Information
Vatican Meeting with Catholic NGOs
26/12/07 20:26
Earlier this month the Vatican
Secretariat of State convened a meeting of Catholic NGOs.
Throughout the NGOs were referred to as "Catholic Inspired" rather
than merely "Catholic". About one hundred NGOs attended the
meeting. Edmund Rice International was represented by Brother Donal
Leader cfc from Geneva. The purpose of the meeting was to explore
new ways of collaborating among Catholic NGOs.
There were a recognition that the Catholic Church represents a major presence in the world of NGOs and human rights. More than one speaker referred to the fact that the Catholic Church through its institutions, schools, hospitals and global network of priests, religious and lay people is the largest faith-based organised presence in the developing world. Indeed, many UN agencies are beginning to acknowledge that faith-based NGOs and Churches have a role to play in promoting development and defending human rights.
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI spoke to the group in a private audience. While the media mis-represented the Pope's speech as critical of, even hostile to, the United Nations, this was not the case. He did refer to the moral relativism that he believes is the over-arching ethical framework for some agencies operating in the promotion of human development.
A recent op-piece in the New York Times by John Allen drew attention to the significance of the Pope's remarks. In a context where the universality of human rights and the consequent universality of their applicability are being questioned by those who make the claim that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights represents a Western world view and is therefore not relevant for other regions of the world, the Pope's rejection of a relativist constructivist reading of human rights is very timely. His forthcoming visit and address to the United Nations in New York will now take on an added significance.
There were a recognition that the Catholic Church represents a major presence in the world of NGOs and human rights. More than one speaker referred to the fact that the Catholic Church through its institutions, schools, hospitals and global network of priests, religious and lay people is the largest faith-based organised presence in the developing world. Indeed, many UN agencies are beginning to acknowledge that faith-based NGOs and Churches have a role to play in promoting development and defending human rights.
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI spoke to the group in a private audience. While the media mis-represented the Pope's speech as critical of, even hostile to, the United Nations, this was not the case. He did refer to the moral relativism that he believes is the over-arching ethical framework for some agencies operating in the promotion of human development.
A recent op-piece in the New York Times by John Allen drew attention to the significance of the Pope's remarks. In a context where the universality of human rights and the consequent universality of their applicability are being questioned by those who make the claim that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights represents a Western world view and is therefore not relevant for other regions of the world, the Pope's rejection of a relativist constructivist reading of human rights is very timely. His forthcoming visit and address to the United Nations in New York will now take on an added significance.
Juvenile Justice
11/12/07 08:48
Edmund Rice International is involved
with the issue of juvenile justice through the various centres and
individuals who are providing services to young people in trouble
with the law. Sometimes the young people who are currently
receiving education in LifeCentres or Flexible Learning Centres
have experienced trauma and difficulties arising from encounters
with juvenile justice systems that continue to remain poorly
informed about the actual realities and circumstances of young
people in distress.
In some countries, particularly in Latin America, juveniles are detained in penal centres without just cause and very often are simply remanded there while awaiting trial. Except the trial never takes place. A young person can remain in these life-denying situations for up to two years before being released. Juvenile justice can often amount to fairly callous juvenile injustice. ERI is working with human rights defenders in such in such institutions to explore ways in which all involved in systems administering juvenile justice can become aware of the human rights context for working with young people in detention.
An important resource for understanding how the Convention on the Rights of the Child has relevance for those working with young people in detention is the advocacy support, information and research provided by the Juvenile Justice Panel. They are a UN mandated agency to coordinate efforts to improve the situation for young people in detention worldwide.
In 2009 the UN Special Rapporteur on Education will focus on the educational needs of young people in detention. This will provide a useful and important focal point for ERI advocacy work in the area of juvenile justice particularly in the context of countries that may invite the Special Rapporteur to make a country visit.
In some countries, particularly in Latin America, juveniles are detained in penal centres without just cause and very often are simply remanded there while awaiting trial. Except the trial never takes place. A young person can remain in these life-denying situations for up to two years before being released. Juvenile justice can often amount to fairly callous juvenile injustice. ERI is working with human rights defenders in such in such institutions to explore ways in which all involved in systems administering juvenile justice can become aware of the human rights context for working with young people in detention.
An important resource for understanding how the Convention on the Rights of the Child has relevance for those working with young people in detention is the advocacy support, information and research provided by the Juvenile Justice Panel. They are a UN mandated agency to coordinate efforts to improve the situation for young people in detention worldwide.
In 2009 the UN Special Rapporteur on Education will focus on the educational needs of young people in detention. This will provide a useful and important focal point for ERI advocacy work in the area of juvenile justice particularly in the context of countries that may invite the Special Rapporteur to make a country visit.
Kiribati: an Island Nation under Threat
07/12/06 09:41
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Papua New Guinea
03/12/06 12:00
The Christian Brothers have been in
Papua New Guinea since the 1950s. It was a pioneering insertion
from Australia. Today, it is a flourishing region of the Brothers
of Edmund Rice. Brothers and co-workers are involved in a variety
of social justice, service provision and human rights activities.
Brothers are teaching in schools, working Callan Services, a
pioneering intitiative for people with disabilities, and in the
promotion of the cultural identities of the Melanesian peoples.
Many Edmund Rice people are involved in teacher education, in
Wewak, Madang and Rabaul.
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