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The Presbyterian United Nations
Office
777 U.N. Plaza, 7th Floor • New York, NY 10017 • (212) 697-4568
The Presbyterian U.N. Office represents the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) at the United Nations. Staff members help to equip Presbyterians
for discipleship by training them to put their faith into action in the global
arena. The Presbyterian U.N. Office also bears witness to Jesus Christ by advocating
the concerns of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assemblies to the United
Nations. The Presbyterian U.N. Office is one way in which the church responds
to Christ’s call to bring good news to the poor, proclaim release to the
captives and to let the oppressed go free. |
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Sixty Years of Hope
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Human Rights Day, December 10, 2008, marks the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Sixty years ago, men and women gathered for the signing of a document that declared all people have rights — that there is inherent worth and dignity in every human person.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a secular document that shares some of the deepest convictions of our faith. In theological terms, the declaration is rooted in the belief that people everywhere deserve to live the abundant and full life proclaimed by Jesus. As the Rev. Bob Smylie, former Presbyterian Representative to the United Nations notes, Jesus’ “self-described calling included release of the captives, sight for the blind, and liberty for the oppressed. These signaled Jesus’ unique concern for human rights — what is ours by virtue of the fact that we are created as children of God. The phrase ‘human rights’ is not biblical. The biblical message uses the language of justice, freedom, peace and security. These concepts are woven into the biblical fabric: the historical narratives, the books of the law, the prophetic teachings, wisdom in proverbs and the psalms, Jesus knew them as vital requirements for human fulfillment. They resonate throughout Jesus’ teachings, the writings of the disciples and in Revelation.”
During Advent, we join the world in longing for the day the promise of abundant, full life for all will be realized and in working in Christ’s name for that day. Worship resources are available for Human Rights Day.
General Assembly in session
The 63rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly began on September 23. The General Assembly occupies a central position as the chief deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations. Comprising all 192 Members of the United Nations, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter.
'We said it—let's do it.'
A banner on the Church Centre challenges the United Nations to realize the promise of the Millennium Development Goals. Photo by Ricky Velez-Negron That is the challenge posed to the nations of the world in relation to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the NGO community at the United Nations. The 63rd Session of the General Assembly began on September 23, at the midpoint to 2015, the date set to achieve the goals. An interfaith group gathered in New York on Thursday, September 25, to review the 2008 report from the United Nations on progress toward reaching the goal for greatly reducing extreme poverty worldwide. The consultation reviewed the progress report and considered and prayed about the role of religious communities in responding to the continuing global hunger and poverty crises. This took place while more than 100 heads of state were gathered at the United Nations to assess the implementation of the MDGs that they agreed to in 2000. On Monday night, a service held in the chapel of the Church Center for the United Nations highlighted the urgency of addressing the issues of poverty, such as child and maternal health, addressed by the MDGs.
Rights of passage: United
Nations General Assembly adopts Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration
on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on
Thursday, September 13. This milestone acknowledges respect for indigenous communities
that have been marginalized, discriminated against, and oppressed throughout
history and in our present reality. Read more about the Declaration
on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
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Celebrating the Work of the
United Nations
The United Nations has worked for the well being of people around the world
from its creation in 1945. Its efforts have included:
Building Peace
- Since 1945, the U.N. has negotiated 172 peaceful settlements to regional conflicts
(such as the Iran-Iraq war, the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, and civil
war in El Salvador).
Improving health
- The World Health Organization (WHO), a U.N. agency, eradicated smallpox from
the planet in 1980 after a 13-year effort.
- U.N. agencies have made safe drinking water available to over one billion people
in rural areas during the last decade.
Saving children’s lives
- As a result of the work of UNICEF (the U.N. Fund for Children) and WHO, 80 percent
of children in developing countries are immunized against the diseases of polio,
tetanus, measles, whooping cough, diphtheria and tuberculosis. This represents
a significant increase from 1974 when only five percent of children in developing
countries were immunized.
Advancing the status of women
- U.N. programs have raised the female literacy rate in developing
countries from 36 percent in 1970 to 56 percent in 1990.
- In the 1960s, only 10 percent of the world’s families
had access to effective methods of family planning. Now 55 percent have access.
Saving the environment
- The U.N. environment program (UNEP) cleaned up Mediterranean
beaches by encouraging Syria, Israel, Turkey and Greece to work together. 50 percent
of previously polluted beaches are now usable.
Advancing Human Rights
- Through an arms embargo and other measures, the U.N. played
a major role in ending apartheid in South Africa.
PUNO Quick Guides to Quick Information
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