Back row (l-r) Clalffin Achimba (Kenya), Naazneen Kola (South Africa), Terry Dowling (ERI) Amy Hills,(Australia), Taydren van Vuren (South Africa), Samuel Rivero (Peru), Patrick Perera (FI, Sri Lanka), Brian Bond (ERI), Alsis Goa (FI, Indonesia), Tino D’Abreu (ERI).
Front row (l-r) Joyce Pinto (India), Josefa Roces-Pizon (Philippines), Esther Arthur (Ghana), Nisha Bhusal (India), Pilar Caballero-Alias (USA)
Twelve members of the Edmund Rice and Franciscans International networks participated in the June 2023 Geneva Training with the Edmund Rice International (ERI) Team. With participants from Peru, South Africa, India, Australia, Kenya, Ghana, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, the Philippines and USA, ERI team members from India, South Africa, Australia and Cormac McArt from Northern Ireland, the rich diversity of the group made for the profound sharing of stories, cuisines and cultures.
Throughout the training, sessions involved the history of human rights, advocacy and the emergence of the rights-based approach, the background and journey of Edmund Rice International, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the mechanisms of the United Nations, Edmund Rice spirituality and the care of our earth, the Sustainable Development Goals, and learning about each other’s work.
All participants thoroughly enjoyed an opportunity to visit the International Labour Office, Red Cross Museum and the United Nations Environment Programme and speak with staff members involved. We also enjoyed guest presenters from the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Permanent Mission of Australia in Geneva, International Catholic Centre of Geneva and the United Nations Special Procedures team.
For many, the highlights of the training were the visits to the United Nations, Palais de Nations, to view the Human Rights Council sessions. It was encouraging to see the commitment and participation of so many countries in the process of realising and working towards fulfilling human rights across the globe.
Our time culminated in the development and presentation of our own Rights Based Advocacy Plans to put our newfound knowledge and skills to use in our own local, national and international contexts. The group build such wonderful friendships and connections, which made for a meaningful and emotional final debrief, appropriately reflecting the life-changing experience we had with ERI.
thanks to Amy Hills for this article