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)