News Archive | United Nations Liaison Office of the Seventh-day Adventist Church

Afghanistan: Adventist Rep Endorses UN Human Rights Emphasis

Silver Spring, MD.... Speaking at a briefing in Geneva, Switzerland, during the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Seventh-day Adventist Church representative Dr. Jonathan Gallagher endorsed the emphasis made on building respect for human rights in the aftermath of warfare in Afghanistan.

"If a truly free and representative society is to be developed in Afghanistan (after so many years of violence and war), then fundamental human rights must be respected," said Gallagher. "For this reason we endorse the commitment of Mr. Kamal Hossain to make sure this happens. Mr. Hossain serves as UN Special Rapporteur of the Situation of Human Rights in Afghanistan. As a faith community that shares values of dignity and respect for all human beings, Adventists wish to practice what we preach through medical care, education and humanitarian aid--together with an unswerving dedication to religious liberty and freedom of conscience."

Gallagher's comments came during a March 27 meeting of UN member states and non-governmental organizations with Mr. Hossain.

"The Afghan people have been exposed to the arbitrary use of force for more than two decades," said Hossain. Human rights violations have included "recurrent massacres accompanying changes of control over territory, arbitrary detention, cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, arbitrary and drastic restrictions of freedom of speech, freedom of movement and freedom of association, gender discrimination and discriminatory treatment of minorities within an authoritarian structure of governance and have suffered systematic deprivation of economic, social and cultural rights. The highest priority in the program for restoration of human rights is to replace the rule of the gun with the rule of law."

Hossain's report released on March 24 indicated that more than 10 years after the Geneva Accords (1988), the United Nations and the international community should not be content with half measures and inadequate steps which would prolong the agony of the Afghan people, who continue to be victims of a prolonged conflict Responding to a question from Gallagher, Hossain commended the work of non-governmental organizations such as aid agencies and spoke of their role in "facilitating the development of human rights in Afghanistan and increasing awareness of such rights in society."

Two such programs involve the reconstruction of the medical education program in Afghanistan with the assistance of Loma Linda University and Medical Centre, an Adventist owned and operated institution. Also, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency International (ADRA), the international relief arm of the Adventist Church established an office in Kabul earlier this year to coordinate and distribute relief supplies and facilitate rehabilitation and long-term development projects. "In addition to aid we extended to refugees along the northern and eastern borders of Afghanistan, ADRA supports education as a key to a sound future. ADRA is distributing hundreds of school kits as part of the Back to School Campaign in northern Afghanistan," states Charles Sandefur, president of ADRA International. [Viola Hughes]

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Adventists Support International Women's Day Celebrations at the U.N.

March 12, 2002. New York, NY... Representatives of the Seventh-day Adventist Church attended a celebration in honor of International Women's Day at the U.N. on March 8 in honor of Afghan women. Distinguished guests included the First Lady of the United States Laura Bush, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan.

"The room was jammed packed with only standing space when we got there early, which reflects people's interest in women's issues, but it was definitely worth it to hear the First Lady and Kofi Annan address the delegates," commented Samantha Burchard, U.N. liaison officer for the Adventist Church.

"Afghan women need concrete help," said Under-Secretary Kofi Annan. "We need to build schools and train more teachers to ensure every Afghan girl's right to an education. And people need to be educated on the right of every woman to a safe environment, free from violence, discrimination and abuse," he told the delegates.

Mr. Annan also said that "When women are fully involved, the benefits can be seen immediately -- their children are better educated and healthier. And they are better equipped to protect themselves against AIDS and other diseases; they improve families' income thus improving the economy," he added. "And what is true of families is true of communities - ultimately, indeed, of the whole country."

A trained teacher, First Lady Laura Bush emphasized the importance for education. "When we give children books and an education, we give them the ability to imagine a future of opportunity, equality and justice," she said. "Education is the single most important long-term investment we can make in the future. Today, on International Women's Day, we affirm our mission to protect human rights for women in Afghanistan and around the world," she concluded.

"It is important that we all work together for the well being of society," affirms Ardis Stenbakken, director of Women's Ministries of the Adventist Church. "In our department we are of course most directly involved in helping women and the girl child. For this reason we promote mentoring, literacy, health and economic development. To date our department has awarded 630 scholarships to women in over 60 countries. We would like to see that this type of opportunity be given to the women and children in Afghanistan as well. It is important that we as a church support the efforts of the U.N. and other non-governmental organizations to rebuild the community in Afghanistan," Stenbakken said.

The Adventist Church has attended meetings at the U.N. and the U.S. Department of State on the role of religious organizations in the rebuilding of civil society in Afghanistan and is committed to working toward this end. [Viola Hughes]

New York, NY, USA. Meeting with a number of experts at the United Nations in New York, Seventh-day Adventist U.N. Liaison Officers Matt Mills and Samantha Burchard expressed the church's support against the trade and exploitation of women and children.

The March 6 meeting, titled, "The Role of Values in the Struggle Against the Trafficking of Women and Children," brought together U.N. representatives, experts in the field, and non-governmental organizations in an effort to discuss the solutions to the growing problem.

"Increasingly women and children are being forced into prostitution after being tricked or kidnapped by traffickers," said Mills. "Those who find themselves in this situation are denied education and health care and often are unable to ever repay their 'debt' to their captors."

The trafficking of people, especially women and children, for prostitution and forced labor is one of the fastest growing areas of international criminal activity and one that is of increasing concern to the U.N. and the international community. Although men are also victimized, the overwhelming majority of those trafficked are women and children.

According to a 1998 study by the U.S. State Department, between 1 and 2 million women and children are trafficked each year worldwide for forced labor, domestic servitude, or sexual exploitation. An estimated 50,000 persons are trafficked each year to the United States. Trafficking is now considered the third largest source of profits for organized crime, behind only drugs and guns. U.N. figures indicate that trafficking of girls and women worldwide generates nearly $7 billion in profits every year. Many are lured into trafficking because they are told that they will have good jobs and they will earn a lot of money.

Another disturbing problem involves the trafficking of babies, which are kidnapped and sold on an illegal adoption market. These children grow up without medical-records, or any registration whatsoever which causes trouble for them at a later age.

"Adventists strongly support the efforts of these organizations and others who take a stand against slavery in any form," said Burchard. "We believe our God is someone who holds high freedom and individuality, and we condemn this inhuman trafficking that treats human beings as a trade commodity."

Organizations present at the meeting included the United Nations, UNICEF, MiraMed, and Project Kesher. [AWA Staff]