A Trip to the United Nations

Human Rights and the United Nations
By the Rev. Emilie E. Theobald-Rowlands
MDiv Class of 2008 at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia

 “Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world” (Preamble, Universal Declaration of Human Rights) 

On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations came together to address the following questions: What does it mean to recognize the dignity of another human being?  What does it mean to live in a world that is free, just and peaceful?   In 1948 (post World War II), a document known as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was born.  Sixty years later, this same document continues to transform, change and challenge member states of the United Nations to seek the welfare and dignity of every human being.                  

Some of you might be reading this and wonder: “What does this have to do with me? Why is this document important?  Why should I care?” Perhaps if you are like me, this is your first time hearing about the existence of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  Maybe you have heard about the United Nations, but never fully understood their role in the international community.   

During the 2007-2008 academic year, a group of twelve students participated in the O. Fred Nolde Seminar and Lectureship on Human Rights at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.  Named after O. Frederick Nolde (former Dean of the Graduate School of LTSP and one of the writers of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights), this seminar was co-taught by Rev. Dr. Philip Krey, Dr. Stephen Ray and members of the Lutheran Office of World Community at the United Nations in New York City (Dennis Frado, executive director, Emily Davila, Christian Albers); students had the opportunity to explore these questions in light of the document, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Made possible by the Nolde Family Endowment, students and faculty in this seminar had the opportunity to “focus on human rights as an imperative of the Christian Gospel with particular concern for those human rights issues related to the work of the United Nations.” (Nolde Syllabus) In the first half of the semester, students listened to speakers from Lutheran & Immigration Refugee Services, Lutheran World Relief and Lutheran Office of World Community at the UN.  For the second half of the semester, students explored human rights in depth via several immersion experiences at the United Nations April 17-18, 2008 and the various commissions that met between February and May 2008.                  

What is the United Nations?  The United Nations is not a world government or an extension of the United States government. The United Nations is made up of 192 member states, who vote in the General Assembly on policies and programs to “achieve the purposes stated in the UN charter.” (“What Every American Should Know about the United Nations, 3)  The UN includes: New Human Rights Council (which meets ten times a year), the Security Council, the Commissions (Status of Women, Sustainable Development, Population and Development, Narcotic Drugs, Crime Prevention/Criminal Justice, Science & Technology for Development, Social Development and Statistical Commission), the Economic & Social Council (NGO’s go here) the International Court of Justice, the Trusteeship Council and the Secretariat.  The United Nations (UN) offices are located in Geneva (Switzerland), Vienna, Nairobi and New York City.        

As we stepped away from the subway station and walked towards the Lutheran Office of World Community (LOWC), I was amazed to see the many countries represented on the front entrance of the United Nations.  And yet I thought about some of the countries not represented; the people silenced by violence and oppression.  In our two day immersion at LOWC, I kept thinking about the words “freedom of want, freedom of fear and freedom of dignity.”                

We heard reports  from the Human Rights Council, the Security Council, the Commission on the Status of Women, Transitional Justice, Non-Governmental Organizations (Caritas, Lutheran Office for World Community – includes ELCA, Church World Service, World Council of Churches) and Pope Benedict XVI.  Some of the topics included: the role of the UN in Israel/Palestine, Darfur (Sudan) and the Philippines, Truth Commissions and the role of reconciliation after conflict, gender equality for women and men, climate change advocacy and global security issues.         

To say in detail what each presentation entailed would be overwhelming and complicated for me to explain and for you to read.  The common thread I experienced among the presentations and speakers was simple: every person has the right to freedom, justice and peace.  It is a fundamental right that each person be treated with dignity and as human being.  It does not matter what race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, social status you are; these are fundamental rights we receive because we are human beings.                 

From a Christian perspective, we take this one step further: we are called to care for another human being because it is what Christ calls us to do.  We see the image of God in the face of a child, the grief of a mother and the anguish of a people who continue to experience pain and suffering on a daily basis.  We hear these words from Micah 6:8: “what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?”  We are sent by the Holy Spirit to answer God’s call given to us in the waters of baptism: to get up from our comfortable zones and be moved by the good news of Christ that confronts us with the uncomfortable.         

Human rights are about relationships.  It is about a relationship with another human being.  It is about a lived experience with another human being in God, Christ and the Holy Spirit.  We are not just people accompanying other people in their pain and suffering; we are people who recognize we are “other” too.  We are not superior to another human being or group of people. We are resurrected people who live out God’s grace and mercy by speaking truth; living faithfully as God’s people in caring for other people.                

We are a part of the global and ecumenical community.  We are part of the synod, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Lutheran World Federation, Lutheran World Relief, the World Council of Churches, the National Council of Churches and the United Nations (via the Lutheran Office of World Community).  The global problems might seem far out of our reach; yet the reality is we are part of a greater body of people who speak truth, justice and peace – fundamental rights for all human beings.  In the ELCA, we do this through LOWC, state offices (Lutheran Advocacy Ministries in Pennsylvania), the Lutheran Advocacy Office in Washington DC and the Office for Social and Corporate Responsibility (located in Pittsburgh, PA).                  

Like any organization and institution, the United Nations continues to struggle for justice, freedom and peace for all.  It is not easy and definitely not perfect.  However, the people continue to strive towards the principles presented in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights written 60 years ago.                  

The next time you listen to a sermon in your congregation, I challenge you to think: What does this message say about human rights?  What are some ways I can help?  Maybe, the first step is sharing the narrative of what human rights mean to you in the context of helping others in your community and nationwide.  Instead of hiding the light under a bushel, let us go forth boldy in the Holy Spirit to proclaim peace, justice and love for all  people; living in God’s amazing grace and acknowledging God’s forgiveness when we fall short of Christ’s glory.  Amen.