Statements during the 41st session of the Human Rights Council

Franciscans International delivered oral statements on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Japan, Sri Lanka, climate change, human trafficking, migration, and reprisals.

Item 2: General Debate (25 June 2019)
In a join statement Fr. Ashok Stephen expressed condolences to the victims of the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka as well as solidarity with the Muslim communities that have been subjected to reprisals, hostility, suspicion, and discrimination in its aftermath. He warned that the bombings cannot be used as an excuse to further delay reconciliation, justice, and accountability for alleged war crimes committed during the country’s civil war and called on the Council to continue to strengthen its engagement with Sri Lankan authorities.

Full statement

Item 3: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on migrants (25 June 2019)
Sister Diana Muñoz FMM, Director of the Betania Santa Martha shelter, called attention to the alarming increase in the number of migrant women and children arriving in Mexico, often under perilous conditions.

Full statement (Spanish)

Item 3: Clustered interactive dialogue with Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons (27 June 2019)
Using the emblematic case of Adelina Sau, who was killed in February 2018 by her employer, this joint statement highlighted the issue of trafficking, inhumane treatment, and exploitation of migrant workers from Indonesia in Malaysia.

Full statement

Item 3: General Debate (1 July)
In a joint statement, Franciscans International voiced its regret that the Government of Japan failed to submit follow-up information to the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression on the implementation of recommendations made previously. We also highlighted several cases of concern that have been reported in the country.

Full statement

Item 4: General Debate (3 July)
Franciscans International expressed its grave concern that the President of Sri Lanka recently signed four death warrants, after a 43-year moratorium. This situation is confounded by serious deficiencies in the country’s justice system, which increase the possibility of a wrongful conviction. The statement also denounced reprisals against refugees in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday terrorist bombings.

Full statement

Item 5: General Debate (4 July)
Special mandate holders fulfill a key role as the eyes and ears of the Council. Nevertheless, there has been a pattern of reprisals and non-cooperation by States, including the Philippines, Burundi, Eritrea, the Maldives, and Myanmar. In a joint statement, we urged the President of the Human Rights Council to immediately act when such reprisals occur.

Full statement

Item 6: Universal Periodic Review outcome of Vanuatu (4 July)
Franciscans International commended the Government of Vanuatu for accepting all recommendation relating to climate change made during its Universal Periodic Review (UPR). We further called on the Council to conduct a study to determine whether UPR recommendations have brought coherence and positive impacts on climate policy and action at the national level.

Full statement

Item 10: Interactive Dialogue on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (9 July 2019)
In December 2019, presidential elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo raised hopes for a break with the old system of governance. However, six months later, a new political stalemate looms ahead of local elections in September 2019. In a joint statement we called on the government to work with the United Nations’ MONUSCO mission to ensure the protection of civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Full statement (French)

Panel on Women’s Rights and Climate Change (28 June 2019)
An analytical study by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights recently concluded that, while women play a key role in safeguarding traditional knowledge and practices that can protect the climate, they are often also disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change. During the examination of the study by the Council, we asked panelists for recommendations to ensure the full and equal participation of women in decision-making, planning, and implementation of climate policy.

Full statement