{"id":3877,"date":"2019-06-06T09:12:03","date_gmt":"2019-06-06T14:12:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/advocacy\/?p=3877"},"modified":"2019-06-06T10:02:14","modified_gmt":"2019-06-06T15:02:14","slug":"june-advocacy-update-u-n-and-state-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/advocacy\/june-advocacy-update-u-n-and-state-edition\/","title":{"rendered":"June Update: UN and State Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"

U.N.<\/a> | California<\/a> | Colorado<\/a> | Kansas<\/a> | Minnesota<\/a> | Nevada<\/a> | New Mexico<\/a> | Ohio | <\/a>Pennsylvania<\/a> | <\/a>Washington<\/a>| <\/a>Wisconsin<\/a><\/p>\n

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Lutheran Office for World Community, United Nations, New York<\/h3>\n

Dennis Frado, director<\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n
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LOWC staff and Bishop Atahualpa Hern\u00e1ndez of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Colombia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

INTERCHURCH DIALOGUE FOR PEACE IN COLOMBIA CALLS FOR FULFILLMENT OF 2016 PEACE ACCORDS:<\/strong>The Lutheran Office for World Community joined the World Council of Churches, the World Communion of Reformed Churches, and the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. in co-sponsoring a panel discussion by members of the Interchurch Dialogue for Peace in Colombia (DiPaz in Spanish) on May 29. The panel was led by Bishop Atahualpa Hern\u00e1ndez of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia and included a representative of a women\u2019s association (name withheld for safety reasons) and the Rev. Milton Mej\u00eda of the Presbyterian Church of Colombia.DiPaz has strongly supported the 2016 peace accords between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC in Spanish) but is currently concerned that President Iv\u00e1n Duque\u2019s government is not implementing the agreement fully. They are concerned about war victims\u2019 rights, intimidation of and attacks on human rights defenders, rural reform, legal attempts to unilaterally modify the accords, political participation, disarmament and reintegration of former FARC guerillas, and other issues inhibiting a just peace and reconciliation. The delegation also urged the U.N., especially the Security Council, to continue its role in the verification of the accords, affirmed a planned council visit in July, and asked for support from the international community to have the government resume its dialogues with the other major insurgency group, the National Liberation Army.The delegation met with the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Member States of the Security Council.<\/p>\n

KWIBUKA 25 \u2013 \u201cREMEMBER, UNITE, RENEW: PRESERVING MEMORY AND UPHOLDING<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Permanent Mission of Rwanda to the United Nations<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

HUMANITY THROUGH COOPERATION AND SHARED RESPONSIBILITY IN FIGHTING IMPUNITY AND GENOCIDE DENIAL.\u201d:<\/strong> On May 20, the Permanent Mission of Rwanda to U.N., the American Jewish Committee, the U.N. Office on Genocide Prevention, the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, and the New York Bar Association organized a conference on the 25th commemoration of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.In her opening remarks, Ambassador Valentine Rugwabiza highlighted the cost of indifference to genocide and the collective need to speak out: \u201cIt is our collective responsibility to stand and act for stigmatized communities who are seen as less deserving of life.\u201dDuring two panels different aspects of genocide prevention, fighting impunity and genocide denial were discussed. Simone Monasebian, director of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime emphasized that genocides are processes that start with an increasing use of hate speech, which dehumanizes people. This was reiterated by Zachary D. Kaufmann, lecturer in law, who added that genocides are preventable and that female leadership and women\u2019s representation in political systems are crucial concerning prevention.On the second panel Celine Uwineza and Consolee Nishimwe, two survivors of the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994, talked about their journeys after the genocide and about the importance of sharing witness\u2019s stories. Rugwabiza reminded the audience that accountability is an effective means of prevention.<\/p>\n

HIGH-LEVEL EVENT ON CULTURE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Photo: U.N. Library<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

On May 21, a high-level event was held at the U.N. Trusteeship Council Chamber on culture and sustainable development. This full day of thematic debates coincided with the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development<\/a><\/u>, a day of recognizing the values of cultural diversity and to advance the goals of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions<\/a><\/u> adopted in 2005. The event on culture and sustainable development included a roundtable discussion on cultural heritage and its mobilization of people toward sustainable development and two panels highlighting the importance of cultural education and culture as a means of empowerment and equality. To achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development<\/a><\/u>, the transformative power of culture has been recognized as a key enabler in providing sustainable solutions to local and global challenges.<\/a><\/p>\n

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California<\/h3>\n

Regina Q. Banks, Lutheran Office of Public Policy- California (LOPP-CA) \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 lopp<\/a>\"\"<\/a>ca.org<\/a><\/h4>\n

LUTHERAN LOBBY DAY 2019 WAS A HUGE SUCCESS:<\/strong> About 105 Lutherans from throughout our diverse state gathered in Sacramento on May 29 to talk to policy makers about childhood poverty, a MediCal expansion to cover undocumented adults and water justice. We assembled at St. John\u2019s Lutheran Church in Sacramento to hear the gospel preached by the Rev. Amy Reumann, director of ELCA Advocacy, commune together and learn advocacy tips and strategies before heading to the Capitol for scheduled meetings. We met with 52 (of 120) state legislator offices in four hours! Some were short, uplifting \"\"<\/a>meetings of like-minded people; others were more contentious. But all participants had a meaningful day putting faith into action. LOPP-CA would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who helped make the event a success. We\u2019d especially like to highlight Bishops Guy Erwin of Southwest California, Mark Holmerud of Sierra Pacific and Andy Taylor of Pacifica Synod who attended and committed themselves and their staffs to highlighting the role of advocacy in the life of the church. St. John\u2019s and its pastor, the Rev. Frank Espegren, who were a study in hospitality for the day; and our ministry partners throughout the capitol community that made the vision for the day come to life. It was truly a blessed time in the Lord, and it\u2019s not too soon to plan to join us next year!<\/a><\/p>\n

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Colorado<\/h3>\n

Peter Severson, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry\u2013Colorado \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 lam-co.org<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/h4>\n

END OF SESSION<\/strong>: The Colorado General Assembly has adjourned for 2019. Our complete legislative wrap-up is now available at lam-co.org<\/a>. Below are highlights of passed bills from this session in the key areas of our policy agenda.<\/p>\n