{"id":3994,"date":"2019-07-09T16:11:40","date_gmt":"2019-07-09T21:11:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/advocacy\/?p=3994"},"modified":"2019-07-09T16:11:40","modified_gmt":"2019-07-09T21:11:40","slug":"july-update-un-and-state-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/advocacy\/july-update-un-and-state-edition\/","title":{"rendered":"July Update: UN and State Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

United Nations<\/a> | California<\/a> | Colorado<\/a>\u00a0| Minnesota<\/a> | Nevada<\/a> | Ohio<\/a> | Pennsylvania<\/a> | Southeastern Synod<\/a> | Washington<\/a> | Wisconsin<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

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

Dennis Frado, director\"\"<\/a><\/h4>\n

GENERAL DEBATE ON HIV AND AIDS: <\/strong>On June 3, the annual debate took place in the General Assembly concerning the Implementation of the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV\/AIDS<\/a><\/u> and the 2011 Political Declaration on HIV\/AIDS<\/a><\/u>. The UNAIDS<\/a><\/u> target of reducing HIV by 2020 is just a year away — 90-90-90 <\/a><\/u>(diagnose 90% of all HIV-positive people, provide antiretroviral therapy to 90% of those diagnosed and achieve viral suppression for 90% of those treated by\u00a02020). This target is in line with Sustainable Development Goal 3 target 3:3<\/a><\/u> of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.<\/p>\n

As Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, chef de cabinet of the secretary general\u2019s executive, pointed out, when AIDS was first identified more than 30\u00a0years ago, suffering and death seemed unstoppable.\u00a0 Years later, nearly 8\u00a0million deaths have been averted since\u00a02000 and three-quarters of people living with the virus now know their status. Unfortunately, this progress remains uneven. Since\u00a02010, Eastern Europe and Central Asia have witnessed a 30% increase in HIV infections.<\/p>\n

Ten years ago the ELCA Church Council adopted the ELCA Strategy on HIV and AIDS<\/a><\/u> and called on the ELCA to respond faithfully and effectively to this pandemic. Find information concerning the ELCA\u2019s HIV and AIDS Ministry, worship resources and more here<\/a><\/u>.<\/p>\n

Read<\/a> the secretary-general\u2019s report: \u201cGalvanizing global ambition to end the AIDS epidemic after a decade of progress\u201d. Read the full report with short summaries of the statements here<\/a><\/u>.<\/p>\n

STILL STANDING STRONG – INTERNATIONAL ALBINISM AWARENESS DAY<\/strong> : <\/strong>On June 13, the U.N. celebrated International Albinism Awareness Day<\/a>. The theme \u201cStill Standing Strong\u201d encourages the international community to \u201crecognize, celebrate and stand in solidarity with persons with albinism around the world\u201d. On this day, everyone is reminded that people with albinism deserve to have their\u00a0rights to life and security\u00a0protected.<\/p>\n

Different speakers shared their work on awareness-raising and the challenges that people with albinism face. Senator Isaac Mwaura from Kenya pointed out how important it is to be innovative and create spaces where people with albinism feel secure, beautiful and seen. This message was also shared by Diandra Forrest, the first woman with albinism to sign with a major modeling agency.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>PROGRESS OF THE WORLD\u2019S WOMEN REPORT LAUNCH:<\/strong> On June 25, U.N. Women launched a 2019 report titled \u201cProgress of the World\u2019s Women 2019-2020: Families in a Changing World,\u201d which highlights the diversity of families. Families \u201ccan be places of love and affection\u201d however, women and girls \u201ctoo often face violence and discrimination\u201d within the home. The report includes a comprehensive policy agenda with eight recommendations, calling on governments, civil society and the private sector to safeguard women\u2019s and girls\u2019 rights. You can read the online report here<\/a> <\/u>and a blog post<\/a><\/u> on the report by Joanna Lilja, Church of Sweden.<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

California<\/h3>\n

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

BUDGET GAINS AND LOSSES<\/strong>: During our Lobby Day last month we advocated for a Medi-Cal (California\u2019s low-income health care program) expansion that would cover all income-eligible people independent of immigration status. We, and our allies, were partially successful in spurring an expansion that will cover those up to age 26.\u00a0\u00a0We also talked to legislators about the establishment of a clean, safe and affordable drinking water fund. The Legislature agreed and chose to finance the measure with cap-and-trade funds as opposed to the governor\u2019s proposed new fee on polluters. Finally, the Legislature approved a significant expansion to the California Earned Income Tax Credit. This \"\"<\/a>is a tent post for the End Child Poverty coalition to which we belong and was a huge win. Unfortunately, the expansion will not include those who file taxes with an ITIN, whose filers are primarily undocumented workers. Thank you to everyone who came to Lobby Day, made calls, wrote e-mails and prayed. We got both some significant wins and a clearer roadmap of the work ahead!<\/p>\n

WORLD REFUGEE DAY ACKNOWLEDGMENT: <\/strong>June 20th<\/sup>marked U.N. World Refugee Day. LOPP-CA acknowledged the day with partners such as St. Paul Lutheran Church of Lodi, Calif; Organizacion de Trabajadores, Fuerzas Unidas and others in a march and prayer circle for the reunification of families being callously held in US detentions. We prayed together and then marched \"\"<\/a>to the U.S. General Services Administration building in Sacramento where we prayed for the employees and our policy makers.<\/p>\n

SECOND-MILE GIVING:<\/strong> Thank you so much to everyone, congregations and individuals alike, who participated in the Sierra Pacific Synod\u2019s second-mile giving support of LOPP-CA in June. We are humbled by your generosity.<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

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

MINISTRY VISITS:<\/strong> Peter Severson, director of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-Colorado, visited Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Grand Junction in late June to preach, present, and march in the Colorado West Pride Parade (alongside American Lutheran Church too). The two congregations joined Pride along with other faith communities that participate in the Grand Valley Interfaith Network.<\/p>\n

Severson also visited Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp in Hillside, in early June for the commissioning service at the end of staff training. Congratulations to these great couns\"\"<\/a>elors and staff, who are having a great summer in the mountains as they faithfully lead campers!<\/p>\n

In July, we look forward to visiting Trinity Lutheran Church, Boulder; First Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs; and the ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering in Minneapolis! <\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Minnesota<\/h3>\n

Tammy Walhof, Lutheran Advocacy- Minnesota (LA-MN)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 lutheranadvocacymn.org<\/a><\/h4>\n

UPCOMING EVENT – A VIEW FROM THE BORDER\/UNA VISTA DESDE LA FRONTERA:<\/strong> The Rev.\"\"<\/a> Mateo Chavez, pastor of San Juan Bautista Lutheran Church in Tucson, Ariz., is a board member of Cruzando Fronteras, a collaborative ministry between Episcopal, Lutheran, and Anglican communities on of borders with Mexico, Latin America, and elsewhere. A free will offering will support ministries of Tapestry and San Juan Bautista, which accompany immigrants, asylum-seekers and refugees.<\/p>\n