At the gathering, I shared some information about our work at the United Nations and want to summarize some of that presentation for folks who couldn't make it.
I am amazed, inspired, and honored just to get to have anything to do with the United Nations. This became very clear to me one day at the United Nations complex in Vienna when I saw a group of school children walking into the entrance beneath the flags of all the nations. There is a circle of flags around a fountain at the entrance of the complex, representing each nation member of the United States. This circle symbolizes a commitment to participate in dialogue to resolve differences and solve common problems at a global level. The children visiting the complex witness the possibility of global governance and cooperation. Who knows what seeds are planted in these young minds and what becomes possible? A global crisis is in our future, probably involving our environment. No one country will be able to resolve it, and its going to require the cooperation of many nations to save our planet. This group of people, cultivating the institutions and culture of global governance, will be our only hope. It is an honor to contribute in any small way to this important, visionary institution.
Founded
in 1945, the United Nations has 193 member states committed to working together to maintain peace and security, develop
friendly relations among nations, promote social progress, provide
better
living standards and advance human rights.
There
has been a Friends Center in use by Quakers in Geneva since the 1920s when the League
of Nations headquarters was established in Geneva, Switzerland after the first
world war. In 1948, Friends sought and obtained consultative status with the
United Nations Economic and Social Council, in the name of Friends World
Committee for Consultation (the worldwide body of Friends, FWCC) (http://www.fwccworld.org/fwccworld/), and
re-established the office in Geneva and set up one in New York as Quaker
offices to the United Nations (QUNOs) (http://www.quno.org/) . Both offices are a partnership between
FWCC, and in New York, American Friends Service Committee (http://afsc.org/)and in Geneva with Quaker
Peace and Social Witness (QPSW).
Inside the Vienna complex, representatives from member states gather to discuss best practices in criminal justice systems and ways to improve international cooperation for crimes which cross national boundaries. Our Quaker delegation talks with member representatives outside of meetings, in "side events" sharing information between meetings, and over tea and coffee.
I usually arrive early and have a croissant and some tea next to a memorial for drug addicts. Having worked in parts of my own community where people suffer from addiction and where our criminal justice system handles the problem as a crime rather than a health problem, I am comforted that the UN Commission on Crime shares that concern. (From Coercion to Cohesion: Treating drug dependence through health care, not punishment: https://www.unodc.org/docs/treatment/Coercion_Ebook.pdf )
Because Quakers maintain a consistent presence at this Commission, and stay at the cutting edge of social concerns in the criminal justice system, they offer humane ways of handling problems. We advance restorative justice and restorative practices every chance we get. (https://www.unodc.org/pdf/criminal_justice/06-56290_Ebook.pdf )
We also work on the Standard Minimum Rules for the treatment of prisoners.(http://www.unodc.org/pdf/criminal_justice/UN_Standard_Minimum_Rules_for_the_Treatment_of_Prisoners.pdf)
We are especially as concerned with the treatment of women in prisons, (http://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/docs/2010/res%202010-16.pdf )
We have given side events on the situation of children with incarcerated parents.(http://www.quno.org/sites/default/files/resources/ENGLISH_Collateral%20Convicts_Recommendations%20and%20good%20practice.pdf )
One of the Quaker heroes I got to spend time with is Marian Liebmann. Marian showed up to the Commission in her quiet and plain dress, looking like an unassuming grandmother type. I soon learned that she is an extraordinary force of nature. As I fiddled with her computer, summarized meetings for her, and got her tea, I learned the power of her Quaker way of being in the world. You would not know it by looking at her, or even hanging out with her, that she has done more than perhaps any other person to advance restorative justice and art therapy in Great Britain and around the world.
She has traveled the world, in Europe and Africa, speaking, sharing and conducting workshops on restorative justice and art therapy. She has published many important works on these subjects.
(http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/author/297 ) Her work, Restorative Justice: How it Works, is perhaps one the best single volume explanation of restorative justice with case studies, examples, and a cross section of settings where restorative justice as been explored. (http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843100744 ). As I spent time with her I learned of her dedication, brilliance, humor, and humility. All week long at the conference she complained about some award she was being offered in Great Britain. She was not sure if she wanted to accept it because she did not feel comfortable being awarded or recognized individually. Plus, accepting the award in London presented some annoying logistical challenges for her and her family. But, she sighed ... it would mean a lot to bring greater attention and awareness to her areas of work - Restorative Justice and Art Therapy. I listened quietly and ignorantly as she discerned her way, and had no idea what she was talking about. When I returned home, I received an email from a mutual friend excited to share that Marian had won the Order of the British Empire, one of the highest awards of the country.
I learned a great deal about international human rights, and have been particularly moved by the Convention on the Rights of the Child. (http://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/crc.aspx ). I look forward to continue to learn and try to serve this important organization with these amazing Quakers.
Along the trip, we had a lot of fun. We visited the medieval castle where Richard the Lionheart was held captive. And we discovered a Benedictine Monastery with an advertisement out front for "Abba Night." Who knew monks like to disco.
Thank you dear friends for your love and support as we continue this adventure. I look forward to sending you more reports on this adventure as it continues to unfold.
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