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• New UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Outlines Agenda, Meets Adventists
• Adventist Representatives to Participate at UN Sub-Commission on Human Rights
• Adventists Join Celebration of the International Day of Indigenous Populations

New UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Outlines Agenda, Meets Adventists

Dr. Jonathan Gallagher meeting Louise Arbour, newly-appointed U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (taken in Geneva).

Geneva, Switzerland… The recently-appointed United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour outlined her perspective on her new role to an audience of non-governmental organizations in Geneva on July 28.

Commissioner Arbour, a former Canadian Supreme Court judge, said that as she viewed the human rights landscape, “the fight against terrorism is a dominant theme,” and that “some of the measures enacted to fight against terrorism are themselves a serious challenge to human rights.” Considering these “very dangerous setbacks,” Arbour added said she wanted to not only address the emergency human rights situations, but also those of an ongoing nature, so that “we will not be so much at the mercy of acute situations that we neglect the chronic.”

Arbour also explained her background and some of the issues she had adjudicated, including the full integration into public classrooms of the severely disabled, prisoners right to vote, searches of lawyers’ offices, extradition to countries with the death penalty, the constitutionality of part of Canada’s anti-terrorism laws, and property rights versus freedom of religion.

L to R: Peter Prove (Lutheran World Federation) with Dr. Gallagher, and Juan Perla.

Asked by Seventh-day Adventist Church representative Dr. Jonathan Gallagher for her perspective on religious freedom, Arbour acknowledged that this was a “broad question,” but that it was important that freedom of religion or belief should not be treated as a secondary right, “one that can be modified or changed depending on the situation.” All such rights would receive attention under her mandate, she added.

After the meeting Arbour met Gallagher and Adventist UN liaison office volunteer intern Juan Perla, and was presented with a DVD entitled “Doors to Freedom” outlining the work Adventists accomplish in the area of practical contributions to humanity.

Established in 1947, under the authority of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the sub-commission is the main subsidiary body of the Commission on Human Rights. The 56th session opened on July 26 and will end August 13, 2004. Its mandate is to undertake studies and make recommendations to the Commission concerning the prevention of discrimination of any kind relating to human rights and fundamental freedoms.

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Adventist Representatives to Participate at UN Sub-Commission on Human Rights

Dr. Gallagher with chair of the subcommission.

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (July 26, 2004)… Adventist representatives return to the United Nations in Geneva to participate in this year’s session of the second most important human rights monitoring body of the UN—the Sub-Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.

“As a Church we have traditionally played an important role in the promotion and protection of basic human rights such as the freedom of religion and conscientious objection,” said Jonathan Gallagher, UN liaison director for the Adventist Church. “Top-level meetings such as this one give us the occasion to continue strengthening relations with representatives of states and human rights agencies around the world; an opportunity we fully endorse.”

The new high commissioner for human rights, Louise Arbour, opened the 56th Session of the Sub-Commission with a strong emphasis on the importance of protecting and promoting human rights amid the challenges of terrorism and international conflict facing the world today.

Present at the opening session was Juan Perla, UN liaison intern, who has been representing the church at the UN in Geneva for the past six months. “It’s an honor and a privilege to attend such a prestigious meeting as a representative of a Church that takes human rights seriously and works for the advancement of these rights for all,” he said.

Gallagher will attend the meetings from July 28 to August 3, during which he plans to make important contacts on behalf of the church.

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Adventists Join Celebration of the International Day of Indigenous Populations

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (July 22, 2004)… This year’s celebration of the international day of Indigenous Populations featured a special visit and speeches by the new high commissioner for human rights, Canadian Louise Arbour, and UN Geneva’s Director-General Sergei Ordzhonikidze.

“This year is particularly significant in the history of international cooperation on indigenous issues,” said Ordzhonikidze. “Yet, while attitudes have undergone significant change, challenges remain in overcoming poverty, disease, barriers to education, environmental degradation and sometimes displacement that continue to affect indigenous populations disproportionately.”

The International Day honors cultural heritage and traditional values of thousands of Indigenous Populations around the world. This year, UN volunteer intern Juan Perla, represented the Adventist Church at the celebration.

“This celebration was a great opportunity for me to meet different representatives of the world’s indigenous populations,” said Perla. “I learned about their values and cultures, and shared with them some of my own.”

Speaking on behalf of the U.N. Liaison Office, Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, U.N. Liaison director said, “As a church we continue to uphold the human rights of all people everywhere. We continue our commitment to humanitarian assistance, education, and healthcare in fulfilling our commission to represent a God who cares in a very practical way.

The festivities featured cultural performances and religious rituals of several indigenous groups represented at the 22nd Session of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Issues.

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