Franciscans InternationalWorkshop Participants attend Human Rights Council
Mr. Maina Kiai UNHRC Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Assembly and of Association, speaks to Franciscans at the UN
On the occasion of the 18th Annual Meeting of Special Procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council (Geneva, 27 June - 1 July 2011), Franciscans International held an Advanced Workshop on the UN Human Rights Mechanisms, with a specific focus on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and Special Procedures.
The workshop aimed to help Franciscans and other NGOs working at the grassroots to deepen their understanding of the UN human rights system and to improve their skills in drafting urgent actions and stakeholder’s reports to improve social justice.
The workshop provided a unique forum for the 15 participants to exchange ideas and share their experiences of working on issues of injustice in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe. FI invited different UN stakeholders to speak at the workshop including the Special Rapporteur on Human Trafficking, Ms. Joy Ezeilo, the Assistant of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Business, Ms. Lene Wendland, the Assistant of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Freedom of Religion and Beliefs, Mr. Michael Weiner, and Mr. Thomas McCarthy, former Senior Adviser at the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. FI was also honoured by the presence of the Permanent Representative of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organisations in Geneva, Monsignor Silvano Tomasi.
The five-day workshop concluded with the Franciscan Brothers and Sisters attending a session for the Special Procedures mandate-holders to dialogue with NGOs held at the UN on 30 June 2011. The mandate-holders thanked NGOs for their valuable work and collaboration upon which their work depends.