“Offering our lives to promote life” - XXV Anniversary of VIDES International

Young people gathering from all over the world under the flags of 34 countries, the sharing of concrete experiences in the field, and the joy to be together to discover again and re-read through today reality the mission of VIDES. These were the ingredients for the success of the  X International Conference of VIDES (International Volunteerism Organization for Women, Education and Development) under the title “Recall, Rejoice, Renew”, which took place from November 1^st to 4^th, in Trevi (Italy).  Almost 200 hundreds VIDES volunteers and Salesian Sisters met to share their work on the ground, as well as to renew their   commitment with the society through the Salesian Charisma and the youth leadership. 

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International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

Today October 17th we celebrate the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty has been observed every year since 1993, when the General Assembly, by resolution 47/196, designated this day to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries, particularly in developing countries - a need that has become a development priority.

The first International Day of the Girl Child and The Global Launch of “Because I am a Girl” Campaign

On 11th October 2012, the first international day of the girl child was designated by the United Nations to encourage global action on girls’ rights. On this occasion, PLAN International (http://plan-international.org/) launched its global campaign “Because I am a Girl (BIAAG)” to ensure to millions of girls the access to education and other basic services, livelihood, participation and protection. The event “BIIAG” was sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Canada, Finland, Peru, Switzerland and Turkey. 

IIMA at the high-level panel on the occasion of the 10th International Day against the Death Penalty

On the 10^th of October, the European Union together with the delegations of Mexico, Mongolia and Switzerland organized at the UN in Geneva a high-level panel discussion gathering UN experts, activists, politicians, and members of victims' families from all over the world. The aim was to reflect together on the issue, highlighting the progresses made, the experience gained and the challenges remaining for abolition and restriction of the use of death penalty.

Conference on Female Genital Mutilation at the United Nations in Geneva.

On 10^th October IIMA participated in a panel organized by the Global Alliance against FGM on the most effective approaches for a successful fight against genital mutilation of babies, girls and women.

Female genital mutilation (FGM), also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as "all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons”. 

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women considers the report of Togo

The U.N. Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) discussed the situation of women in Togo during its fifty-third session (1 - 19 October 2012).

During the discussion with the national delegation of Togo, the Committee pointed out controversial subjects such as polygamy, the low rate of women’s political participation, early marriage, early pregnancy, the situation of women in rural area and women with disabilities. The delegation of Togo emphasized the efforts made by the government to promote the rights of women, including the adoption of a new legislation related to quotas for women’s participation in the field of agriculture and in security forces, as well as the improvement of health and education policies targeting women’s problems. It also asked the Committee for support and assistance.

Meeting with Patrizia Scannella from Amnesty International

On October 2^nd 2012, Ms. Patrizia Scannella from Amnesty International office in Geneva met the staff of IIMA Human Rights Office, in order to share best practices and main challenges experienced during her advocacy work in Geneva.  In particular, she presented Amnesty International and its commitment for the protection of human rights in 80 countries worldwide. She focused on the support offered to the Special Procedures, through the preparation of documentation, organization of meetings with NGOs in the field, and advocacy work to ensure that main concerns raised are included in the reports of the Special Rapporteurs.

International Day of Non-Violence

In 1869 was born Mahatma Gandhi. 

October 2 is the International Day of Non-Violence

The UN Human Right Council concludes the work of the 21st Ordinary Session

On 28th of September the Human Rights Council concluded the 21^st regular session adopting 33 resolutions on a wide range of issues of undeniable social, judicial and political relevance.

Under the Agenda Item 3 (on the Promotion and Protection of All Human Rights, Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Including the Right to Development) the Council adopted 20 Resolutions, among which the most important are on the protection of human rights of indigenous peoples, on the fight against maternal mortality and morbidity and human rights, on the implementation of the right to truth, on regulation of the use of mercenaries, on the dissemination of the Guiding Principles on transnational enterprises, on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, and human rights and international solidarity. 

IIMA and VIDES International give voice to young people at the United Nations in Geneva.

During the week of 17-22 September, at the XXI Session of the Human Rights Council,  the International Institute of the Daughters of Maria Ausiliatrice (Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco) and VIDES International presented four oral statements during the discussion of item 6 related to the adoption of the Universal Periodic Revsion (UPR) reports on Ecuador, Brazil, Poland and South Africa. 

HRC interactive dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic

On the 17^th of September, the Human Rights Council held an interactive dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic.                                       Mr. Paulo Pinheiro, Chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry, expressed concern that the violations of human rights are committed in Syria by both parties: Government forces and anti-Government armed groups. Therefore, he stated that, in compliance with International Criminal Law, perpetrators should be held responsible for such violations and the Commission should recommend that the Council forward its report to the Security Council. 

International solidarity and human rights: Meeting between the Independent Expert and Civil Society

An Informal consultation between the Independent Expert on International Solidarity and Human Rights and civil society was held on Friday, September 14^th at Palais des Nations. The first panelist, H.E. Msgr. Silvano M. Tomasi, Apostolic Nuncio, Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See highlighted the importance of solidarity as key notion in the social doctrine as well as in human rights system. He also stated that the concept of solidarity has been devalued: “Solidarity must generate a moral and not only a legal obligation”

Panel discussion on the issue of intimidation or reprisal against individuals and groups who cooperate or have cooperated with the UN.

On the 13th September the 21^st Human Rights Council held a Panel discussion on the issue of intimidation or reprisal against individuals and groups who cooperate or have cooperated with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights.

The sad coincidence is that the panel was held the day after the murdered of the U.S. ambassador, Christopher Stevens, by Islamist gunmen who attacked the U.S. consulate in Libya.

Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, General Secretary of the UN, through a video message, expressed his concern on the issue, reporting that episodes of intimidation and reprisals against those who operate with the UN in the field of human rights have increased in the past two decades.

21st session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva

On Monday September 10^th the Human Rights Council opened its 21^st Session, in Geneva. The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, in his opening speech, encouraged the Ambassadors, Member State representatives, and NGOs to “use all our tools to shine the light of human rights everywhere”. While recalling main international issues requiring to be addressed, he mentioned his expectations for this Session, which are:

IIMA Side event on July 4th, 2012 (20th HRC session):”Haiti: two years after the earthquake”

On 4^th July 2012, the Istituto Internazionale Maria Ausiliatrice (IIMA) organized a side event at Palais des Nations, Geneva, with the support of VIDES International. The event was co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Haïti, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Holy See and the NGOs Platform on the Right to Education. The event focused on the current situation in Haïti, with special regards to education, and on results of the humanitarian intervention in the country after two years from the earthquake. The panel consisted of representatives of governments, UN and civil society and as such, the issue was addressed from multiple perspectives. IIMA and VIDES International, represented by Sr Dieudonne Jean Louis (IIMA) and Beltsie Abelard (VIDES), both from Haïti, presented and recommended best practices.

The Rights of Journalists

On the 21st of June, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue, and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns, presented reports to the Human Rights Council focused upon protecting the rights of journalists.  Both emphasised the unacceptable worldwide level of violence against both professional and unprofessional journalists. They asserted that it was local journalists who were most vulnerable.

Poverty, Transnational corporations and national debt

On the 21^st of June, the Human Rights Council held an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights and a clustered interactive dialogue with both the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises and the Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights.

Discussion on the Special procedure mandate in the field of cultural rights

On the 20^th of June 2012 the NGO Platform on diversity and cultural rights hosted an event on the subject of cultural rights.

The main speaker of the side event was the Special Rapporteur in the Field of Cultural Rights, Ms Farida Shaheed.

Rio +20 Conference: “The future we want”

On the 22nd of June the UN conference on sustainable development, Rio +20, came to a close.

191 national delegations produced a final document entitled: “The future we want”. The document contains 283 articles which detail the commitments of the international community to global sustainable development. The document focuses in particular on green economy, which was described as: “one of the important tools available for achieving sustainable development which could provide options for policy making”.