communications, Author at Franciscans International

At 12:28 on 25 January 2019, a tailing dam near Brumadinho, holding back leftover products from a nearby iron mine, suffered a catastrophic breach. Seconds later, over 18 million cubic meters of mud and debris tore downstream, killing 272 people. The alarm meant to warn nearby workers and communities of the danger never sounded – it had been installed just below the dam and was instantly destroyed.

A year later, as the victims gather to commemorate the disaster, they are not only grieving but also still seeking justice. The dam in Brumadinho was not the first to collapse in Brazil’s Minas Gerais State. Four years earlier, a similar tragedy in Mariana killed eleven people, caused extensive environmental damage, and displaced hundreds. With as much as forty other dams in the state at high risk of collapse, the danger of recurrence is a daily reality for people.

These tragedies have become emblematic of the consequences of corporate negligence. It soon emerged that the mining company Vale, which owned the dam, had repeatedly ignored warnings that it was unstable. Meanwhile, the German company TÜV Süd had issued a safety certification, despite internal concerns the dam was at risk of liquefaction. Although several individuals working for these companies have recently been charged over their involvement, little has been done to bring about systemic change for corporate accountability or make reparations for the victims.

As a member of the mining Commission of the Brazilian Bishops, Brother Rodrigo Péret, OFM, has been an outspoken advocate on behalf of the Brumadinho community and worked with Franciscans International to draw attention to the case in different international forums. In May 2019, he joined survivor Dari Pereira in Rome where they presented Pope Francis with the photos and names of the 270 victims, after which the Pope blessed the photos and expressed his solidarity with the families.

He also joined FI in Geneva just a few weeks after the disaster, where he took the floor addressing all States at the UN Human Rights Council to call for an effective remedy, including reparation, for the victims. There, he showed how fighting impunity, through legal actions in national courts and stronger international norms on business accountability, could prevent similar tragedies both in Brazil and worldwide.

Today, as he and Franciscans International’s Americas Program Coordinator join the commemoration in Brumadinho, Brother Rodrigo again voiced his concern about the lack of progress in ensuring accountability.

“Unfortunately, considering the current policies in Brazil, the freedom of Vale to continue operating with impunity, the lack of full compensation for victims and the lack of guarantees of non-repetition, full redress for the human rights violations linked to the disaster is still to be obtained,” said Brother Rodrigo ahead of his visit.

In 8 years, the Franciscan “La 72” shelter in Mexico has welcomed over 90.000 migrant feet. Fr René Flores OFM reflects on the uniqueness of all those who visited to find reprieve and a safe haven.

“Feet of tired and trembling migrants, exhausted after a long journey,
Feet of migrants with blisters and blood,
Feet of migrants with shoes torn apart,
Feet of persecuted migrants fleeing to save their lives,
Feet of migrants criminalized by the State,
Feet of migrants who dropped out of school or university,
Feet of migrants eager to reach the North,
Feet of migrants seeking to achieve some rest,
Feet of migrants on the move for the sake of their beloved ones,
Feet of migrants traveling with their families,
Feet of migrants journeying together with other walking feet,
Feet of migrant men, women, children, LGBT community,
Feet of migrants with names and backgrounds,
Feet of migrants ready to walk again and go forward tirelessly,
Feet of migrants, weatherworn, overexposed to the sun and the rain,
Migrant feet of unaccompanied minors,
Migrant feet in need of arriving in a safer place,

Migrant barefoot feet, having nothing else to wear,
Feet of migrants who run and jump to get on the train,
Feet of flesh and bone,
Feet of deported migrants,
Feet of migrants who are walking full of hope,
Feet of Honduran, Salvadoran and Guatemalan migrants,

In 8 years, about 90 thousand migrant feet have stopped at “la 72” before moving on.”

“Pies de migrante cansados, tembloroso y desgastados por el camino
Pies de migrante llagado y sangrando,
Pies de migrante con zapatos destrozados,
Pies de migrante perseguido que huye salvando la vida,
Pies de migrante criminalizado por el Estado,
Pies de migrante que dejaron la escuela y la universidad,
Pies de migrante con prisa de llegar al norte,
Pies de migrante buscando descansar,
Pies de migrante movido por amor a sus seres queridos,
Pies de migrante caminando en familia,
Pies de migrante caminando con otros pies caminantes,
Pies de migrante de hombres, mujeres, menores, de la comunidad LGTB,
Pies de migrante con nombre e historia,
Pies de migrante dispuesto a caminar y seguir sin tregua,
Pies de migrante asoleados y mojados por la lluvia,
Pies de migrante de menores no acompañados,
Pies de migrante necesitado de alcanzar un lugar seguro,
Pies de migrante descalzo por no tener nada más que llevar,
Pies de migrante que corre y salta para subir al tren,
Pies de migrante de carne y hueso,
Pies de migrante deportado,
Pies de migrante caminando con esperanza,
Pies de migrante hondureño, salvadoreño y guatemalteco,

Por “la 72” en 8 años, han pasado unos 90 mil pies migrantes.”

Fr René Arturo Flores, OFM (Tenosique, December 2018)

On 8 November, Franciscans International (FI) hosted the last in a series of celebratory gatherings to mark the three decades that have passed since the organization was officially recognized by the United Nations (UN).

The keynote address of the meeting was given by Ms. Helena Yánez Loza, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the UN. She focused on the importance of states and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) cooperating to bring about positive changes in international policies – for example the work Ecuador’s delegation and FI have done together on business and human rights. Ms. Yánez Loza also highlighted St. Francis’ love and respect for nature as an inspiration to combat the current climate crises.

The meeting was also attended by some of the sisters and brothers who originally helped establish and develop FI as a respected influence at the UN, including Br. Kevin Smith, OSF, Sr. Kathie Uhler, OSF, and Br. Ignatius Harding, OFM. They shared some of their memories and experiences of the early years of FI and emphasized that, although the working methods of the organization have evolved over the years, its mission has never changed.

“For us, the most important thing was – and still is – that people don’t have a voice. That people who are most affected, like now with climate change, are the ones who never get to speak up,” said Br. Ignatius. “From the first moment we were not talking about ‘being the voice of the people’ at FI, but about ‘giving the people a voice.’”

Although the idea to establish a Franciscan presence at the UN had already been suggested in 1982 by Br. Dionysius Mintoff, OFM and the late Sr. Elisabeth Cameron, OSF, it was not until seven years later that FI was officially recognized by the UN’s Department of Public Information. In 1995, the organization became one the few NGOs in General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council, acknowledging FI’s representation of major segments of society worldwide.

Before the celebration, FI’s International Board of Directors and representatives from our staff visited the UN headquarters in New York, where they met with Secretary-General António Guterres.

Find out more about the events in Geneva and Rome.

The International Board of Directors (IBD) of Franciscans International and representatives of our staff recently met with Secretary-General António Guterres in New York, marking 30 years since the organization was officially recognized by the United Nations.

During the meeting Mr. Guterres expressed his appreciation for the work of Franciscans International, noting the overlap of United Nations and Franciscan values in their aim to eradicate poverty, combat climate change, and promote peace. He also stressed the important role of civil society in an international context where multilateral cooperation is increasingly under threat.

The IBD used the opportunity to highlight the work done by Franciscans International to connect the dots between advocacy at the UN level and the challenges faced by people at the grassroots. This included a toolbox by UNICEF, which recently cited our work with Franciscains-Benin to fight ritual infanticide as a best practice.

The board also expressed its concern about reprisals against Franciscan sisters and brothers in Central America and the Philippines, who have been repeatedly threatened because of their human rights work.

The meeting closed with Mr. Guterres expressing his support for the future work of Franciscans International.

On 18 October 2019, States gathered in a working group concluded their annual week of negotiations at the United Nations in Geneva towards the elaboration of a future treaty. Such an international human rights agreement will contribute to a better protection of human rights of individuals and communities affected by business activities, including those of powerful transnational companies such as in the mining sector.

As there are strong political and economic interests against such a future treaty, the way towards its adoption is still long. Nevertheless, at this year ‘s session, States engaged for the first time in technical and substantial discussions on the content of the future treaty. Elaborating on the work in past years, Franciscans International set out to actively engage in the session by providing input, commentary, and analysis together with other civil society partners. Our aim is to ensure that any future international agreement will address the gaps and obstacles that victims of human rights abuses face.

We supported a public event at the margin of the session highlighting the importance of including a gender-perspective in a future treaty to ensure the protection of the rights of women, which are particularly vulnerable to abuses committed by corporations. During a second event, Franciscans International and its partners provided a platform for testimonies from the Amazon region. Based on cases presented by human rights defenders from Bolivia and Brazil, Professor Olivier de Schutter explored how the current draft text of the treaty could be applied to obtain justice for the victims.

Although Franciscans International welcomed the progress made during the session of the working group this year, we also voiced our concern about the limited time available for negotiations. We therefore called on the working group to continue its work, including through intersessional negotiations and consultations ahead of the 6th session in October 2020.

Franciscans International is very proud that two of its partners have been elevated to Cardinals by Pope Francis.

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu OFM Cap, Archbishop of Kinshasa started working with FI when he was President of the Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation of the Capuchin order. Later, when he became Bishop and President of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Episcopal Conference of DR Congo, he continued working with FI especially with a focus on the exploitation of minerals in his country. He sees his elevation to Cardinal as a recognition by the Pope of efforts to give voice to the suffering people.

Cardinal Alvaro Ramazzini, Bishop of the Diocese of Huehuetenango recently worked together with FI at the United Nations and testified how people in Guatemala have been negatively affected by the impact of extractive industries.

Franciscans International wishes God’s blessings on these two new Cardinals and hopes that their elevation may strengthen their voice to defend the rights and dignity of those who are excluded.

FI delivered statements on the right to water and enforced disappearances, as well as on the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Philippines, and West Papua.

Item 3: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights to water and sanitation (9 September 2019)

Franciscans International raised the situation of the Rosario Champerico Retalhuleu community in Guatemala. Here, large scale agricultural and industrial projects have depleted traditional wells, affecting hospitals, schools, and other public spaces.

• Full statement here (Spanish)

Item 2: General Debate on the Oral Update by the High Commissioner (10 September 2019)

Franciscans International voiced its concern on the increased attacks against civil society, journalists, and indigenous and religious leaders in the Philippines since the Human Rights Council adopted Resolution 41/2, which asks the High Commissioner to report on the human rights situation in the country.

• Full statement

Item 3: Interactive Dialogue with the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances and the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence (11 September 2019)

Sri Lanka failed to submit its initial report to the Committee on Enforced Disappearances in June 2018 and thereby missed an opportunity to share its own assessment on the progress in addressing this issue. Franciscans International and IMADR call on the Council to hold the government accountable to the commitments toward transitional justice it made in Resolution 30/1.

• Full statement

Item 4: Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention (17 September 2019)

Since 19 August 2019, violent protests have been ranging across the provinces of Papua and West Papua, sparked by video footage of Indonesian security officials calling indigenous students derogatory and racists names. Instead of engaging in a dialogue, authorities have responded by deploying over 6,000 troops and shutting down internet access in the area. In an joint oral statement, Franciscans International urges the Indonesian government to respect the rights of protestors and human rights defenders and engage in a political dialogue to allow for a non-violent and sustainable solution to the long lasting conflict in the provinces.

• Full statement

Item 6: Universal Periodic Review (19 September 2019)

Under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the human rights situation in each of the 193 UN member states is reviewed every five years. These reviews are based on a national report prepared by the state, a compilation of UN information by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and a summary of information received from other stakeholders. During the adoption of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s review, FI raised issues concerning good governance, management of natural resources, and women’s and girls’ rights.

• Full statement (French)

During 42nd session of the Human Rights Council, we will organize and co-sponsor a number of side-events to discuss key thematic and country specific issues, including the rights to water and sanitation, and the human rights situations in the Philippines and Indonesia.

The Human Rights Crisis in the Philippines
• 11 September 2019 • 12.00 – 13.00 • Room XXII, Palais des Nations

Since the start of the so-called “war on drugs” by the current government of the Philippines, the human rights situation in the country has deteriorated dramatically. The Philippines Commission of Human Rights estimates that over 27,000 people have been killed since 2016, either by police of vigilantly groups. Critical voices – including human rights defenders, journalists, and religious and indigenous leaders – have faced reprisals and now work in a context where democratic space is increasingly limited.

In July 2019, the Human Rights Council responded to the situation by adopting Resolution 41/2, which requests the High Commissioner to prepare a comprehensive report that will be presented during the Council’s 44th session. During his side-event, grassroots human rights defenders will provide an update on the situation on the ground, focusing on the period after the adoption of Resolution 41/2.

The impact of megaprojects on the human rights to water and sanitation
• 12 September 2019 • 10.00 – 11.00 • Room IV, Palais des Nations

Megaprojects are often linked to human rights violations. From the lack of free, prior and informed consent to long-lasting environmental impacts, the consequences for the enjoyment of human rights are visible and recurrent.

In order to prevent and mitigate the risks arising from such projects and to ensure compliance with human rights, the Special Rapporteur on safe drinking water and sanitation is introducing a megaproject cycle framework for the realization of these human rights, consisting of seven stages, each of them entailing impacts on access to water and sanitation, challenges and enabling factors to realize the human rights to water and sanitation.

This side-event will provide an opportunity to discuss the findings of the Special Rapporteur ahead of the official presentation of his report to the General Assembly and explore key developments in human rights law based on testimonies from Colombia, Guatemala, and Zambia.

With Sustainable Development Goal 13 (climate action), the global community affirmed its commitment to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impact. However, its is paramount in this process that the unequal distribution of these negative impacts is addressed.

During a side-event in New York, we were joined by Willy Missack from Vanuatu – where the consequences of the climate crisis are already felt on a daily basis – to share experiences for implementing inclusive national plans to combat climate change.

You can find a recording of the full discussion on UNTV.

This side-event was co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Ecuador and Fiji, as well as by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

As part of the celebrations to mark its thirty-year presence at the United Nations, the Conference of the Franciscan Family (CFF) organized a gathering on 16 July in the Auditorium Antonianum in Rome.

Themed ‘Memory and Prophecy’, the event brought together over 90 sisters and brothers to reflect on the accomplishments of the past three decades as well as the challenges and opportunities ahead.

The keynote address was delivered by Br. Michael Perry, Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor. Tracing the history of Franciscans International (FI), he acknowledged the particular contributions of the late Sr. Elizabeth Cameron OSF, and Br. Dionysius Minthoff OFM – who, at age 88, continues to work with vulnerable migrants in Malta.

Their conviction that Franciscan spirituality and ethics shared many common values with the founding charter of the United Nations ultimately lead to the establishment of FI as the first ever common ministry on the international and intra-familial scale in the history of the Franciscan movement.

Looking toward the future, Br. Michael emphasized a dichotomy in the modern world, where people are simultaneously becoming more connected and disconnected resulting in an rise of political, economic, social, and cultural exclusion. Quoting Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si, Br. Michael reaffirmed the strong commitment of the CFF and FI to care for the poor, promote peace, and protect and preserve our common home, the planet.

Read his full remarks in English or Italian

Br. Michael was joined by two long term regional partners of FI from Mexico and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Sr. Diana Muñoz Alba FMM and director of the Bethany Santa Martha migrant shelter, recounted the story of Wendy, one of the first migrants she encountered – a powerful testimony that reminds us there is always a human face behind migration.

Wendy was kidnapped and abused at age 11 by the Marcos in Honduras, but ultimately managed to escape with her children after nearly 16 years of captivity. After a perilous journey to Mexico was welcomed at Casa Bethany Santa Martha. Yet despite reaching the safety of the shelter, she was later forced to return to Honduras after her family received death threats by her captors. She has not been heard from since.

Sr. Diana also highlighted the importance of international solidarity for her and her fellow sisters, who have repeatedly been threatened for their work. “It is crucial at this time to have the support of Franciscans International, and to raise awareness of the situation that those welcoming migrants in their homes in Mexico are facing,” she said.

Read her full remarks in Spanish

Mgr. Fridolin Ambonga OFMCap and Archbishop of Kinshasa, has played a prominent role in mediating political disputes in the DRC. Starting in 2016, scheduled presidential elections in the country were repeatedly postponed, raising tensions and occasionally sparking violence. Through its strong engagement and moral appeal, the Conférence Épiscopale Nationale du Congo (CENCO) managed to facilitate a dialogue that, in December 2018, led to the first peaceful transition of power since the country’s independence in 1960. Throughout this process, Mgr. Ambongo and his colleagues worked with Franciscans International at the Unite Nations to advocate for international support for an inclusive and transparent electoral process.

During his address, Mgr. Ambonga elaborate on his inspiration derived from the Gospels. “Without falling into historical-theological disputes over the reasons for the death sentence of Jesus, we know with certainty that Jesus died also because of his struggle for justice,” he said. “As long as there is any form of injustice in society, His memory cannot leave his disciples indifferent and inert.”

Read his full remarks in Italian

Br. Markus Heinze OFM and Executive Directory of Franciscans International, also paid tribute to the memory of Sr. Crescencía Lucero SFIC, who was meant to take part in the celebrations but passed away on 15 May 2019. Throughout her life, Sr. Cres worked as a tireless advocate for human rights in the Philippines and throughout Asia-Pacific. Together with Franciscans International she conducted yearly workshops to build the capacity of the Franciscan Family and other civil society partners. Sr. Cres traveled to Geneva most recently in 2017, where she denounced the devastating impact that President Duterte’s so-called ‘war on drugs’ has had on the Philippines.

The gathering concluded with a celebratory receptions where attendees had the opportunity to meet the speakers, mingle, and further discuss the work of FI and the CFF.

Throughout 2019, we are hosting a number of events to celebrate the accomplishments of the past three decades, call attention to the many challenges we still face, and share the roots of our organization.