United Nations!

My first adventure to the United Nations on Monday was so exciting! I am so glad I have the chance that few people have to attend an international meeting of this kind. The building is filled with art from around the world and professionals rushing up and down the halls. Everyone looked so official, and the Human Rights Council meeting room was even more beautiful than I expected. We took our seats next to the other NGOs like UNICEF and Human Rights Watch.

The High Commissioner made the first announcement explaining the main issues that will be discussed over the next 3 weeks of the session. After that, the really really long list of countries got 3 minutes to make a very diplomatic statement...but they talked more like 5 minutes because no one stops them unless they are very excessive. The most exciting part was when an NGO was talking and China interupted them 3 times because they were discussing a murder of a human rights defender in their country. Each day after that the format was the same except that the topic changed.

Now what exacting am I doing to contribute to the Human Rights Council?

The objective of the Human Rights office I am working with, IIMA, is to bring sisters and other human rights consultants associated with the Salesian sisters and VIDES to Geneva to attend the Human Rights Council sessions. Our office trains them on the work of NGOs to the Council and their functions. Right now there are 5 sisters and one VIDES volunteer from Mexico, Venezuela, Costa Rica, and Panama. They are all Spanish-speakers and thus the training is in Spanish and some Italian, which is very similar to Spanish is many ways. I thought I knew some Spanish...but I can barely speak to these sisters at all. But they are so sweet and funny and it has have been so fun to get to know without even being able to communicate with them. They have so much experience dealing with the Indigenous People of their region and that is our focus of the 2 weeks they will be staying here.

IIMA will present a side event at the UN building on the Right to Education for Indigenous People in Latin and South America. The sisters are so excited to present their knowledge to everyone who comes. After they leave Geneva, they will have the knowledge and skills to present Human Rights training to those in their towns and countries. This is our goal and we hope our event will be insightful for all state representatives and any others involved in the decision-making process of improving education for Indigenous People. This topic is one of the main issues discussed by the High Commissioner for this particular session of the HRC, so that is why IIMA has invited these sisters to participate.

On Thursday evening, Ornella and I went to a special talk in Assembly Hall, where the UN General Assembly meets. It was real interesting to hear the guest speaker, the Head of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), talk about ways to improve intercultural dialogue. There were questions and debate about ways to improve dialogue between the major religions and migrant groups with the country they enter. This produced very interesting explanations about how, in the speaker's view, Islam supports democracy and modernization. Many of the audience members pointed out the current absence of this in OIC member countries.



So far this experience has really opened my eyes to world events and the many situations which need our thoughts and prayers. Please consider taking a few minutes to pray for the people in the Democratic Republic of Congo who have been victims of mass rapes and violence. Also for the people in Pakistan affected by flooding and the children separated from their family in war-torn regions. Lastly for all the countries that are implementing the democratic process but are facing violence because of it which inhibits truly fair and just elections.