The 24th Session of the Human Rights Council reaches its end with still-standing issues and new challenges.

The 24^th Session of the Human Rights Council, which started 9^th September in Geneva, reached its end. For the Council, whose mission is to promote the respect of the human rights and to monitor the violations in all the UN Member States, it’s time to review and evaluate the results that were reached in this session.                                 
In this session, Syria sadly played the protagonist, with millions of civilians forced into mass displacement by gross violations of humanitarian law, at a time where international balances are at a critical moment. This session hosted a general debate on Israel and the Occupied Territories, reminding us that in the West Bank, Palestinians are still inhumanly treated. Other ever-hot topics were also addressed, including the rights of children in armed conflict, the rights of children of parents sentenced to the death penalty or executed, the treatment of indigenous people, the condition of women and gender discrimination, and contemporary forms of slavery. Interactive dialogues with the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia and with the Independent Expert on the human rights situation in Somalia and Sudan took also place.

“Education for Peace!” Celebrating the International Day of Peace

One day, every year entirely dedicated to Peace. It’s a way to discover the true meaning of that word, making peace real and not just a spot of ink on a piece of paper or just the visionary dream of a poet.

The UN has invented one day like that. One day when everybody lets a glimmer of peace into their busy daily life, from those in poverty living in a corner of the world, or into a devastating war, or children in fear, or into the heart of a young man anxious about his future.

IIMA Addresses Human Rights Issues Concerning Migrant Workers and Human Trafficking During Canada’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council

On September 19^th, 2013, IIMA delivered an oral statement on Canada’s second Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which evaluates human rights issues in Canada and recommends where the nation needs to improve. IIMA encouraged Canada to implement the recommendations that they accepted leading up to their next UPR in 2017 and to continue greater work to protect migrant workers from exploitation. IIMA also raised additional concerns about the Canadian Temporary Foreign Worker Program’s holes and weaknesses, which include the unreasonable burden of proof placed on a trafficked victim in seeking the protection of the government, the abuse by foreign recruiting agencies, and harsh living and working conditions in Canada. IIMA’s oral statement delivered to the Human Rights Council is based on reports from sisters’ in Canada along with contributions from the Office for Systemic Justice of Federation of Sisters of Saint Joseph of Canada.

You can watch IIMA's oral statement on Canada by clicking the link and selecting chapter 18 on the right side of the page.http://webtv.un.org/watch/canada-upr-report-condsideration-22nd-meeting-24th-regular-session-of-human-rights-council/2681983486001/

The Rights of Children whose are parents sentenced to the Death Penalty or executed

When the parent of a child is sentenced to death or executed, the child’s mental health is damages and their physical heath is often put at risk. A child will often experience discrimination especially where the parent’s sentence is publicly known.

As the death penalty disproportionately affects those who are poor or marginalized groups, discrimination can be exacerbated. The effect on children can be drastic as the child can be orphaned or left without the care and support of a parent. Sometimes children may have to stop their education and begin working to support themselves. This situation can make the children susceptible to abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

The effect of Armed Conflicts on children

         

As our world is faced with conflicts with radically different armies and battlefields, children suffer the greatest from the effects of war. Young children are recruited as soldiers and others are displaced from their homeland. Their neighbourhoods are the frontlines for warfare. They are killed or maimed by explosives, land mines, drones, and other weapons. When children are displaced from their homes or when their homeland becomes dangerous, children are less likely to attend school, especially girls. In other cases, schools are destroyed. Rebel groups target schools and hospitals and children are used as human shields.

            The 24^th Session of the Human Rights Council turned its attention to the issue of Children and Armed Conflict and started a dialogue between State Members on how to create solutions for this problem.