The See Change" Campaign: An Update - Brief Article

WIN News, Spring, 2000

CATHOLICS FOR A FREE CHOICE, 1436 U St. NW # 301. Washington DC 20009-3997 USA

WHAT IS THE 'SEE CHANGE' CAMPAIGN?

Hundreds of organizations and thousands of people worldwide have initiated a campaign to change the status of the Roman Catholic Church "the HOLY SEE" - at the United Nations.

We have called on the Secretary-General to review the Catholic Church's current status as a Non-Member State Permanent Observer. We believe that the Holy See, the government of the Roman Catholic Church, should participate in the UN in the same way as the world's other religions - as a non-governmental organization.

WHY IS THIS CAMPAIGN IMPORTANT?

Religious freedom is endangered. Every other religion with representation at the UN, like the World Council of Churches, is rightly restricted to an affiliation based on that of other non-governmental organizations. In a time when religious fundamentalism threatens pluralism, tolerance, and women's human rights, the UN must maintain a clear separation between religious beliefs and international public policy.

Each year 600,000 women die needlessly during pregnancy and childbirth. The UN increasingly makes decisions that will prevent these deaths. The Holy See, as recognized country in the UN, has a powerful voice: It uses this voice to limit access to family planning, safe abortion - even in countries where abortion is legal - and emergency contraception - even for women who have been raped as an act of war. Changing the Holy See's status will save women's lives.

Five years ago at Beijing, the Vatican used its status at the UN to water down proposals that favored women's equality and autonomy. And Vatican supporters today are actively recruiting like-minded people to lobby delegates at the review meetings to help further the Vatican's anti-woman agenda.

HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT THIS CAMPAIGN?

There are many ways to support the 'SEE CHANGE' campaign. Your organization can endorse this campaign and be listed among endorsers, or by contacting us through www.seechange.net/forml.htm. A list of those organizations endorsing the campaign is available at www.seechange.net/endorsers.htm.> You can personally sign a postcard via the Internet at www.seechange.net/form3.htm. Or we would be happy to complete a postcard for you if you email us your name, address, phone and email.

To support the campaign please contact either David Nolan by email at info@seechange.org, phone 1 (202) 986-6093 fax 1 (202) 332-7995.

As a UN Non-Member State Permanent Observer, the Holy See enjoys unique status, often as a voting partner at UN conferences. Granting governmental privileges to what is in reality a religious body is questionable. While the Roman Catholic Church - has made positive contributions through the United Nations to peace and justice, this should not be used to justify granting the status of a state to a religious institution."

UNESCO AND HUMAN RIGHTS

STANDARD-SETTING INSTRUMENTS, MAJOR MEETINGS, PUBLICATIONS

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 7 place de Fontenoy, F-75352 Paris 07 SP, FRANCE

SELECTION OF DOCUMENTS - INTRODUCTION BY JANUSZ SYMONIDES AND VLADIMIR VOLODIN -- SECOND EDITION (537 PAGES) Published in 1999

CONTENTS: "Introduction

1. Texts of Major Standard-Setting Instruments on Human Rights // A. Conventions // B. Declarations // C. Recommendations // D. Study of the Procedures which should be Followed

II. Final Documents of Selected Meetings Related to Human Rights Organized or Co-Organized by UNESCO: Declarations, Recommendations, Statements, Etc. Annexes"

FROM THE INTRODUCTION

UNESCO and Human Rights was first published in 1996 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of UNESCO's creation. The present edition, containing updated information, will, we hope, answer the continuing requests concerning UNESCO's activities in the field of human rights. New human rights instruments, adopted by the General Conference in the context of the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the final documents of meetings organized since the first edition, as well as new publications, have been added.

UNESCO's obligation to promote and protect human rights was established by its Constitution, adopted on 16 November1945[ldots] In order to realize its main objectives, the Organization elaborates relevant international instruments. Standard-setting has thus always played an important role in UNESCO's activities[ldots]."