council held this biannual debate, with testimony from Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Alain Le Roy and Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic.

The last time the Council met, as reported by Security Council Report, The Secretary-General called on the Council to:

• take a more consistent and comprehensive approach to addressing humanitarian access constraints and ensure accountability for grave instances of denial of access;
• request that situations where humanitarian operations are deliberately obstructed be brought to its attention;
• take action to enhance compliance with international humanitarian law, including by enforcing cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC), requesting investigations of possible violations or mandating commissions of inquiry with a view to imposing targeted measures or refer situations to the ICC. (In this context, the Secretary-General expressed his intention to request the Secretariat to undertake a review of the UN’s experience with commissions of inquiry in order to identify how they might be used on a more consistent and less politically-influenced basis.);  and
• call on states to establish or mandate mechanisms  to receive claims from individuals  alleging to be the victims of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law. 

During this meeting, the Council heard from experts regarding recent tensions in the Middle East and North Africa, Cote d’Ivoire, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria and Israel-Palestine among others. 

In her testimony, Ms. Amos referred to the IDPs around the world as well as access of humanitarian workers in conflict situations and the use of sexual violence in conflict.  Mr. Le Roy commented on the ongoing dialogue between member states and his office in work to protect civilians.  Mr. Simonovic referenced the denial of human rights as a root cause of war.

The Security Council then heard statements from members of the Security Council and other UN Member states.  The statement made by the United States is available here.

The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations believes that the protection of civilians and access for humanitarian workers is necessary in areas of conflict.  Let us pray for these protections and peace and security for all God’s people.

 

PC(USA) resources related to issues raised by the death of Osama bin Laden

The death of Osama bin Laden raises many issues for prayer, study, discussion, and reflection. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has a number of resources available to use at this time. Among them are the Resolution on Violence, Religion and Terrorism from the 216th General Assembly (2004) and Faithful Living in a Time of Violence and Terrorism, a study paper on the resolution. The Thoughtful Christian offers a study Responding to Terrorism.

The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program offers a list of materials to help study and practice nonviolence. Resurrection Living: Journeying with the Nonviolent Christ is the most recent study resource on nonviolence for use by individuals or groups.

The General Assembly has made several statements related to Iraq and Afghanistan.

219th General Assembly (2010)

• On the War in Afghanistan

218th General Assembly (2008)

• Regarding Assistance for Iraqi Refugees
• On Building Peace in Iraq
• On Addressing the Violence and Suffering Inflicted on Iraqi Women During the Current Prolonged War

216th General Assembly (2004)

• Iraq: Our Responsibility and the Future

215th General Assembly (2003)

• Iraq and Beyond

The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program has identified resources for caring for those serving in the military and their families:

• Ministering to Families Affected by Military Deployment
  U.S. Army Chaplains
• The Human Effects of War
  A Reflection by the Rev. Ken Moe, Grand Canyon Presbytery
• How to Help the Family of a Deployed Soldier

Recognizing the centrality of prayer to our lives, Faithful Living in a Time of Violence and Terrorism offers the following suggestions:

• Pray for peace, for one another, the community, national and international leaders, and the people of the world in each worship service.
• Light a candle for peace in each worship service.
• Use liturgical resources from around the world in worship, such as those found in Gifts of Many Cultures.
• Hold prayer vigils with other Presbyterian congregations and with ecumenical and
  interfaith partners.
• Pray daily for one another, the community, national and international leaders, and the people of the world.
• Create a group to pray together.
• Open a part of the church daily as a place of prayer and meditation.

Prayers for those who might be touched by the spiral of violence and revenge are also important.

Published since the study guide was written, Songs of Grace: New Hymns for God and Neighbor contains many hymns with peace themes.

The introduction to Faithful Living in a Time of Violence and Terrorism notes: "Through Christ, we are invited to look beyond what this world presents to God’s vision of wholeness and peace and to live into the hope brought about by God’s covenant." May these resources help us respond to Christ's invitation.

 

 

 

The Conflict Monitors - Afghanistan and Pakistan

From the Human Security Report Project

The Conflict Monitors provide concise and current information on peace and security issues in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Each Monitor contains news, research, and data.
 
The Conflict Monitors also provide interactive charts and maps illustrating trends in violent incidents and civilian casualties in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Attacks in Afghanistan kill those working “in service of humanity”

UN News Reported, “The Security Council and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon have strongly condemned today’s [April 1, 2011] attack in Afghanistan in which a large crowd of demonstrators angry at the burning of a copy of the Koran by a United States group stormed a United Nations compound and killed a number of people, including three UN staff members.” 

Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said, “Those who lost their lives in today's attack were dedicated to the cause of peace in Afghanistan and to a better life for all Afghans. These brave men and women were working in the best tradition of the United Nations and gave their lives in the service of humanity.”

Yesterday, the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations issued a letter of condolence to those affected by the violence.  We gave thanks for the faithful service of the United Nations staff members and others who were killed and injured and for individuals and groups who work for international peace and justice and who care for our sisters and brothers.  

The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations asks others to join us in our prayers for peace and justice around the world. 

 

Prayers for a Saturday morning . . .

and other times . . .

Pray for the people of . . .

Yemen, Bahrain, Jordan, Libya and other countries who call for change . . .

Uganda who are vote . . .

Palestine and Israel who stand in need of a just peace . . .

Madagascar who still face fall-out from the March 2009 change of governments . . .

India who are imprisoned for standing for human rights . . .

Egypt, Tunisia, the Philippines, and theSudan and Southern Sudan who are living into new realities . . .

Pakistan, Colombia, Brazil, Australia and other countries who continue to cope the aftermath of natural disasters . . .

Wisconsin who challenge the governor's decision . . .

Afghanistan, Iraq, and other countries who know violence and uncertainty . . .

The United States who have been touched by gun violence . . .

Africa's Great Lakes region who cope with the Lord's Resistance Army . . .

The world, women and men, who travel to New York for the Commission on the Status of Women meeting . . .

Places unknown and forgotten and unavoided.

Lord, have mercy.

Amen.

Who is on your heart this day?

 

Children and Armed Conflict

Children and Armed Conflict

From the statement for Universal Children's Day by Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General Radhika Coomaraswamy and Under-Secretary-General Alain Le Roy:

November 20 is Universal Children’s Day, a day to celebrate youth and to demonstrate our universal belief that childhood is sacred for all girls and boys. Millions of children around the world, however, are denied a safe home and community, a functioning school and a protected playground. Growing up in conflict, their innocence is stolen when they are abducted from schools, recruited to fight, wounded or killed, separated from their families and emotionally as well as physically scarred for life.

The statement also highlights some successes in the effort to end the use of children as soldiers:

In a joint effort by our offices, UNICEF and other UN partners, we have achieved notable success in protecting children affected by conflict.  In 2010 alone, with the assistance of UN peacekeepers from the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), armed forces and groups in the country freed over 1000 girls and boys from their ranks. The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) and UNICEF facilitated the demobilization of over 200 children and the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) played an important role in the release of close to 1000 children over the last year. In Afghanistan, Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, three agreements for the release of child fighters are currently being prepared.

• Presbyterians Say No Child Soldiers
• Children and Armed Conflict
• Zero Under 18 Campaign
• Twitter: Office of the Special Representative of Children and Armed Conflict serves to promote and protect the rights of all children affected by armed conflict

 

Reconciliation is ‘compulsion’ for Pakistani religious leader

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) - News & Announcements - Reconciliation is ‘compulsion’ for Pakistani religious leader.

International Peacemaker "Bishop Mano Rumalshah is bishop emeritus of the Church of Pakistan’s Diocese of Peshawar, in the deeply troubled territory of western Pakistan that borders Afghanistan.

He was raised and educated in Pakistan, but has pastored congregations in both England and Pakistan. Ramalshah and his wife are dedicated to developing interfaith relationships and cross-cultural communication."

Read an interview with Bishop Ramalshah by the Presbyterian News Service.

Photo by Jerry VanMarter

The Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb at 30th Anniversary Celebration

The Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, long-time partner of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program and pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem, brought greetings at the 30th Anniversary Celebration of Peacemaking: The Believers' Calling sponsored by the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program during the 219th General Assembly (2010).

Mitri also spoke at the pre-assembly event, “Shalom, Salaam, and Peace: One Hope, Two Peoples, Three Faith Traditions.”

The assembly took a number of actions related to peace and justice in the Middle East.

The photo is by Nancy Eng MacNeill.

A prayer on the killing of aid workers in Afghanistan

God of mercy,
we come to you in shock,
for those who extended aid,
those who offered healing,
those who provided care,
have been met with violence and death.
We grieve for those who
were killed in Afghanistan.
Our minds reel,
our hearts break,
our spirits ache.
Understanding fails,
words falter,
yet still we pray.
We give thanks for their witness,
for their kindness, courage and grace.
Comfort their families and friends
and all who mourn at their deaths.
Strengthen and sustain
all who go into harm’s way to care for others
in Afghanistan and other places.
Support the Afghani people
who seek to live in peace.
Touch the hearts of
those who committed this atrocity
and all who would turn to violence;
turn them to paths of peace
as lived by the aid workers who were killed
as lived by Jesus
in whose name we pray.
Amen

•    The Rev. Mark Koenig

Ten members of the Nuristan Eye Camp Expedition a medical team from the International Assistance Mission relief group were killed in Afghanistan, bringing to 17 the number of aid workers killed in the country this year. Another 19 have been abducted.

The Wounds of War: The Church as a Healing Community

From Presbyterians for Disability Concerns
Disability Access/Inclusion Sunday
June 27, 2010

Find worship resources.

Is the church ready? Are we prepared to be a community of healing for those who are living now, and will be living for many years, with the wounds of war? Every day the news media reports on the physical and emotional costs of war. One in five soldiers returning from Iraq or Afghanistan lives with major depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. Suicide rates and domestic violence have soared. Is the church prepared?

Members of the PDC Leadership Team believe that the physical, emotional and spiritual wounds are intertwined. We believe that the church can and must be a community of healing. This is the challenge we are issuing to the church in our 2010 Inclusion Sunday resources.

Use the materials on June 27 or on other appropriate days in the life of your congregation.

Presbyterians for Disability Concerns is one of the networks of the Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association.