Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December

It is a day which affirms the inherit dignities and freedoms that each individual is afforded as a basic right.  However, it is also a day to draw attention to the millions of people around the world who live in constant fear and suffer a myriad of indignities simply because they are caught within the crossfire of sectarian, political or economic strife.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of two International Covenants on Human Rights. The themes for this year's Human Rights Day revolve around rights and freedoms -- freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. 

The LWF and Human Rights Day

In light of the themes hightlighted for this year, the LWF chooses to focus on how acts of terrorism, particular in Syria, strip individuals of their basic and inherent human rights.

In a joint statement by LWF President Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan and General Secretary Rev. Dr Martin Junge, the Lutheran leaders express their "grave concern over the current actions to counter terrorism as they unfold today in Syria."  They state that the world is trapped in a vicious circle of violence that engenders even more violence and call upon political and religious leaders to consider the roles of inter-cultural and inter-religious engagement as means for promoting conflict resolution. They emphasize the need to resort to internationally binding legal intruments to enhance peace building, and urge the protection of all victims of violence and persecution.

Read Joint Statement

Get Involved

Use your voice via social media using the following hashtag

• #HumanRightsDay

Interact with us on:

- Twitter

- Facebook

Panelists: Dr Alice Mabote, Founding Member, Human Rights League, Mozambique; Dr Sousa Gonçalves Shelle, Head of Strategic Planning Department, Human Rights League, Mozambique; Mr Nordine Gonçalo Ferrão, Advocacy Officer, LWF, Mozambique; Ms Angela dos Santos Jorge,

Founding Member, Women Development Association, Mozambique; Mr Abdurremane Lino de Almeida, Minister of Justice and Constitutional and Religious Affairs

Moderator: Michael French, Global RBA Programs, LWF World Service

Organized by the LWF, Geneva

Co-sponsored by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)

This is the topic of an event jointly organized by the Inclusive Peace and Transition Initiative (IPTI), the Lutheran World Federation (LWF),  the World Council of Churches (WCC) and Finn Church Aid (FCA). 

Peacebuilding is generally perceived as the task of state actors, political parties and international bodies. Therefore, the role of local communities, traditional authorities and tribal elders, women and youth, and faith-based groups is often overlooked. However, throughout South Sudan’s protracted civil wars, civil society has been a central peacebuilding actor. It has advocated for peace, facilitated dialogues and protected citizens against violence.  This event seeks to shed light on the peacebuilding contributions of unsung peace agents and grassroots civil society.

Program

Words of Introduction

• Rev. Dr. Martin Junge, General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation

Moderator

• Dr. Thania Paffenholz, Director of the Inclusive Peace and Transition Initiative at The Graduate Institute

Panellists

• Fr. James Oyet Latansio, General Secretary of South Sudan Council of Churches, FBOs representative at Addis Ababa Peace talk
• Ms. Teohna Williams, Conflict Advisor on South Sudan
• Mr. Joseph Amanya, Acting Executive Director of the Human Rights Development Organization and Coordinator of the Transitional Justice Working Group
• Mr. Matthias Wevelsiep, Right to Peace Senior Advisor of Finn Church Aid

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The LWF is pleased to co-host a discussion about the rights of refugees and interally displaced people in the east and horn of Africa.

Nations of the region play generous host to some of the largest numbers of refugees and IDPs globally. Numerous crises caused by either natural circumstances or human intervention have led to population displacement in Eritrea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Host countries face the continued challenge of caring for survivors of long-term protracted crises, in addition to those arriving in recent influxes. Speakers will provide an overview of the situation faced by refugees and IDPs, highlighting best practices, as well as major gaps and challenges.

Moderator:

Mr Ralston Deffenbaugh, Assistant General Secretary for International Affairs and Human Rights, LWF

Panelists:

• Ms Ann Encontre, Deputy Director in the Regional Bureau for Africa, covering the East and Horn of Africa region, UNHCR
• Ambassador Ben Lukwiya, Deputy Permanent Representative, Mission of Uganda
• Mr Geremew Ayalew, Charge d’affairs, Mission of Ethiopia
• Ms Sophie Gebreyes, Country Representative, LWF – World Service Ethiopia
• Mr Lokiru Matendo Yohana, Regional Program Coordinator for East and Horn of Africa, LWF – World Service

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Thursdays in Black was started by the WCC in the 1980s as a form of peaceful protest against rape and violence – especially taking place during wars and conflicts - and was revived at the 2013 WCC assembly. The campaign focuses on ways in which individuals may challenge attitudes that cause rape and violence.

The Lutheran World Federation is pleased to support this initiative and encourages congregants of member churches to dress in black in Thursday to mark their support for gender justice the world over.

According to UN Women, one third of women globally have experienced physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives. More than 125 million girls and women alive today have been subjected to female genital mutilation across countries in Africa and the Middle East.

Thursdays in Black - WCC site

Every Thursday

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ICVA, together with a group of NGOs in Geneva, invite you to a briefing to Member States by NGOs on the Neglected Crises in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Central African Republic (CAR).

NGO representatives will present on the acute needs, the increasing resource gap, and an overview of NGO humanitarian programming in both countries.

Briefings will be provided by:

▪ Save the Children: Heather Kerr, Country Director for DRC

▪ Action Contre La Faim: Arnaud Lavergne, Country Director for CAR

▪ INGO Forum, DRC: Martin Chatelet, INGO Secretariat Director in DRC

▪ CARE: Gareth Price Jones, Senior Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy Coordinator

▪ LWF: Susan Muis, Regional Program Coordinator for DRC and CAR



Opportunities for comments, questions and discussion will follow presentations.



▪ Where: Room XI, building A (Palais des Nations, Geneva).

▪ Remote dial-in: Dial 022 917 0901 (within Switzerland); or 0041 22 917 0901

(Internationally). To connect, dial-in the room number: 11.



▪ RSVP: To [email protected] by Friday 7 July



If you require a Palais grounds pass, please note, the system to grant ground passes has changed – you must request a pass by 7 July. Please read carefully the information on the following page and commence the registration process as soon as possible.



Please note: Translation services are not available for this event.

For further information, please contact James Schell ([email protected])

Colombia has made important achievements in incorporating a human rights approach in various stages of the peace process with the FARC: the negotiation, the contents of the Peace Agreement and the implementation. The third cycle of the UPR is an opportunity to evaluate and share this experience with other states - the good practices and the lessons learned - and also to exchange opinions on how the the third cycle recommendations can be a way for international community to continue contributing to peace building in the country.

The UPR also provides an opportunity to look at the advances and challenges in those aspects of the human rights situation that keep affecting the Colombian population despite signing the Peace agreement, such as the violence against the human rights defenders, inequality or impunity, among others.

Panel:

• Silvia Irene Berrocal, Leader who has worked with the vulnerable sectors in Apartadó (Urabá, Antioquia), member of Forjando Futuros and COMUPAZ
• Jomary Ortegon Osorio, Vicepresident of the Colectivo de Abogados José Alvear Restrepo
• Gustavo Gallón Giraldo, Director of the Colombian Commission of Jurists

Event Information:

• Friday 16th of March, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
• Palais des Nations, room XXII
• Interpretation in Spanish and English will be provided.

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This is a gathering of LWF Country Representatives in the Eastern Africa region, WS Geneva staff and invited Related Agency representatives to share, learn from each other and strategize together on issues of common concern.

Departments: Department for World Service

Language:  English

Event Agenda

Film & Discussion

LWF’s work in Angola

Angola is a country rich in natural resources, such as diamonds and oil. When the oil price dropped, the government decreed a diversification of the economy, encouraging investment in agriculture from foreign as well as local companies. A new land law was passed to protect small-scale farmers and rural communities. But often the legal procedure is not respected and farmers lose the land on which their livelihood depends.

The video shows how LWF is working with rural communities, village chiefs, local and national administration to raise awareness and to support people in claiming their legal rights.

An LWF production. Funded by Bread for the World/ Brot für die Welt, Germany.

Find more information about the LWF's work in Angola

Read more MORE INFORMATION LAND GRABBING IN ANGOLA – A GROWING THREAT...

Angola

Please come and join us. Bring your own food.

World Humanitarian Day (WHD) celebrates the work of humanitarian workers from all over the world. It commemorates a terrorist attack on the United Nations headquarters on 19 August 2003, which killed 22 people, among them the UN top representative in Iraq. Five years later, 19 August was designated as World Humanitarian Day. On this day every year, the humanitarian community advocates for the safety and security of humanitarian aid workers, and for the survival, well-being and dignity of people affected by crises.

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) World Service works in 24 countries, reaching 2.6 million people across the world. The majority of the 8,000 staff carry out their work in challenging conditions. Many have been recruited from refugee communities themselves. A large number work in conflict zones. What is common to them all is their dedication to improving the lives of people less fortunate.

Protection of Civilians

Conflicts have made it increasingly difficult in the past years for staff to carry out their work. The shrinking of humanitarian space, which describes the in which aid workers operate, and the targeting of civilians and aid workers by militia has become a grave concern.

World Humanitarian Day focuses on the protection of civilians: Non-combatants in conflict zones, especially women and children, but also volunteers, medical staff and aid workers. In LWF operations, staff have observed how refugees and internally displaced persons have become a target –as well as the LWF aid workers themselves, who often find themselves between the lines.

Civilians are #NotATarget