Back in March, our United Nations Officer Claire Denman was on assignment at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), which meets three times a year. Our work at the UN is a key part of our overall advocacy strategy, and is only made possible by your praying and giving. Claire tells us about a typical day at the UN.
Monday 20 March 2023
Today I’m in Geneva as the HRC enters its fourth week. I’m only here for a few portions of the five-week session, so I’m keen to make the most of every networking and speaking opportunity.
9am: I start the day by meeting one of our partners from Iran, Mansour Borji, to pick up our passes and go through security. Mansour is the Advocacy Director of Article 18, an organisation which advocates on behalf of Christians facing persecution in Iran.
It is a huge privilege to be able to bring expert voices like Mansour’s to the UN. He is here to speak at a side event1 co- sponsored by CSW later in the week.
10am: This week, country-specific issues of concern are being discussed. First up, there is an interactive dialogue2 with the Special Rapporteur3 on Myanmar/Burma. CSW’s UN accreditation gives us the chance to speak, but it is still very competitive. Thankfully I’m able to deliver 11 out of the 15 statements CSW had registered for this session.
11:30am: The dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Iran follows straight after. A wide range of human rights issues are discussed, including freedom of religion or belief.
1pm: I join a meeting about a draft resolution4 on Nicaragua, led by Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru. It’s heartening to see countries from the Latin America region taking a lead, trying to hold Nicaragua accountable for its ongoing oppression of independent voices and fundamental freedoms.
2pm (lunchtime): Whenever a member of CSW staff is on an assignment, we always ask a colleague to support us in prayer. I receive an encouraging message from my prayer partner, Eloise:
‘We read Psalm 147 in our team prayer meeting this morning and I'll be praying it over you... Heavenly Father, we put our hope in your unfailing love today. Would your will be done in and through Claire during her time in Geneva. Amen.’
3pm: Back in the main plenary, during the interactive dialogue on North Korea, I raise CSW’s concerns about grave human rights violations in that country. As part of our statement, we called for the immediate release of all those detained in prison camps because of their religion or belief.
I also highlight the chronic food scarcity and the plight of refugees who have escaped to China – who now risk being forcibly returned to North Korea, often with dire consequences.
All our statements can be found online. Type ‘hrc52’ into the search bar at csw.org.uk
6pm: I leave the UN headquarters after a busy day. I’m looking forward to the rest of my time here, especially the impromptu conversations about CSW’s work, which only happen in person.
Other key moments
23 March: A highlight for me is our Iran side event with Article 18, Middle East Concern and Open Doors. We present the findings of our joint report and hear from Iranian Christians Pastor Victor Bet Tamraz and his wife Shamiram Issavi.
You can hear the emotion in his voice as Victor describes being closely monitored, interrogated, arrested and even threatened with the kidnap of his children: ‘With a smirk on his face, my interrogator told me [that] children [go] missing every day...’
It is so important that those who have experienced such injustice are given a platform, to share their stories in their own words.
3 April: The resolution on Nicaragua is voted in, which is brilliant news! Among other things, this means that UN experts can continue monitoring and reporting on Nicaragua. It also allows the situation to be discussed again during the HRC, and is an opportunity to keep Nicaragua accountable for its actions.
30 March-4 April: Back in the UK, I continue to follow the rest of the HRC online until it draws to a close. At the next session, we will see how situations have developed. Will the resolutions and recommendations discussed here have been put into practice? We certainly hope so, and will continue to work and pray until we see real change for those who are being oppressed.
Glossary
- Side event: A seminar-style event that takes place alongside the main plenary. They usually take the form of a panel discussion with expert speakers and victims of violations, followed by Q&A.
- Interactive dialogue: A discussion in the main plenary at the HRC. Usually, the High Commissioner or a UN Independent Expert will present the findings of their reports or important updates on a human rights issue. States then get the chance to respond with short statements, followed by NGOs with UN accreditation, like CSW.
- Special Rapporteur: An unpaid, independent expert who is elected to advise on either a country or a theme. For example, we work closely with Dr Nazila Ghanea, the current Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. Their work includes conducting impartial research and raising individual cases with UN Member States.
- A resolution: A non-binding document which outlines the views of states on key human rights concerns within a country or on a thematic issue, and what agreed steps the UN will take to address this.