IFOR joins in a call to the UN member States to "MOVE THE MONEY OUT OF MILITARY, TO FOOD"

IFOR co-sponsored, together with other 13 NGOs, an oral statement on the Right to Food which was delivered by Associazione Papa Giovanni XXIII during the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

The statement refers as well to the last encyclical of Pope Francis "Fratelli tutti" ("All brothers"), on Fraternity and Social Friendship, and reinforces the call to

"convert the money spent on weapons and other military expenditures in a global fund that can finally put an end to hunger and favour development in the most impoverished countries".

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46th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council, 22 February – 23 March 2021

Item 3: ID with Special Rapporteur on the right to food

Joint oral statement delivered by: Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII (APG23)

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Madam President,

APG23 and 14 co-signing NGOs welcome the report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to food in which he highlights the issues that will inform his future thematic reports.1

According to the UN Policy Brief on the Impact of COVID-19 on Food Security and Nutrition from June 2020 “Prior to the onset of this pandemic, more than 820 million people were already identified as chronically food insecure.” 2 We expect that the pandemic will push more children and adults into food insecurity and hunger around the world, undermining the efforts to achieve SDG2 and, more worryingly, increasing malnutrition-related deaths.

In his speech for the last World Food Day in October 2020, Pope Francis remarked: “Hunger is not only a tragedy for humanity, but also a shame. It is caused largely by an unequal distribution of the fruits of the earth, compounded by a lack of investment in the agricultural sector, the consequences of climate change and the increase in conflicts in various areas of the planet.”3

In view of the incoming Food Systems Summit, we hope that the discussion on food systems will focus on putting human rights at their core, addressing inequalities, promoting accountability and ensuring that markets serve social needs above profits.

We concur with the proposal of Pope Francis in the last encyclical “On Fraternity and Social Friendship” to convert the money spent on weapons and other military expenditures in a global fund that can finally put an end to hunger and favour development in the most impoverished countries.

In this regard, we urge the Member States to make concrete actions that are needed now more than ever. The future of the next generations is in our hands, we must do our part. Thank you!

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1. A/HRC/46/33

2. The Impact of COVID-19 on Food Security and Nutrition

3. MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS FOR THE WORLD FOOD DAY 2020

• You can download the original statement here.

• You can watch the related UN session here.

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Fratelli tutti (All Brothers) is the third encyclical of Pope Francis , subtitled "on fraternity and social friendship". In the document, Francis states that the way theCOVID-19 pandemic was managed by world countries has shown a failure in global cooperation. The encyclical calls for more human fraternity and solidarity, and is a plea to reject wars.

The document was signed on October 3rd 2020, on the occasion of Pope Francis's visit to the tomb of his namesake, Saint Francis of Assisi, and was published the following day on the saint's feast day. You can download the encyclical here.

IFOR speaks at the UN Human Rights Council on the right to conscientious objection in Ukraine

On December 18th 2020, the International Fellowship of Reconciliation - IFOR participated in the UN Human Rights Council "Oral presentation of the report on the situation of human rights in Ukraine".

UN Assistant Secretary-General Ilze Brands Kehris, head of the UN Human Rights Office in New York, presented the UN report, followed by statements of member States and NGOs. At this link you can find the OHCHR reporting on Ukraine 

IFOR took the floor and expressed concern regarding the right to conscientious objection in Ukraine and referred to the case of the pacifist journalist, Ruslan Kotsaba, who has already spent 524 days in jail for an anti-war video posted in 2015 and titled "I refuse to mobilize". Here you can watch his video.

He is currently under trial, again, accused of treason and obstructing military operations.

Here you can read the full intervention made by the IFOR's main representative at the UN in Geneva, Zaira Zafarana.

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Human Rights Council
Geneva, 18th December 2020
Interactive Dialogue on the oral presentation of the report on the situation of human rights in Ukraine.
Oral statement delivered by the International Fellowship of Reconciliation1

International Fellowship of Reconciliation - IFOR thanks the High Commissioner and her office for the report (on the situation of human rights in Ukraine) and expresses concern about the ongoing violations of the right to conscientious objection to military service.

Alternative service in Ukraine has a punitive and discriminatory character and it is hardly accessible. There are information from the ground about the current case of about 24 Pentecostals2 conscientious objectors who are unable to start alternative service because there is not an available employment3.

Another item of concern is Bill 35534, regarding military service and registration, adopted by the parliament in the first reading. It introduces new measures which forecast a negative impact on the rights and freedom of citizens.

IFOR would like, finally, to draw the attention of the Members of this Council and of the High Commissioner to the case of Ukrainian journalist and pacifist Ruslan Kotsaba who is again under trial5 because of a video posted in 2015 to express opposition to the military mobilization for armed conflict in eastern Ukraine6. He has already spent over 500 days under arrest for his expression of anti-war thoughts and is accused again of treason and obstructing military operations.

As already highlighted by IFOR7, “freedom of thought, conscience and religion is a non-derogable right”, alike freedom of expression, (“and it continues to apply regardless of a situation of armed conflict”).

1 According to the meeting participation rules, the statement has been delivered by video-message.
2 In Hoshcha Raion of Rivne Oblast.
3 Employment has to be suitable to the restrictive legal regulations of alternative service.
4 It has been proposed by President of Ukraine and is titled "On the amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine concerning improvement in some aspects of conducting military service and military registration".
5 In Kolomyia City District Court of Ivano-Frankivsk Region. The High Specialized Court on Civil and Criminal Cases in 2017 quashed the acquittal and ordered a retrial. Then several judges and local courts recused from the case; the court ordered to return formal accusation for further investigation, but the order was quashed by the appellate court; and now, judges Kalyniuk, Berkeshuk, and Veselov will examine 58 witnesses of the supposed political impact of Ruslan's video blog and pass their judgment.
6 Ruslan Kotsaba was arrested on 7th February 2015 in Ivano-Frankivsk, 130 km south-east of Lviv, after he posted a video describing the conflict as “the Donbas fratricidal civil war”. He also expressed opposition to military conscription of Ukrainians to take part in the conflict. He was then named as Amnesty International’s first Ukrainian prisoner of conscience in five years. He has already spent 524 days under arrest and was duly acquitted in 2016. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/04/ukraine-suspicious-deaths-need-credible-investigations/
7 Oral statements delivered by IFOR at the 45th session of the Human rights Council, on October 1st, during the ID with the High Commissioner on the findings of OHCHR report on the situation of human rights in Ukraine.

You can download this statement here. 

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You can watch the registration of the above meeting of the UN Human rights Council here (IFOR intervention is at 1:07:29) 

IFOR ADDRESSES CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION TO MILITARY SERVICE AT THE 43rd U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL AND REPORTS OF DISPROPORTIONATE VIOLENCE AGAINST UNARMED PROTESTERS WORLDWIDE

In the opening week of the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council, which started on February 24th, IFOR addressed the plenary during the general debate which followed the oral update by the High Commissioner for human rights Ms. Michelle Bachelet, and referred to the many ongoing conflict situations worldwide, violence against unarmed protesters and conscientious objection issues such as the irregular recruitment of Colombian objector Brayan Blanco, as also denounced by War Resisters' International through its regular alert. Download the statement here.

You can watch it here at {00:15:06}  http://webtv.un.org/…/item2-general-debate-…/6136894268001/…  

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"Madam High Commissioner,

The number of situations of concern which you listed this morning is chilling.

The ongoing conflict in Syria is a dire humanitarian and human rights disaster. In Iraq, as you reported, more than 450 peaceful protesters have in recent months been killed by the security forces. Likewise, in Chile unarmed protesters have been seriously injured.  You did not mention France, where the police reaction to the gilets jaunes protests has been disproportionately violent.

IFOR has serious concerns about the situation in Cameroon, supports your call for prompt investigation, leading to prosecution of the perpetrators of incidents like the massacre in the North-West of the country two weeks ago.  Meanwhile we welcome the positive news from your discussions with the government last autumn, and hope that the pledges made will bear fruit. 

We strongly support the reconciliation process in South Sudan to end violence, stabilize the country and enhance human rights.

Our concerns about the situation in Eritrea were voiced in the interactive dialogue last Wednesday. We also have an ongoing concern about military service in both parts of the island of Cyprus, which, although today peaceful, houses perhaps the densest population of military personnel (belonging to six separate armies!) of anywhere in the world.  Three conscientious objectors to military service in the Turkish-occupied north of the island have now filed cases with the European Court of Human Rights.

In Colombia, despite the legal recognition  of conscientious objection to military service, irregular recruitment practices still persist. Last September, Brayan Gonzales Blanco voluntarily presented himself at the military recruitment office in Bogota to inquire about the process for registration as a conscientious objector. His identity documents were impounded and he found himself transported to immediate incorporation in Battalion 13 in the municipality of Ubaia.  On leave, he contacted IFOR’s partner organisation Asociation Colectiva de Objetores yObjetoras de Conciencia-ACOOC about the process of registration as a conscientious objector. They recommended that he should not simply abscond but should return to his unit and follow the correct procedures.  This he did, but as soon as he returned to the Battalion at the beginning of this month he encountered harassment from superiors and peers so severe as to put his psychological well-being at risk. His application for release is still under review.

The “batidas” under which young men were hoovered from the streets into military vehicles, are now a thing of the past in the major cities.  But Colombia is a vast country.  One fears that in the remote rural areas forced recruitment is still the norm, and that few if any of the victims know even of the  possibility of claiming conscientious objector status.

We call on your Office in Bogota to continue to monitor reports of irregular recruitment practices from all parts of the country.

Thank you"

IFOR SPEAKS OUT AT THE U.N. ON REFUGEES EMERGENCY AT THE TURKEY-EU BORDER

On March 6th International Fellowship of Reconciliation - IFOR delivered an oral statement at the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva concerning the situation at the Turkey-EU border, expressing deep concern for the violence registered against people on the move and for the suspension of asylum procedures which is against international law, as highlighted by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. Unfortunately, there is a severe retrogression of human rights in Greece, including the issue of the right to conscientious objection to military service.
IFOR referred to the Right to Life and, additionally, urged all member states to ratify the UN Treaty to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, adopted in 2017. 

IFOR is a member of International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and its branches engage to support the #nuclearban.

IFOR STANDS AT UN FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF "PEOPLE ON THE MOVE" AND FOR THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF SOLIDARITY

During the last session of the UN Human Rights Coucil, held in Geneva last September, IFOR has delivered the following Oral Statement during the General Debate on the report presented by the High Commissioner Ms. Bachelet:

"The International Fellowship of Reconciliation appreciates the call upon States “to address the human rights impact of climate change, including in relation to business activities” and the reminder of “the need for policy coherence – nationally and internationally” .

As highlighted, the consequences of climate change are the reason for many people to leave their homes.
Madam High Commissioner, Excellencies,
The human rights of people on the move are constantly threatened and violated. How can we tolerate caged kids, families divided at borders and shipwrecked survivors refused a place at safety or forced back or deported into areas of conflict, deprivation, discrimination and violation.
We support the call to European States to adopt a more effective coordinated action in the Mediterranean and to end the criminalisation of civil organisations that are carrying out life-saving work in the area and are fined for doing it.
This summer we have witnessed too many rescue boats seeking too long for a safe place to disembark. Sea-Watch 3, Proactiva Open Arms, Mare Jonio [of Mediterranea Saving Humans], Eleonore [of LIFELINE], to mention just some examples [others are Ocean Viking of SOS MEDITERRANEE, Alan Curdi of sea-eye...]
It took the courage of such individuals as Carola Rackete to choose humanity over political propaganda to guarantee safety and human rights for migrants; an act of civil disobedience against a ministerial order contrary to International and Human Rights Law. It took the orders of judges to respect international law and to decriminalize the rescuing of people and to re-establish that under the Law rescue is an obligation and the prohibition on entering domestic waters cannot cancel a humanitarian obligation under the International Conventions."

Watch the live-stream here: http://webtv.un.org/…/item2-general-debate-c…/6085299999001…
(IFOR's statement at 01:50:13)

Read the whole statement by clicking here:

IFOR addresses UN Human Rights Council outlining the urgent need to take action to implement the Right to Life

On September 16th, International Fellowship of Reconciliation - IFOR addressed the UN Human Rights Council, outlining the urgent need to take action to implement the Right to Life which is “the supreme right from which no derogation is permitted”.
If the right to life is violated, no other rights can be exercised!
Right to Life should include as well the right to refuse to kill!
IFOR called upon States to ratify the UN Treaty on the abolition of nuclear weapons and referred to the 2nd World March for Peace and Nonviolence which will start in Madrid on October 2nd 2019.

You can read the whole statement here.

You can watch it here at 01:05:34 at http://webtv.un.org/…/item3-general-debate-…/6086710348001/…

IFOR Submits Joint Statement on the Illegal Occupation of Western Sahara

During the 38th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, IFOR joined a group of organizations calling attention to the repeated violations of international law through the ongoing occupation of Western Sahara by the Kingdom of Morocco. The coalition of nongovernmental organizations submitted a report calling for the following:   

• All High Contracting Parties to ensure that the Kingdom of Morocco respects the Fourth Geneva Convention in Western Sahara; 
• The Kingdom of Morocco to fully respect the Fourth Geneva Convention in Western Sahara; 
• The Kingdom of Morocco to fully respect the Human Rights of the Sahrawi people, including their right to self-determination and independence, in conformity with UNGA resolution 1514 (XV); 
• The Kingdom of Morocco to fully respect the Principles of International Law, including the Principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples and the principle that States shall fulfil in good faith the obligations assumed by them in accordance with the Charter; 
• The members of the Human Rights Council to create the mandate of Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights violations in the Occupied Territory of Western Sahara. 

Read the full written statement here.