Our View on Human Rights

Dear friends of the Tillman Chapel for the United Nations:

Please set aside 4:00 on December 10th for an Observance of the International Human Rights Day at the Tillman Chapel in the Church Center for the U.N. 777 UN Plaza, NY, NY 10017. This day is the day we observe the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Human Rights and we have entitled this observance "Bound to a Law Higher than that of Kings".

The program:
In a world devastated by WWII, the framers of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights looked back over history and saw the devastation not only of two World Wars and the brutality of the Holocaust, but of the ravages of both Slavery and Colonialism. From that context, determined to go a different way, they wrote the Declaration of Human Rights, hoping that this would root the work of the United Nations.

During this late afternoon concert, we too will follow history and the artists' expression of the great quest to live life "bound to a law higher than that of Kings"

The program includes world premiere performances with world class musicians of classical, pop, hip hop, indigenous peoples, historical speeches, and dramatic readings. A light reception will follow.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call.

And we hope you'll set aside the time.

Kathleen Stone, Chaplain
Church Center for the United Nations
777 UN Plaza
10th floor
NY, NY 10017
212-661-1764

Mourns the death of Former UN High Commissioner

The UN family to mourns the death of Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Sergio Viera de Mello who was tragically killed on 19 August 2003 in Iraq. A tribute to Mr. de Mello can be found a http://www.unhchr.ch/html/hchr/memorial.html

On The Ground
"On the Ground" is produced by the NGO Working Group on Israel/Palestine at the New York offices of the United Nations. The IPWG seeks to serve as a dynamic bridge betwen Israelis and Palestinians while advocating for a just and lasting peace through the United Nations.

This news monitor provides information and eye witness accounts of events, comments by local people, alternate sources of information and statistics to help your Mission do its work. (PDF format)

Anglican Peace and Justice Network Statement on the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict
Anglican Peace and Justice Network members visited the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, and noted the continuing policies of illegal home demolitions, detentions, and checkpoints, identity card system and the presence of the Israeli military that make any kind of normal life impossible. The unconditional recognition of the state of Palestine must be implemented if peace is to prevail in the Middle East. More .

Racism and Religious Intolerance
The following is a report on the United Nations’ response to global racism and religious intolerance. It has been compiled predominantly from United Nations documents as, for the most part, UN agencies were unable or unwilling to provide information through direct contact.

UN Human Rights Monitoring
The international human rights treaties of the United Nations are monitored by established committees of experts (often referred to as "treaty bodies"). The treaties and the committees monitoring them include: The Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) - monitored by the Committee against Torture; Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) - monitored by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.

A list of the committees and the status of ratification of the principal international human rights treaties, can be found at http://www.unhchr.ch/pdf/report.pdf

UN Human Rights Committee
monitors the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR). States are required to submit periodic reports to the Human Rights Committee.

The 79th session of the committee in October 2003 reviewed reports from: Equatorial Guinea, Latvia, Colombia, Russian Federation, Philippines, Sri Lanka.

The next session of the UN Human Rights Committee in March 2004 will review country reports from: Belgium, Finland, Liechtenstein, Serbia and Montenegro.

Human Rights Items Under Review.
The 2003 session of the U N Commission on Human Rights, has allocated to the UN General Assembly various issues affecting human rights. Currently, the Social, Humanitarian & Cultural Committee of 58th Session of the U N General Assembly will review the following items:
• Promotion and Protection of the rights of Children.
• Program of activities for the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People.
• Elimination of Racism and Racial Discrimination (including, a comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Plan of Action).
• Right of People’s to Self-determination.

Human Rights Questions to be addressed include: the implementation of human rights instruments; alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms; human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives. A comprehensive implementation of and follow-up of the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action, Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights will also be addressed. For details visit:
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/2/59chr/59doc.htm

1995 – 2004 UN Decade of Human Rights Education
was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1994.

Governments are encouraged to establish national Human Rights Committees. Many countries have integrated human rights education in school curriculums. Human Rights education, training and public information are essential for the promotion and achievement of stable and harmonious relations among communities and for fostering mutual understanding, tolerance and peace. For resources from the UN High Commission for Human Rights see:http://www.unhchr.ch/education/main.htm

10TH December - Human Rights Day
Annually commemorates the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.