Brahma Kumaris at United Nations

Freedom of Religion or Belief - A forgotten pillar of social integration?

The NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief and the NGO Committee on Social Development hosted a panel discussion February 5 with the main presenter Dr. Brian Grim, Senior Researcher at the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Also participating was Assa Karam, Senior Adviser at UNFPA and representatives from the Permanent Missions of India and Kenya, Mr Anupan Ray and Mr. John Mosoti, respectively.

The research for this presentation, entitled Global Restrictions on Religion, was documenting the number of restrictions to policy or advocacy in regards to religion in a country. It was stated that  the more restrictions to religion in a country, the more social hostilities increased.

Additionally most restrictions were felt by minorities in those countries and that 70% of the global community lived under ‘very high’ restrictions.

Assa Karam commented that there might be differences between religious groups in a country but there is also a long history of co-existence in most of the ‘restrictive’ countries.

A comment from the floor elicited the response that the questions were based on western questions and might not capture the religious methods of the East.

The Brahma Kumaris WSU is member of the NGO Committee of Freedom of Religion or Belief and participates in the open discussions for religious practice and belief.

Erik

The NGO committee of Freedom or Religion or Belief held their final meeting for this season on June 8. Presenters from the NGO Committee on the Status of Women and the NGO Committee on Social Development shared their thoughts and activities on the topic” Incorporating the principles of Freedom of Religion or Belief into all our work.”

A few interesting items mentioned were that Religion was not mentioned in the Beijing Women’s Conference document and religion was not allowed to be mentioned officially.

Also, there is a correlation from a Pew sponsored study that there is low freedom of religion with low economic development.

A story was shared of a family and how issues of religion and culture and meaning effected them. The topic was regarding headscarves.

The story presented illustrated the need for choice and especially when others have turned articles of clothing and fashion into statements to be used for their own policital goals.

A young professional Iranian adult women, raised in a ‘modern and liberal’ family without much influence of politics or religion, chose to wear a headscarf. She received much criticism to do so. This daughter chose to wear a headscarf not for any political or religious purpose but on her own choice along with a few of her friends to honor their place in their culture. The professional comunity she worked with was reported to behave in a manner which was isolating and career-limiting.

Her experience was that the headscarf was viewed and interpreted by many others in the way they viewed the headscarf rather than for her reasons.

The presentation was about the right to choose and to have the freedom to  try or experiemnt in our life and the freedom to let go of beliefs or behaviors or fashion which we find may not suit us any more.

The daughter did choose later not to contuinue to wear a headscarf but because she no longer wanted to. Not because her religion, politics or friend dictated she did or did not.

May we all be free to choose what is best for us and what does not harm others.

Erik

The Durban Review conference has been the topic of numerous mid dayworkshops recently at the UN and it is also a topic which brings out passion in many. The topics of race, religion, and intolerance seem to make emotions run high.

One of the key points being offered at the Race and Religion: Religious Freedom in the context of Durban Review Conference workshop hosted by the Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief is that Religions do not have rights. People and persons who practice a religion have rights. A problem with granting a religion rights is that no one can say or do anything that might cause the religion to be insulted without fear of persecution; no matter what the religion promotes. The feeling of being insulted is therefore dependent on the perceived truth of the religion which moves the essence and decision of truth when a religion feels insulted into the realm of judges and governments rather than the choice of the individual who can believe what they so choose.

When governments can decide what religion or belief can be protected and should be acceptable, they are then empowered to allow other religions to be discriminated against. It is often the religion that is identified but when one group of people in a society is from a different race and their relgion is discriminated against, it is both race and religion which are effected in this conflation.

The laws of a country should be consistent with the religious laws and also human rights was voiced at the workshop.

The Brahma Kumaris look at each individual as special but also as a part of one family. Discrimination and prejudice limit the individual who holds those attitudes and can also cause suffering to others. People should have the right to have a  relationship with God or not, but God does not need to have any of His religions protected. He can do that himself.

Erik, NY

The Brahma Kumaris are Members-at-Large of the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief.  Please see their upcoming meetings for the fall.

In honor of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human rights and the 27th anniversary of the Declaration on the Elimination of all forms of Intolerance based on religion or belief, the NGO committee on Freedom of Religion or belief hosted a program at the Baha’i International Community’s UN office, December 8, 2008.

Ms. Felice Gaer, US Commission on International Religious Freedom at the Jacob Blaustein Institute commented that “My rights stop where your begin.” And this will always lead to negotiations and can be contentious. To have a dialogue means there must be a ‘floor’ to begin. Other wise if there is no basis of agreement it is just conflict resolution.

It was also mentioned that there are now new codewords including “complimentary standards” which is used to give the rights to states and not to the people in the states. It is not the intent to give governments or religions rights but to the people who are in the country or have a belief those rights.

The role of government, according to Mr. Malcolm Evans of the University of Bristol School of Law, is to foster neutrality and foster pluralism. Governments should be able to have preventative intervention but not prohibitions towards religions.

Mr. Tom Farr, of the Georgetown School of Foreign Service spoke the the foreign policy of the United States and religion. The USA is a religious country with religious politics but religions are avoided in International policy because religion is inherently “irrational”. Mr. Farr indicated that by not accounting for the religions in the world and the behaviors they inspire, it is a mistake in dealing with other countries .

It seems very difficult to function in the world without taking into account the beliefs and motivations of the people, whether they are religious or not.

Erik

The Committee of Religious Non-governmental Organizations at the United Nations

A presentation on Exploring the Practice of Reconciliation was offered by the RNGO Committee, Tuesday, November 25, 2008 in recognition of 2009 as the Year of Reconciliation.

Professor Paul F. Knitter, of the Union Theological Seminary offered his personal experience as a Buddhist Christian. His practices are how to engage in peace work according to the principles of the Gospels. For Prof. Knitter, peace is reconciliation.

In a situation in Latin America it was his Christian thought to “announce to denounce”, blaming the oppressors and pinting out their failings. The Buddhists he was working with indicated that “they do not denounce”. The Buddhist perspective of us all being “an interbeing”, then results in not taking sides because taking sides and denouncing one, is denouncing the whole.

Professor Knitter indicated in Christianity “If you want peace, work for Justice.” For the Buddhist he indicated it is “If you want justice, work for peace.” Reconciliation precedes justice and “that the only way to be safe from your enemies is to love them.”

Professor Ziad Fahed at Auburn Theological Seminary and from Notre Dame University in Lebanon spoke about reconciliation in Lebanon. There are three phases in reconciliation.

1. Negative – to fight
2. Passive – to have no interaction
3. positive – working together as a duty

He stated. “The Supreme challenge for reconciliation is to see God in the image which is different that our self.” In order for reconciliation there needs to be truth for “truth telling is a condition for peace. When you lie, you die.”
Erik

The NGO Committee on Spirituality and Global Concerns invited Samite Mulondo and Michael Rennie from Musicians for World Harmony to come to present at the meeting.  They shared touching stories, video, power point presentations and music.  Musicians for World Harmony is a multifaceted program.  It is a not for profit organization that brings music to places that have challenges and helps foster healing through music.

http://www.musiciansforworldharmony.org/

Samite Mulondo, Founding Director and Michael Rennie, Director

Our Mission is to:

ENABLE musicians throughout the world to SHARE their music to promote PEACE, UNDERSTANDING, and HARMONY among peoples with a special EMPHASIS on the DISPLACED or DISTRESSED who could benefit most from the HEALING POWER OF MUSIC.

To Fulfill this mission, Musicians for World Harmony will:

• Sponsor Musicians visiting and performing in refugee camps and resettlement communities.

• Identify musicians among the displaced and distressed whose music can aid in the healing process. Encourage community-wide response to performances to enable people to recover and revive songs and dances.

• Video-and audio-document all performances, songs and dances.

• Produce audio, video and print materials for distribution in the United States and worldwide that enable the music and messages of hope and peace to reach the widest possible audience.

• Encourage community-wide response to performances to enable people to recover and revive songs and dances.

A group of students from Berklee Music Therapy Program went to Africa on an exchange program through Musicians for World Harmony and their stories can be found on the website.  They sing and play music and an organic outpouring of music comes up out of those around them sharing their stories in song.   Samite and Michael even got everyone singing at the meeting.

The creative process of music allows for a healing of the spirit which helps to heal on many other levels.

Kymberly Schneider

The NGO Committee On Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns at the United Nations, New York a Committee of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO), Spiritual Caucus, Values Caucus, UNSRC Enlightenment Society (SEAT), and United Religions Initiative-UN presented  the 2nd annual Week of Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights for UN week.

The United Nations Meditation Room
The Opening Ceremony began at noon on 20 October in the Meditation room and thus everyday people were encouraged to meditate collectively on Human Rights from 9:00am to 10:00am or to meditate at the same time from home or some other space if not possible to be in the room.

 The workshops, panels, discussion groups and expressive arts for
the week sought to explore the essence of Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote.

To view a full schedule please go to CSVGC-NY website link below.

http://www.csvgc-ny.org/

 Highlights of the week’s events follow…

The Spirit of the UN Award was given just after the opening ceremonies to H.E. Hilario G. Davide, Jr., who is Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Nations.  He was also the Keynote speaker and part of the panel on 21 October 1-2:45pm in UNICEF House, Labouisse Hall for the Culture of Peace Working Group on the topic:
Advancing the Culture of Peace: Is Peace a Human Right?

left to right: Ichinori Tsumagari, Rochelle Roca-Hachem, David Adams, Dot Maver, Audrey Kitagawa,
Sharon Hamilton, His Excellency Ambassador Hilario G. Davide, Jr., Anne Creter, & Iris Spellings

Laraagi shared musical sessions interspersed throughout the program and Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury (recipient of the Spirit of the UN award in 2007) gave some peaceful remarks towards the close of the program really expressing that peace is a human right.  Ann Creter’s report can be found at this link:
http://www.peacepartintl.org/content/view/225/135/

Students Unite for the Right to Peace: Activating Campus Peace Centers
21 October 3-4pm UNICEF House, Labouisse Hall

 left to right panel: Dr. Neil Altman, Deborah Moldow and Prof. Hal S. Bertilson, PhD.
(pictured again as the table sized peace pole is blocking his face)

http://www.campuspeacecenters.net/

The audience was full of students many of them international exchange students from a few colleges in the area who introduced themselves and asked questions about peace centers and made comments about what they were doing and what could be done for peace in the future and a lively discussion followed after the panel’s presentation of the topic.

Spiritual and Ethical Dimensions of Human Rights Law
22 October 3-5pm UNICEF House, Labouisse Hall

left to right panel:  Audrey Kitagawa, Chair, CSVGC-NY, WFUNA, Widney Brown, Amnesty International, Liberato Bautista, President, CONGO, Rev. Elizabeth Alexander, Gethsemane Church, Genie Kagawa, Universal Peace Federation

 The panel opened with concerns for human rights.  The language used for speaking of our fellow human beings should express respect, and love.  People who have made mistakes deserve to have chances to change their ways.

Then lively discussions took place among small groups in the audience and some of the panelists joined in.

 Silent Meditation
23 October 12-1pm Church Center, Grumman Room 8th Floor

A small group had almost an hour in silence together on a beautiful sunny day overlooking UN Headquarters…this was followed by a brief sharing of experiences and then on to the next session…where the banner needed to travel…

The Way of the Feminine: Making Human Rights Come Alive
1:15-2:45pm UNICEF House, Labouisse Hall

A very creative flow of energy …through artistic expression was created in the room as poetry, music, song, dance and a film presented to give the history of the Declaration of Human Rights filled the space with feelings of  rights and dignity for humanity as all performers joined together in a cooperative spirited production.

many of the presenters join in song at the end of the program

 The Consciousness of Human Rights:  The Transformative Moment
3:30-5:30pm Church Center, 10th Floor

Jaqueline Murekatete - Rwanda, Human Rights Activist, Genocide Prevention Program Director:  Miracle Corners of the World and Gabriel Bol Deng - Sudan, Founder:  HOPE (Helping Offer Primary Education) for Sudan, a non-profit organization, shared their personal survival stories.  Both of them lost so much but each one feels it is necessary to raise awareness so such things will not happen again and also to help those who are left behind in the aftermath.  For Gabriel hope in and respect for others is key, as well as being grateful for working and giving back to the community.  Jacqueline brings to mind a quote from Gandhi anytime things seem a bit much “You must not lose faith in humanity.  Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” and she is able to go on.

To find out more about Jaqueline’s and Gabriel’s work please see their websites below:

http://miraclecorners.org/

http://www.hopeforariang.org/index.htm

 Audrey Kitagawa, Gabriel Bol Deng, Jaqueline Murekete,
Diane Williams, Sharon Hamilton, and Martha Gallahue

 Closing Gathering & UN Anniversary Cake-cutting
24 October 1:30-2:45pm UNICEF House, Labouisse Hall

A gathering, a closing, a celebration, and a look at the future.  Music, singing and fellowship.

A very lovely week presented in very poignant ways to touch the core issues for looking at the rights of humanity.  Humans have a right to Peace.

Kymberly Schneider

Anele Heiges, Values Caucus Council introduced Helena Steiner-Hornsteyn a lecturer, healer and author, who shared some thoughts at the Values Caucus meeting.  She also works with Global Compact with her Activale Institute for Human Development and World Harmony.  Helena said that there are no coincidences and that everyone in the room had a purpose.  She talked of getting out of the boxes set up in the world that are holding people back.  Helena suggested that it was important to take ourselves lightly and to have loving attitudes to help to change the consciousness of fear in the world. The world is full of creative energy and all that needs to be done is to tap into that energy to move the world in a more constructive way.

A positive attitude really helps to bring a more harmonious and healthy aspect to each one of us and this in turn is shared with the world.

Kymberly Schneider

In honor of Gandhi’s birthday 2 October was declared The International Day of Nonviolence as of 15 June 2007.  For the second annual commemoration of the day the Values Caucus held a meeting on nonviolence.  Anne Creter, Values Caucus Council Member and Julia Grindon-Welch, Values Caucus Co-Chair introduced the day and Marianne H. Perez as guest speaker who shared her expertise on Peace building.  Marianne is part of the Department of Peace Campaign and also a peace journalist.  Her approach was very interactive and encouraged everyone to reflect on where they ’stood’ in terms of nonviolence and violence.  She had everyone stand up as she labeled one side of the room violent and the other side nonviolent.  She then asked a series of questions, asking if we thought them to be violent or nonviolent, and asked us to stand by our decision, literally!  She told the group there were no right or wrong answers as she called out different laws or even something as simple sounding as purchasing exotic flowers.  We could also mark the ground in between (0-10) grades of violence down to nonviolence, by standing in between the two extremes.  We were then invited to  share why we made the choices.  Very interesting discussions were created as we saw some of the reality of what lay behind our decisions and Marianne further explained that there are direct, cultural and structural elements in place that allow for violence to happen. This really gave us all a lot to think about!  Whether it be gun laws, or vegetarianism choices are made every day to be violent or nonviolent.

Repercussions of violence are widespread in today’s world and peace is a very important part of developing nonviolence.  To make our very thoughts peaceful will go a long way in fostering nonviolence in the world.

Left to Right Anne Creter, Julia Grindon-Welch, Marianne H. Perez, Monica Willard and another Workshop Participant

link to another report on the workshop -

http://www.peacepartintl.org/content/view/227/135/

 Kymberly Schneider