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Author: communications

Br. Rodrigo Peret OFM collaborates with the Serviço Inter-Franciscano de Justiça, Paz e Ecologia (SINFRAJUPE) and many other Latin American and international organizations, and is a long-standing partner of Franciscans International.

In November 2017, Br. Peret travelled to Zimbabwe for an exchange visit held by the People’s Dialogue Network (PD). The aim of this mission was to understand the status, potential, and sustainability of artisanal mining in the country.  Within that visit, together with other 22 PD delegates, he was arrested and, after two days, released.

Franciscans International reached out to him to better understand the mining situation in Zimbabwe and how human rights work fits within his Franciscan mission.
 
The interview has been edited for clarity and length.
 
Why is mining so contentious in Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe is a very rich country in terms of natural resources, especially minerals. However, the population is very poor. There is no direct translation of this natural wealth in positive gains for the population. Actually, local communities are displaced by mining corporations and seldom receive proper compensation both in terms of hard cash and of infrastructures—roads, fresh water distribution, schools, among others. Many communities, displaced years ago, are still fighting for their human rights to water, education, health, etc.

Also, you have to realise that all mining concessions given to foreign and national corporations are at the discretion of the President [at the time of the interview the President Mugabe had just been deposed]. This is different from other countries in the region, where different bodies within the state decide on these matters.    
 
Do you think the situation of mines is bound to change for the better given the new President Emmerson Mnangagwa?
I do not have much hope for big changes. President Mnangagwa is a veteran of the revolution; he was Vice-President and has been in many different positions in the government during the 37 years of Mugabe’s presidency.
 
In your experience is this situation specific only to Zimbabwe?
No. There is a pattern in the way big mining corporations operate, regardless of the country. Although at different degrees, you will find similar types of exploitation of communities living on the land where the mining has, or will occur: a lack of redistribution of wealth, abuses, human rights violations, lack of compensation (communal or private) and poor to inexistent infrastructures. These communities and these lands are, in the eyes of corporations, expendables for profit. We really need to rethink this extractivist approach in its totality.
 
How do you see the connection between Franciscan charism and the type of human rights work that you engage in?
My human rights engagement is, at the base, an effort to protect and safeguard creation. There is a deep connection with the Canticle of Creatures and the feeling of brotherhood and sisterhood with all creatures and ecosystems on the planet.  Human rights are Franciscans at heart, they are a call to all people to defend the dignity of our brothers and sisters and the environment around us: all of God’s creation.

Harry McKnight, former Chief Financial Officer of Franciscans International, passed away on Saturday, 6 January 2018.

Harry joined FI in 2005 as a volunteer after his professional retirement. His expertise in financial management was of great assistance to our organization.

In 2006, he was appointed Chief Financial Officer. From November 2007 to February 2008, Harry acted as interim Co-director of Franciscans International, always serving on a pro-bono basis.

He left FI in 2010, but, being a strong believer of our organization’s vision and mission, he continued his friendship with many of our former and present staff members. He continued working with Edmund Rice International, FI’s partner organization, which meant he was regularly present in the office. Like the wise men in the gospel of the feast of Epiphany, Harry followed the “star” in his strong belief in Christ and his vision of a better world. We, in FI and ERI, are very grateful for all the support Harry has provided during the past 12 years and believe that he now enjoys the kingdom of God.

He will be missed.

It is with our deepest sorrow that we inform you of the death of Sr. Marie Theresa Plante, FMM.

Sr. Marie Theresa was the first representative of Franciscans International at the United Nations in New York. She has dedicated her life to make our World a better place and to defend the rights and the dignity of all those that are discriminated and oppressed.

With gratitude, we will always remember her and we are sure that she enjoys now the presence of our saviour that she followed in her life.

Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and with her community of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.

On the behalf of Franciscans International,

Markus Heinze, ofm
Executive Director, Franciscans International

You can read Sr. Marie Theresa’s bio here.

ENGLISH

Franciscans International’s Advent 2017 Reflection focuses on the four women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. These four women will serve as an inspiration to identify and reflect on contemporary human rights issues that disproportionately affect women today.

ITALIANO

La Riflessione sull’Avvento 2017 di Franciscans International si concentra sulle quattro donne che nel Vangelo secondo Matteo sono citate nella genealogia di Gesù. Queste quattro donne ci saranno di ispirazione per identificare e riflettere su problemi contemporanei relativi ai diritti umani che vanno oggi a incidere sulle donne in maniera sproporzionata.

ESPAÑOL

La Reflexión de Adviento 2017 de Franciscans International se centra en las cuatro mujeres mencionadas en la genealogía de Jesús en el Evangelio de Mateo. Estas cuatro mujeres servirán de inspiración para identificar y reflexionar sobre temas contemporáneos de derechos humanos que afectan de modo desproporcionado a las mujeres hoy.

DEUTSCH

Die Adventsreflektion von Franciscans International beschäftigt sich dieses Jahr mit vier Frauen, die im Stammbaum Jesu im Kapitel 1 des Matthäusevangeliums genannt werden. Diese vier Frauen dienen als Inspiration, um aktuelle Menschenrechtsprobleme zu reflektieren, die überwiegend Frauen betreffen.

FRANÇAIS

Franciscans International vous propose une Réflexion pour le temps de l’Avent 2017, qui met en lumière les quatre femmes mentionnées dans la généalogie de Jésus de l’Évangile selon Saint Matthieu. Ces quatre femmes sont sources d’inspiration pour réfléchir aux enjeux liés aux droits humains qui affectent les femmes de façon disproportionnée aujourd’hui.

Subscribe to Franciscans International Newsletter here.

On Friday, 10 November 2017 the third Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Benin took place at the Palais des Nations, in Geneva. The UPR is a UN human rights mechanism that reviews the human rights record of UN member States every four and a half years.

In total, 82 UN member States took the floor to ask questions and make recommendations to the Government of Benin. The recommendations reflected several concerns raised by Franciscans International and its field partners pertaining to children’s rights, including the issue of ritual infanticide, birth registration, and the right to education.

In this regard, while many States commended Benin for the adoption of the new Child Code, they also advised the Government of Benin to take concrete measures to ensure its effective implementation. Further, States demanded that Benin protect children from harmful practices—in particular, to ensure that cases of ritual infanticide are prosecuted and sanctioned.

Ritual infanticide in Benin involves the killing of the so-called ‘witch children’: children who experience an ‘abnormal’ birth. This can include infants born in the breech position – where feet are delivered first – or those born face down, as a normal birth is one in which the child is born head first and face up. Newborns are also killed if they are born prematurely, with teeth or perceptible disabilities, or if the mother dies during childbirth. These children are believed to bring a curse on the family and the community. Since these deaths are not always registered it is difficult to assess the magnitude of the practice.

Regarding birth registration, States recommended that Benin intensify efforts in view of ensuring universal birth registration of children — a practice that, in the west African state, still lags behind international standards.

The Government also received, and committed to, a number of recommendations on the right to education. These focused on ensuring a completely free primary education for all—no hidden ancillary costs for families—especially for those from disadvantaged households. In addition, the recommendations highlighted the necessity to create a safe environment for all children attending school.

Franciscans International and its field partners, who have been working on the issue of child protection in Benin for almost a decade, welcome the commitment of the Government of Benin to take action to implement these recommendations. Together with other actors of the Beninese civil society, FI will continue its engagement in the country to ensure that these commitments are translated into concrete action on the ground.

From May 23, 2017, the Islamic City of Marawi, the capital of the predominantly Muslim Lanao del Sur province in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, in the Philippines, has been the epicentre of violence.

On that day, the Philippine Army and a local radical Islamist entity, allegedly affiliated to ISIL, the Maute Group, began a battle in the city. This action soon became a siege and, as of June, official data report that over 400,000 people were internally displaced to neighbouring provinces.

Local Franciscans have been some of the first to bring humanitarian assistance to the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) from Marawi in the form of food, medical assistance, and livelihood support. Franciscans also organised psycho-social interventions (similar to group counselling meetings) to help IDPs deal with their trauma.

Norly Sara Paingco, 24, was present at one of these meetings. Until May 23 she was a student in the city of Marawi. On that day, she had to leave her city, her house, and her school. She now lives in an evacuation center in Baloi, in the Lanao del Norte province, some 30 km north of Marawi city.

“Why are we being evicted from our houses? Why are we considered terrorists?” she asks in tears. “Now I cannot study. My future is destroyed.”

Since May the crisis in Marawi has intensified and the martial law, initially proclaimed for the city of Marawi only, was extended to the whole island of Mindanao on July 22.

The living conditions of IDPs in the country is increasingly worrying and Sen. Leila de Lima, former chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights, requested the Duterte administration to formally invite the United Nations special rapporteur on the human rights of IDPs, Cecilia Jimenez-Damary, to look into the growing number of citizens displaced by this crisis. As reported by The Philippine Star, “The senator said the government, as the ‘legal protector of Filipinos who are unable to protect themselves,’ has the duty to pursue an impartial investigation through an independent commission of inquiry to be conducted by the UN special rapporteur.”

Budi Tjahjono, Franciscans International’s Asia-Pacific Coordinator, was recently in in Iligan City—40 km from Marawi—to attend a meeting with the JPIC of Franciscans in Mindanao, titled “Franciscans, ONE with Marawi.” In the context of this meeting, that aimed to consolidate Franciscan responses to the crisis, Mr Tjahjono also visited one of the evacuation centres where local Franciscans are engaged in humanitarian assistance and advocacy. His assessment of the situation is similar to the one provided by Sen. De Lima. He said, “It is very important to address immediately the IDPs situation through the lenses of the UN guiding principles on internal displacement.” And he further added that “the Philippines should invite the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of IDPs to visit Marawi and the region. And the Government should also reconsider their position in regard to Bill 1142 on IDPs rights.”

Author: Paolo Cravero, FI Communications Officer

Join ATD Fourth World in showing your support for people living in extreme poverty all over the world who struggle each day to overcome poverty.

“Wherever men and women are condemned to live in extreme poverty, human rights are violated. To come together to ensure these rights be respected is our solemn duty.” – Joseph Wresinski, founder of ATD Fourth World

Check their campaign here.

On Friday, 16 June on the side of the 35th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Franciscans International, together with the International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR) and Amnesty International, organised an event focusing on the issue of the freedom of expression in the island of Okinawa, Japan. With a rich panel representing local civil society and media as well as the United Nations, the debate has touched upon many crucial elements relating to both the right of free speech and the Okinawan situation.

To read a full account of the side-event, please click here. To see the webcast of the event (in Japanese) follow this link

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