Franciscans International · 2019. 8. 15. · 44FIntrrodunci LefnmhPs / Letter from the President / As President of the International Board of Directors of Franciscans International,

Annual Report 2018Franciscans International

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Franciscans International Annual Report 2018

IntroductionLetterfromthePresident 4LetterfromtheExecutiveDirector 5AboutFranciscans International 6Franciscans International inNumbers 7

GlobalAdvocacy 9

RegionalprogramsAfricaProgram 13AmericasProgram 17Asia-PacificProgram 21

FinancesFinancialReport2018 24

HelpUsProtectHumanRights 25

DonorAcknowledgment 25

Staff 26

InternationalBoardofDirectors 26

4 / Annual Report 2018

/ Letter from the President /

AsPresidentoftheInternationalBoardofDirectorsofFranciscansInternational,IampleasedtopresenttheAnnualReportfor2018.Thisdocumentprovidesanoverviewoftheorganization’smainactivities.It

highlightshow,inaninternationalcontextwhererespectforhumandignityandourcommonhomeareincreasinglyunderpressure,theFranciscanFamily

wasabletomakeapositiveandtangibledifference.

Inlinewiththe2017-2020StrategicPlan,FranciscansInternationalhasfurtherstrengthenedsynergiesbetweenitsofficesinGenevaandNewYork.Thisyear,wealsorecruitedanewProgramCoordinatorfortheAmericasandanewCommunicationsOfficer.Ihaveeveryconfidencethatouryounganddynamicteamisreadytofaceanychallengesheadon.

On10December2018–InternationalHumanRightsDay–welaunchedacampaigntocelebrateourpresenceattheUnitedNations:thirtyyearsago,theFranciscanFamilyestablishedavoiceattheUN.Throughout2019,aspartoftheoutreachprogram,wewillbesharingourachievementsoverthepastthreedecadesandcallattentiontothemanychallengesourbrothersandsistersstillfaceinallpartsoftheworld.IlookforwardtowelcomingyoutoaseriesofcelebratoryeventswhereweFranciscanswillbeabletomeet,connect,andexchangeexperienceswithourpartnersandotherpeopleofgoodwill.

OnbehalfoftheInternationalBoardofDirectorsandtheConferenceoftheFranciscanFamily,Iwishtoexpressmygratitudetoallwhocontinuetosupportourwork.Inparticular,IwouldliketorecognizetheFranciscanOrders,Congregations,andindividualsthathavemadegenerousdonations,aswellasthefundingagenciesandfoundationsthatmaketheworkofFranciscansInternationalpossible.Iwouldalsoliketothankthestaffandmanagementfortheircommitment,dedication,andhardwork.

MayGodcontinuetoblessourcommonministry.

Joseph Rozansky, OFM President,InternationalBoardofDirectors

5 Annual Report 2018 /

/ Letter from the Executive Director /

Throughout2018,wehaveseenafurtherdeclineinrespectforthevaluesrepresentedbyFranciscansInternational,beitthroughintolerancetowardmigrantsandrefugeesescapingviolenceandextremepoverty,orcontinueddisregardoftheenvironmentinthefaceofclimatecrisis.Today,morethanever,thereisanurgentneedtostronglyadvocateinsupportofhumandignityandenvironmentaljustice.However,wearedoingsoinacontextthatisgrowing morehostiletowardcivilsocietyandinternationalcooperation.

FranciscansInternationaljoinedalargechorusofvoicesthatcondemnedthewithdrawaloftheUnitedStatesfromtheHumanRightsCouncilasablowtointernationalcommitmenttohumanrightsandmultilateralism.IamencouragedhoweverthatmanyStates,includingintheGlobalSouth,havereaffirmedtheircommitmenttodialogueandmutualcooperation.

Asanorganization,wehavecontinuedtobringourbrothersandsistersacrosstheworldtogether.In2018,wehostedworkshopsandforumsthatofferedFranciscansandotherpartnersinAfrica,theAmericas,andAsia-Pacifictomeet,buildrelations,andformulatecommonstrategies.AsaFranciscanvoiceattheUnitedNationswewereabletohostfortyadvocatesinGenevaandNewYork.Withthesupportofourstaff,wewereabletoengagewithdiplomats,ourfellowcivilsocietypartners,Franciscans,andjournaliststosharethechallengesfacedbytheircommunitiesandadvocateforeffectivesolutions.

Finally,asExecutiveDirector,andonbehalfofthestaff,Iwishtoexpressmygratitudetoallthosethatmadeourworkpossible:theFranciscanOrdersandCongregations,theInternationalBoardofDirectors,thefundingagencies,ourpartners,andallthosethatspokeoutwithusattheUnitedNations.Ilookforwardtomeetingyouduringourthirty-yearanniversary.

Markus Heinze, OFMExecutiveDirector

Franciscans International in Numbers

Social media reach increased by 9,2% to 3.807 followers

Franciscan Family members reached in 12 Franciscan gatherings

FI recommendations included in United Nations reports

Advocacy events and conferences

Advocacy interventions and submissions at the United Nations

Field partners advocating at the United Nations

3.807

67

22

9 206

40

800

52 %

Influence Empower

Franciscans and other partners who benefitted from capacity/strategy-building initiatives

In-country consultations


/ About Franciscans International /Forthepastthreedecades,FranciscansInternationalhasworkedtirelesslytobringthehumanrightschallengesfacedbyourFranciscanandlaypartnersatthegrassrootstotheattentionofinternationalandnationalpolicymakers.Workingwithcivilsocietyinover30countriesacrossfourcontinents,weaddresssomeofthemostpressinghumanrightsissuesofourtimes.

AtthecoreofFranciscansInternational’smissionisourbeliefinthedignityofallpeople,whichislivedoutinacommitmenttoprotectingandpreservinghumanrightsandtheenvironment.Weuseadvocacyasatooltocombatandcurbhumanrightsabuses,andtoreclaimthecentralroleofhumanrightsintheformulationandframingofnationalandinternationalpublicpolicies.Webelievethathumanrightsmustbeattheheartofallpoliticalprocesses,inparticularthosethatarerelatedtointernationaldevelopment,theenvironment,andsecurity.

WithofficesinGenevaandNewYork,FranciscansInternationalplaysasignificantroleindenouncinghumanrightsviolationsandempoweringhumanrightsdefenders.Throughevidenced-basedadvocacy,facilitatingdialogues,capacitybuilding,andbyprovidingourpartnerswiththeopportunitytoaddressthehumanrightsviolationsoccurringintheircommunitiesdirectlyattheUnitedNations(UN),weareabletoengageandfulfillourmissionofpromotingsocialandenvironmentaljustice,andpeace.

FranciscansInternationaloperatesunderthesponsorshipoftheConferenceoftheFranciscanFamily(CFF),whichrepresentsthevariousbranchesoftheFranciscanFamily.MinistersGeneraloftheConventuals(OFMConv.),theCapuchins(OFMCap.),theOrderofFriarsMinor(OFM),theThirdOrderRegular(TOR),theInternationalFranciscanConferenceoftheSistersandBrothersoftheThirdOrderRegular(IFC-TOR),andSecularFranciscans(OFS),alongwithanInternationalBoardofDirectors,workwithFranciscansInternational’smanagementteamanddedicatedstafftoensurethattheorganizationsupportsandmaintainstheFranciscanFamily’scommitmenttojusticeandpeacethroughouttheworld.

FranciscansInternationalisanon-profitorganizationwhichoperatesonlythankstogenerouscontributionsfrompublic,private,andFranciscandonors.

©FranciscansInternationalTheInternationalBoardofDirectors

©Photo/Jean-MarcFerréPeacockintheparkoftheUnitedNationsinGeneva


Franciscans International offices

New York

Geneva


Global AdvocacyFranciscansInternationalbelievesthatsustainabledevelopment,thepreservationoftheenvironment,andrespectandpromotionforhumanrightsareinextricablylinked–internationalhumanrightsstandardsshouldthereforebeattheheartofallpoliticalprocesses.Asacommonthemethroughoutour2018globaladvocacy,weemphasizedtheneedformorepolicycoherenceincompliancewithhumanrights,includinginrelationtoStatecommitmentsattheUNinGenevaandNewYork.

Business and human rightsThenegativeimpactofminingandotherlarge-scaleextractiveprojectsonthehumanrightsoflocalcommunities,theirlivelihoods,andtheenvironmenthasbeenakeyissueatthecoreofouradvocacy.Inclosecooperationwithlocalpartnersandinternationalcivilsocietynetworks,wehavetakenaleadingroleintheeffortstowardimprovingbusinessaccountabilityforhumanrightsabuses.

Asignificantstepforwardwastakenin2014,whentheHumanRightsCouncilestablishedanIntergovernmentalWorkingGroup(IGWG)toelaborateonatreatytoaddressandpreventthenegativeimpactonhumanrightscausedbytheactivitiesoftransnationalcorporations.InOctober2018,theIGWGconvenedinGenevaforitsfourthsession,wheredelegatesdiscusseda‘zerodraft’–thefirstproposedtextofafuturetreaty.FranciscansInternationalinvitedthreehigh-levelgueststoshowthesupportofreligiousleadersforthisprocess.

Throughoutthesession,Mgr.AndrédeWitte(BishopofRuyBarbosa,Brazil),Mgr.AlvaroRamazzini(BishopofHuehuetenango,Guatemala),andRev.RalfHäussler(DirectoroftheEducationCenterforDevelopmentoftheProtestantChurchofWürttemberg)wereabletomeetwithdiplomats,civilsocietyrepresentatives,andjournalists.Duringaside-event,theyelaboratedonthechallengesforvictimswhoseekredressthroughexistingnon-bindingmechanismsonbusinessandhumanrights,andtheirinadequaciesinpreventingabusesandviolations.

OurInternationalAdvocacyDirectorwasamongthehumanrightsexpertsinvitedtosharetheirinsightsonthescopeanddefinitionsusedinthezero-draft.Ms.SandraEpalRatjenelaboratedonthenecessitythatafuturemechanismaddressthespecificchallengesposedbybusinessesoperatingacrossborders,withoutunderminingtheresponsibilitiesthatallcorporationshavetorespecthumanrights.

©UNPhoto/JeanMarcFerréUnitedNationsHumanRightsRoomatthePalaisdesNationsinGeneva

©FranciscansInternationalDemonstrationduringtheThematicSocialForumonMiningandtheExtractivesEconomyinJohannesburg,SouthAfrica.


FranciscansInternationalalsoworkedtobuildstrongerframeworksoutsidetheUN.Aftertwoyearsofworkasasteeringcommitteemember,weco-hostedtheThematicSocialForumonMiningandtheExtractivesEconomyinJohannesburg,SouthAfrica.Thisforumwasattendedbyrepresentativesfrommining-affectedcommunities,tradeunions,women’srightsmovements,faith-basedgroupsincludingFranciscans,indigenouspeoples,smallscalefarmers,youthorganizations,andacademicsfrom60countries.Basedonthesharedchallengesidentifiedduringthedeliberations,theparticipantscreatedacommonplatformandnetworkofsolidarityattheinternationalleveltobettercoordinatefutureadvocacy.

No development without human rightsSincetheadoptionoftheSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs)in2015,FranciscansInternationalhassoughttostrengthenthelinksbetweentheimplementationofthe2030Agendaandexistingtreatiesandinstrumentsonhumanrights,laborstandards,andtheenvironment.Inparticular,overthecourseof2018,weworked

withnationalpartnersinElSalvadortoprovideahumanrightsanalysisoftheimplementationofSDG6(CleanWaterandSanitation)andSDG9(ResilientInfrastructure).FocusingonwaterissuesinElSalvador,thepaperformedthebasisofsubsequentside-eventsatthemarginsoftheHigh-LevelPoliticalForuminNewYorkandtheHumanRightsCouncilinGeneva,aswellasanintensivein-countrytrainingforcivilsociety.

Environmentaljusticehasbeenakeypillarofouradvocacy,andFranciscansInternationalisaprominentvoiceonthisissueinthefaith-basedcommunity.In2018,FranciscansInternationalhelpedcoordinatetheactivitiesofseveralcivilsocietynetworksaheadofthe24thConferenceofthepartiestotheUNFrameworkConventiononClimateChange,commonlyreferredtoasCOP24,inKatowice,Poland.Duringtheconference,ourdelegationmetwithitsUnder-Secretarytodiscussthecontributionsoffaith-basedorganizationstothefightagainstclimatechangeandtoproposeahumanrightsfocalpointfortheUNFCCC

Secretariat.Weagainemphasizedtheinterconnectivityofhumanrightsandclimateaction.AlthoughtheCOP24includedexplicitreferencestohumanrights–especiallyonparticipation,genderresponsivenessandindigenouspeoples–intheParisAgreementImplementationguidelines,weemphasizedthatstrongerandmoreurgentactionisneededtoaddressthecurrentclimatecrisis.

MigrationThenegotiationstowardstheGlobalCompactforSafeOrderlyandRegularMigration(GCM),thattookplaceinNewYork,wereakeyfocusofourworkinthefirsthalfof2018.TheGCMisthefirstinter-governmentallynegotiatedagreementoninternationalmigrationgovernance.Fromthepublicationofthezerodraft,inFebruary2018,totheendoftheformalsessions,inJuly2018,FranciscansInternational’seffortsaimedatpromotingandprotectingthehumanrightsofmigrants,regardlessoftheirstatusandinanygivencontext.

FranciscansInternational’sworkwastrifold:wecloselymonitoredtheprogressofthenegotiationsbyattendingtheopensessions;weprovidedanalysesofthevariousdraftsoftheCompactandMemberStates’positionsandsubmittedstatementsinthisregardtotheco-facilitators;andweledadvocacymeetingswithkeyMemberStatesparticipatinginthenegotiationsthroughoutthisperiod.

InMay2018,FranciscansInternationalactivelyparticipatedinaconferenceorganizedbytheHolySeeandCaritasInternationalentitled“SharingtheJourneyofMigrants

©UNPhoto/ElmaOkicJournaliststakephotosofthe

votingboardattheHumanRightsCouncil


©FranciscansInternationalMgr.deWittespeaksduringaside-eventattheUnitedNations

Mgr. André de WitteBorninBelgium,Mgr.AndrédeWittespentmostofhislifeinBrazil,wherehewasconsecratedasthebishopoftheRuyBarbosaDiocesein1994.Sincethen,hehasrepeatedlyspokenoutagainstattacksonhumanrightsdefendersworkingwithindigenouscommunities.HejoinedFranciscansInternationalinGenevaduringtheOctober2018sessionoftheIntergovernmentalWorkingGroupontransnationalcorporationstocallforbetteraccesstojusticeandrecourseforcommunitiesaffectedbybusinessactivities.

Mgr.deWittewitnessedtheseissuesinhisowndiocesewhenhis50,000parishioners,thinlyspreadoutoveranareabiggerthanmanyEuropeancountries,foundtheirlivelihoodsthreatened

andRefugees:AnInterfaithPerspectiveontheGlobalCompacts.”Sr.DianaMuñozAlbaoftheFranciscanMissionariesofMary(FMM)anddirectoroftheMexico’sSantaMarthaMigrants’SheltersharedherexperienceasanimmigrationlawyerinMexico.

AsthenegotiationsdrewtoacloseinJulyandwiththeGCMadoptedlaterinDecember2018,FranciscansInternationalwasdisappointedtoseethatthefinaltextultimatelyfellshortofthepromisescontainedintheNewYorkDeclarationforRefugeesandMigrantsthatwasalreadyadoptedin2016byallstatesattheUnitedNations,andinsomeareasregressedintermsofhumanrightsprotectionsbyadoptinglowerstandardsthanthosealreadyadoptedbyseveralMemberStates.Nevertheless,wecontinueourworkwithlocalandinternationalpartnerstoadvocateforthefulfillmentoftheuniversalhumanrightsofmigrantsanduseexistinginternationalmechanismstoprotectandpromotethem.

bylargescaleminingprojects.“Asmalllaborer,whodoesn’townthelandhecultivates,canwakeuponemorningandfindlittlepegsaroundhishousetellinghimit’snowclaimedbyaminingcompany.Thisdoesn’thappentothepowerful,”saysdeWitte.

Inhisview,theChurchhasaresponsibilitytoplayaroleinthisprocess.“Weneedtobepartofthesediscussionsbecauseourworkrestsontwopillars:oneiscatechesis,butwemustalsostrivetocreateanequalandjustsocietyintheserviceoflife.Ultimately,thistreatyisnotagainsttheeconomyoragainsttransnationalcorporations.Itisintheserviceofthelivesofvictims–Itisintheserviceofallofus.”

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/ Africa Program /

FranciscansInternational’sengagementinAfrica,inlinewithitsthematicprioritieshasfocusedmainlyonissuesrelatedtoruleoflaw,environmentalrights,extremepoverty,andtheprotectionoftherightsofwomenandchildren.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo

TheCatholicChurchhasplayedapivotalroleinfacilitatingapoliticaldialogueintheDemocraticRepublicoftheCongo(DRC)whenmassprotestsbrokeoutinSeptember2016aftertheannouncementthatscheduledpresidentialelectionswouldbepostponed.TheNewYear’sEveagreement,brokeredbytheConférenceNationaleÉpiscopaleduCongo(CENCO),extendedPresidentJosephKabila’smandatebyoneyearuntilDecember2017ontheconditionthatelectionswouldbepreparedinthisperiod.However,theagreedvotedidnottakeplace,furtherincreasingtensions.

Throughout2018,FranciscansInternationalraiseditsconcernaboutthepoliticalsituationintheDRCandadvocatedforthefullimplementationoftheagreement.DuringtheJuneandSeptembersessionsoftheHumanRightsCouncil,wehostedmembersofCENCOtostresstheimportanceoffree,fair,andtransparentelectionsandtodenouncerepeatedactsofexcessiveforcebythegovernmentaswellasotherrestrictionsposedonthefreedomsofassociation,expression,andpeacefulassembly.DuringaconferenceattheCouncil’sSeptembersession,AbbéDonatienNshole,theSecretaryGeneraloftheCENCO,alsohighlightedtheneedtoaddresssystemicissues

Focus countries

Benin

Cameroon

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Zambia

Uganda

Kenya


©UNPhoto/AmandaVoisardImvepiRefugeeCampinNorthernUganda

©FranciscansInternationalSr. Nathalie Kangaji prepares to deliver an oralstatementattheJune2018sessionoftheHumanRightsCouncil

Regional Programs

toensureacredibleprocess,suchasthegeneraldistrustsurroundingvotingmachinesandthevoter’sregister.

Althoughpresidentialelectionsdidfinallytakeplaceon30December2018,weremainconcernedaboutwidespreadreportsofirregularitiesanddisenfranchisement.FranciscansInternationalwillcontinueitsclosecooperationwithCENCOandotherfieldpartnersonthelargenumberofhumanrightsissuesthatcontinuetoplaguetheDRC.

KenyaInOctober2018,theFranciscansInternationalconductedaworkshopinNairobitoraiseawarenessofthelinkagesbetweenhumanrightsanddevelopmentfor25representativesoftheFranciscanFamily,civilsocietypartners,andrepresentativesfromMukuru,oneofthelargestinformalsettlementsinthecity.

ParticipantshadtheopportunitytoexchangeviewswithseveralexpertsfromtheKenyaNationalCommissiononHumanRightsandothercivilsocietyorganizationswhoworkonthisissueatthenationalandinternationallevel.TheworkshopexploredhowtheSDGimplementationprocessisbeingconductedinKenyaandalsowaysofengagingrelevantstakeholders.

Afterwards,theparticipantsindicatedthattheworkshopexposedthemtotheinternationalhumanrightsprotectionsystemanditsexistingmechanismsandstandards,allowingthemtobettermakeuseofthesewhenbringinggrassrootscasestotheattentionoftheUnitedNations.

ZambiaTheGovernmentofZambiaacceptedthemajorityofrecommendationsreceivedatitsthirdUniversalPeriodicReview(UPR)inMarch2018,includingsomefortheprotectionofhumanrightsandtheenvironmentinrelationtoextractiveindustriesactivities.However,theUPRprocessdoesnotendinGeneva:itisessentialthatauthoritiescometogetherwithotherstakeholderstofollowuponrecommendationsandworktowardtheireffectiveimplementation.

InApril2018,FranciscansInternationalconductedafollow-upmissiontoZambiawhere,incollaborationwithlocalpartners,itorganizedaseriesofactivitiestoensurethatstakeholdersareawareofthecommitmentsmadebytheirgovernment,particularlyintheareaofnaturalresourcesandextractiveindustries.FranciscansInternational’sdelegatesmetwithcivilsocietyrepresentativesbutalsofacilitatedadialoguewithlocalandnationalauthoritiesandhighlightedthecrucialroleofcivilsocietyinmonitoringtheimplementationoftheUPRrecommendations.

ThepresenceofFranciscansInternationalgavelocalpartnersanopportunitytoinformtheircommunitiesabouttheirrightsandtoeducatelocalofficialsabouttheirobligationstoprotectthem.Ameetingwithlocalcommunitiesidentifiedtheneedforfurtherengagementwiththepeoplewhowillbeprimarilyaffectedbytheexplorationforandexploitationofoil,formingthebasisforourfutureengagementinthecountry.


“It was really important that our government was aware of our presence during the discussion on the DRC resolution at the Human Rights Council.”

Sr.NathalieKangaji,SNDCommissionforJusticeandPeace

CENCO

©FranciscansInternationalConsultationswithFranciscans

International’sdelegationinZambia


Brother Auguste Agounkpé, OFMCap.

InBenin,ritualinfanticideofchildrenaccusedofwitchcraftstilloccursinsomecommunities.“DuringBenin’sfirstUPRin2008,twostatesmaderecommendationsontheissue,whilein2012itwasraisedby14states.Thishelpedtoshedlightontheworkwedo,”saysBrotherAuguste,OFMCap.,fromFranciscains-BéninwhojoinedFranciscansInternationalinGenevatoagaincallattentiontothisissueduringtheBenin’s2018UPRadoption.Hehasbeenfightingritualinfanticideforalmostadecade.

AlthoughtheNationalAssemblyadoptedanewPenalCodeinJune2018thatincorporatesprovisionsoftheChild'sCoderegardingritualinfanticide,strongeractionisneededtoendthe

practice.Franciscains-Béninhasdevelopedastrategicplanthatdoesnotonlyentailsawareness-raisingcampaignsanddisseminationofnewprovisionsintheChildCodebutalsofocussesonsocialwork,ensuringeducationforgirlsandabandonedchildren.

“AsaFranciscan,thisworkisessentialbecauseSaintFranciswasthevoiceofthosewhodidnothaveany.So,automatically,Franciscanswilltaketothedefenseofanyman,womanorchildwhoserightsareabusedtoprotectthem,”sayBrotherAuguste.“Tome,Iamonlydoingmymission.”

©FranciscansInternational Br.AugusteAgounkpéduringameetingwiththeIndependentExpertonalbinismattheGenevaofficeofFranciscansInternational.


/ Americas Program /

Throughouttheyear,theAmericasProgramcontinueditsworkonpopulationsatrisk,focusingonmigrants,refugees,indigenouspeoples,andcommunitiesaffectedbyextractiveindustriesandenvironmentaldegradation.

MexicoIn2018,fourwavesofmigrants–mostlyfromHonduras,ElSalvador,andGuatemala–broughtinternationalattentiontothehumanrightssituationinCentralAmerica.MexicohasbeenthepredominantrouteformigrantstryingtomaketheirwaytotheUnitedStates.However,theviolencecausedbythewarondrugshasmadethejourneyincreasinglydangerous.Casesofdiscrimination,violence,disappearanceofmigrantsbycartelsorthemilitary,aswellasviolationsoftherighttoclaimasylumweredocumentedthroughout2018.Meanwhile,theUnitedStateshasrespondedbyadoptingmoreaggressivepoliciesthatincludemass-deportations,familyseparation,andthesuspensionofmigrationprograms.

FranciscansInternationalworkedcloselywithFranciscansshelterssuchasLa72HogarRefugioParaPersonasMigrantes(La72)inTenosique,whichprovideslegal,medical,andpsychologicalsupporttomigrantsandrefugees.La72DirectorRamónMarquezattendedthe38thsessionoftheHumanRightsCouncil,whereheprovidedtestimonyabouttherisksfacedbymigrantsandasylumseekers,particularlywomenandchildrenandthehumanrightsviolationsfacedduringtheirdeportationanddetention.

Tohelpreinforceregionalcollaboration,FranciscansInternationalorganizedaworkshoponmigrationinNovember2018thatbroughttogethertheFranciscanFamilyfromBrazil,Guatemala,ElSalvador,Mexico,andParaguay.Intheirconclusions,theparticipantscalledforamorecomprehensiveregionalandsub-regionalapproachtoaddresstheissueofmigrationandreiteratedthecallmadebyPopeFrancistoprotect,welcome,promote,andintegratemigrants.

Focus countries

Canada

Mexico

El Salvador

Guatemala

Haiti

Colombia

Venezuela

Brazil

Chile


©BBCWorldServiceFamiliesatFriendshipParkattheborderintheintheSanDiego–Tijuanaregion

El SalvadorUncheckedminingpracticeshavehadadevastatingimpactonElSalvador’senvironment,leavingover90percentofitssurfacewatersheavilypolluted.Afternearly13yearsofadvocacybypopularmovements–includingtheFranciscanFamily–theNationalCongressadoptedalandmarklawin2017,prohibitingmetalmining.However,theimpactofyearsofneglectisstilldeeplyfelt.

InJuly2018,FranciscansInternationalpresentedapositionpapertotheUNinNewYorkduringtheHighLevelPoliticalForum,focusingonElSalvador.Thepaperexaminedtherighttowaterindifferentcontexts,exploringissuesrelatedtotransboundarywaters,mining,andthepreventionandmitigationofdisastersinrelationtotheSustainableDevelopmentGoals.

FranciscansInternationalalsohostedSandraCarolinaAscenciofromtheFranciscanJPIC–ElSalvadorinGenevaandNewYork.Atvariousplatforms,shesharedproblemsrelatedtotheextractiveindustriesandthepotentialrisksassociatedwithElSalvador’sproposedprivatizationofwater.ShefurtherhighlightedtheissuesstemmingfromthelackofinternationalagreementsbetweenElSalvadoranditsneighborsfortheconservationandmanagementoftransboundarywaterresources.

The Universal Periodic ReviewUndertheUPR,thehumanrightssituationineachofthe193UNmemberstatesisreviewedeveryfiveyears.Thesereviewsarebasedonanationalreportpreparedbythestate,acompilationofUNinformationbytheOfficeoftheHighCommissionerforHumanRights,andasummaryofinformationreceivedfromcivilsociety.

WesupportFranciscansandcivilsocietyatthenationallevelstoengagewiththeUPR,andtoeffectivelyfollowupontherecommendationsacceptedbytheState.In2018,weworkedonthereviewsofsixcountries,includingthreeintheAmericas.

FranciscansInternationalfacilitatedtheparticipationofthreeCanadianfieldpartnersworkingonissuesrelatedtowaterandhumantrafficking.Incollaborationwiththeglobaladvocacyprogram,oneoftheguestsinvitedwasSandraPilarSanchezfromtheServiceIntercommunautaired’AnimationFranciscaine(SIAF)wholaterjoinedusinNewYorkonarelateddiscussionontherighttowaterinthecontextoftheSDGs.FranciscansInternationalalsohostedJillHanleyfromleComitéd’ActioncontrelaTraiteHumaineInterneetInternationale(CATHII)toaddresstheissueofhumantrafficking.

MargaritaBautista,fromtheColombianFranciscanFamilyjoinedFranciscansInternationalinGenevaforapresentationhighlightingthemainissuesofthecountry’sUPR.Shetalkedaboutthethreatsagainstandharassmentofenvironmentalhumanrightdefenders,mining,andpopularconsultations,particularlyintheLaColosaminingregioninColombia.

Finally,wealsosubmittedanUPRreportaheadofChile’sreviewinJanuary2019,togetherwiththeOficinadeJusticiaPazeIntegridaddelaCreacióndelosHermanosFranciscanosdeChile,toaddressconcernsrelatedtoaccessandscarcityofwaterasaconsequenceofbusinessactivities,particularlyminingcompaniesinthenorthofthecountry,pineandeucalyptusplantations,andfruitbusinesses.


“States are worried about their international image in front of cooperation partners at the United Nations, so it is a good advocacy opportunity to ask them to improve and to change their decisions and public policies.”

SandraCarolinaAscencioJPIC–ElSalvador

©FranciscansInternationalAmericasProgramCoordinatorUlisesQuerowithSandraCarolinaAscencio,

duringavisittoElSalvador

Toolbox in Spanish FranciscansInternationalhelpscivilsocietytopromoteanintegratedandcoherenthumanrights-basedapproachtosustainabledevelopment,povertyeradication,andenvironmentaljustice.Inordertobuildtheircapacity,wehavedevelopedaToolboxwhich:

pp HighlightshowviolationsofhumanrightscanharmorhindertheimplementationofSDGsandmakepeoplemorevulnerabletoclimatechange;pp Connectsthedotsbetweenhumanrights,sustainable

developmentandclimatechangeatthenationalandin-ternationallevelstobetterinformthevariousreviewmech-anisms;and

pp Helpspeoplemakefulluseofexistingmechanismsandpromoteanintegratedapproachthatrespectsandprotectshumanrights.

In2018,wepublishedaSpanishversionoftheToolbox,whichformedthebasisofaworkshopinElSalvador,wherearound30participantsweretrainedhowtousedifferentmechanismsoftheUnitedNationstostrengthenthelinkbetweenStateandinternationalpoliciesandtherealizationofhumanrights.TheToolboxisavailableonourwebsiteinEnglish,French,andSpanish.


©FranciscansInternationalUNSpecialRapporteuroninternallydisplaced

personsduringthelaunchoftheSpanishversionofthetoolboxattheHumanRightsCouncil


/ Asia-Pacific Program /

Inthepastyear,FranciscansInternationalhasfurtherdevelopeditslongstandingrelationshipsinAsia-Pacificandrespondedtoemerginghumanrightscrises.Inlinewithourthematicpriorities,themainissuesaddressedincludeextra-judicialkillings,transitionaljustice,therightsofindigenouspeoples,therightsofmigrantsandrefugees,andtherightsofcommunitiesaffectedbyextractiveindustries.

IndonesiaFranciscansInternationalhasdeeprootsintheprovincesofPapuaandWestPapua,wheretensionsoveritsspecialautonomousstatus,reportsofviolencebybothStateandnon-Stateactors,limitedaccessbytheinternationalcommunity,anddemographicshiftsthreateningtheindigenouspopulations,continuetobeasourceofconcern.AlthoughtheIndonesiangovernmenthasrepeatedlysignaleditswillingnesstoaddresstheseissues,keyeffortsstalledaheadoftheApril2019generalelections.Nevertheless,asanorganizationwecontinuetoworktofacilitateadialoguebetweenchurches,civilsociety,anddifferentlevelsofgovernment.WeparticularlywelcomedthevisitoftheSpecialRapporteurontherighttofoodtoIndonesia,whereshediscussedthesituationinWestPapuawiththeIndonesianPresident,asameaningfulsteptorenewedengagementwiththeOfficeoftheHighCommissionerforHumanRights.

IndonesiancivilsocietyalsoapproachedFranciscansInternationaltoraiseavarietyofissuesassociatedwithlargescalepalmoilplantations.Duringthe38thsessionoftheHumanRightsCouncil,wemadeastatementcallingforamoratoriumonpalmoilplantationpermitsandimprovedprotectionoftherighttolandofindigenouspeoplesaswellasoftherightsofplantationworkers.

Sri Lanka

Philippines

West Papua

Papua New Guinea

Japan

Indonesia

Focus countries


©CourtesyofRaffyLermaManilla,thePhilippines

©FranciscansInternationalParticipantsduringatraininginthePhilippines

Finally,incollaborationwithotherCatholicorganizations,FranciscansInternationalhostedaconsultationtodiscusshumantraffickingofmigrantworkersintheEastNusaTenggaraProvince.Duringthismeeting,participantswereabletoshareinformationandelaborateonfuturestrategiesforinternationaladvocacy.

PhilippinesSince2016,anestimated30,000peoplehavebecomevictimsofextra-judicialkillingsinthegovernment’s‘warondrugs,’mostofthempoorpeople.ThewidespreadcondemnationofthismassacrehascreatedanincreasinglyhostilesituationinthePhilippinesforcivilsociety,withrepeatedattacksagainsthumanrightsdefenders,religiousleaders,journalistsandindigenouspeoples.

Followingalongtradition,churchesinthePhilippineshavedenouncedthekillings,andprovidedsanctuaryforwitnesses,victims,andtheirfamilies.Throughouttheyear,FranciscansInternationalhassupportedlocalfriarsandsisterstoattendkeymeetingsinGeneva,andRometomobilizeboththeUNstakeholdersandtheCatholicChurchnetworktotakeactionagainsttheongoingviolationsinthePhilippines.InMay2018wealsoorganizedajointtrainingwiththeFranciscanSolidarityMovement,whichprovidedavaluableopportunityforpartnerstogatherandcoordinatejointactionsbenefittingthemarginalizedcommunitiesthattheyrepresent.

Sri LankaThroughout2018,thepoliticalsituationinSriLankaremainedextremelyfragile.InOctober,thedissolutionofthe2015NationalUnityGovernmentandtheappointmentofformerPresidentMahindaRajapaksaasaPrimeMinistersparkedaconstitutionalcrisisthatparalyzedthegovernmentformonths.Meanwhile,despiterepeatedcommitments,authoritieshavebeenslowtoimplementtransitionaljusticemechanismstoprovideaccountabilityforhumanrightsabusescommittedduringtheSriLankancivilwar.

Inresponsetotheconstitutionalcrisis,FranciscansInternationalhostedrepresentativesfromSriLankancivilsocietyinGeneva,wheretheyhighlightedthepotentialnegativeimpactonthetransitionaljusticeprocess.Theyemphasizedthatthepoliticalcrisisshouldalsobeseenasahumanrightscrisisandvoicedtheirconcernaboutthepotentialchillingeffectsthesituationcouldhaveonhumanrightsdefendersandvictims,particularlyintheNorthernandEasternTamilprovinces.

Muchoftheeffortsfocusedonpreparationsforthe40thsessionoftheHumanRightsCouncilinMarch2019,withtheOfficeoftheHighCommissioneronHumanRightsscheduledtoreportontheimplementationofResolution30/1onTransitionalJusticeinSriLanka.FranciscansInternationalstressedthroughout2018that,althoughnominalprogresshasbeenmade,aclear,timeboundroadmapandstrongmonitoringprocessisstillneededtocontinueonthepathtopeaceandreconciliation.


“We recognize our commonalities. Earth is our common home, therefore we all have a common responsibility to protect and defend it from abuse and destruction. We have a common heritage of human kind. We have common values, goals and priorities”

OpeningsentenceoftheSemarangDeclarationoftheAsia-Pacific

GatheringonHumanRightsandExtractives2018


In Memoriam: Sister CresItiswithgreatsadnessthatwereceivedthenewsofthepassingofSisterCrescencíaLucero,SFIC,on15May2019.At77yearsold,ascoordinatoroftheJPIC’sAssociationofMajorReligiousSuperiorsofthePhilippines(AMRSP),shewasarenownedhumanrightsdefenderthroughouttheAsia-PacificRegion.

SisterCresstartedherhumanrightsworkundertheMarcos’ruleinthe1970sand1980swhere,asthechairwomenoftheTaskForceDetaineesofthePhilippines(TFDP)shehelpeddocumentover5,500casesoftorture,over2,500casesofsummaryexecutions,andmorethan750enforceddisappearances.

“Weoweittoourselves;weoweittoFr.RudyRomanoandallthosewhohavebeenmartyredduringmartiallaw,andweowe

ittothefuturegenerationstoremainvigilant.Letusnotbecomecomplacent,”shesaidina2014interview.

SheworkedcloselywithFranciscansInternationalinhereffortstocombatthecurrenthumanrightscrisisinthePhilippines.SisterCresfrequentlyattendedHumanRightsCouncilsessionsinGeneva,mostrecentlyinSeptember2017whenshespokeabouttheimpactofthewarondrugsonhumanrights.Almosteveryyear,SisterCresalsojoinedforceswithFranciscansInternationaltoorganizecapacitybuildingworkshopsforcivilsocietyinanefforttobringlastingandpositivechangetothePhilippines.

©FranciscansInternationalSr.CrescencíaLucero,SFIC

CHFIncomeFranciscan Orders and Congregations (unrestricted) 421'714

Franciscan Funds (restricted) 242'774

Funding Agencies and Foundations 525'576

Other Donations 269

Total income 1'190'333

ExpensesAdvocacy 687'608

Communications, Animation and Fundraising 172'645

Administration 227'329

Total operating expenses 1'087'579

Total non-operating income and expenses 21'652

Result of the year 81'103

Expenses

Advocacy 63,22 %

Administration 20,9 %

Communications, Animation and Fundraising 15,87 %

Franciscan Orders and Congregations (unrestricted) 35,42 %

Franciscan Funds (restricted) 20,39 %

Funding Agencies and Foundations 44,15 %

Other Donations 0,01 %

Income

Financial Report 2018 Reviewed by PricewaterhouseCoopers SA


/ Donor Acknowledgement / Franciscans International wishes to express its sincere gratitude to the Franciscan Orders, Congregations and all individual donors for their support of this Common Ministry. We are also grateful to the following funding entities for their generous funding in 2018: Adoff (Netherlands), Brot für die Welt (Germany), Commune de Carouge (Switzerland), Commune de Plan-les- Ouates (Switzerland), Fastenopfer (Switzerland), Franciscan Missions (USA), Franziskaner Mission (Germany), Misean Cara (Ireland), Misereor (Germany), Missionszentrale der Franziskaner (Germany), Rose Marie Khoo Foundation (Singapore), Trócai-re (Ireland), Union That Nothing Be Lost (USA).

Help us protect human rights

FranciscansInternationalisentirelydependentondonationsfromFranciscanOrdersandCongregations,fundingagenciesandinstitutions,parishes,andpeoplesensitivetoFranciscanvaluesofsolidarity,peace,socialjustice,andrespectfortheenvironment.Makeadifferencewithyourdonationandhelpusprotecthumanrights.

SwitzerlandSendabanktransfer:Nameofaccountholder:FranciscansInternational/Addressofaccountholder:RuedeVermont37–39,CH1202Geneva/BankName:UBSSA/Address:RoutedeFlorissant59,CH1206Geneva/SWIFT/BIC:UBSWCHZH80A/ClearingNo.240/CHFAccountNo:240-357384.01F/IBAN:CH690024024035738401F/EURAccountNo:240-357384.61W/IBAN:CH850024024035738461W

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FranciscansInternationalisaregisterednon-profitorganization.DonationsaretaxdeductibleinSwitzerland,theUnitedStates,andGermany.Formoreinformationonhowyoucansupportourwork,pleasecontact [email protected]

©FranciscansInternationalMuralattheFranciscanLa72shelterinMexico


Franciscans International Staff

International Board of Directors

Joseph Rozansky, OFM RepresentativeoftheOrderofFriarsMinor(President)

Markus Heinze, OFM ExecutiveDirector

Kevin Queally, TOR RepresentativeoftheThirdOrder

RegularofSaintFrancis(Vice-President)

Ruth Marcus, OFSRepresentativeoftheSecular

FranciscanOrder

Budi TjahjonoAsia-PacificProgramCoordinator/

DeputyAdvocacyDirector

Lourdes BrionesFinanceOfficer

Marina El KhouryRepresentativeattheUnitedNations

(NewYork)

Joseph Blay, OFMConv.RepresentativeoftheOrderofFriarsMinorConventual

Sandra Epal Ratjen InternationalAdvocacyDirector

DeputyExecutiveDirector

Clark Berge, SSFRepresentativeoftheSocietyofSaint

Francis(Secretary)

Markus Heinze, OFMExecutiveDirectorof

FranciscansInternational

Ulises QueroAmericasProgramCoordinator

Thomas KleinveldCommunicationsOfficer

Paolo Nicosia, SAOutreachvolunteer

(NewYork)

James Donegan, OFMCap.RepresentativeoftheOrderofFriars

MinorCapuchin

Enkeleda PapaAfricaProgramCoordinator

Carla Casadei, SFP RepresentativeoftheInternational

FranciscanConferenceoftheSistersandBrothersoftheThirdOrderRegularof

SaintFrancis(Treasurer)

Cédric Chatelanat ProjectManager

Cécile StoneOutreachvolunteer

(Geneva)


Franciscans International Staff

Geneva: 37-39ruedeVermont,P.O.Box104,CH-1211Geneva20,Switzerland,

T+41227794010,F+41227794012,[email protected]

New York: 246East46thStreet#1,NewYork,NY10017-2937,UnitedStates,

T+1(917)6751075,[email protected]

www.franciscansinternational.org

Our VisionAglobalcommunityinwhichthedignityofeverypersonisrespected,resourcesareshared

equitably,theenvironmentissustained,andnationsandpeoplesliveinpeace.

Our MissionUsingarights-basedapproach,FranciscansInternationaladvocatesattheUnitedNations

fortheprotectionofhumandignityandenvironmentaljustice.

Franciscans International · 2019. 8. 15. · 44FIntrrodunci LefnmhPs / Letter from the President / As President of the International Board of Directors of Franciscans International,

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