Hong Kong Liberal Religious Forum

UU UN Office Takes Lead on Human Rights

August 20, New York: the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office will play a path breaking role in next month's human rights conference in Paris, sponsored by the UN's Department of Public Information and presented in cooperation with the many nongovernmental organizations with consultative status at the UN. Held to commemorate the signing in Paris in 1948 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the event is cosponsored by UNESCO, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Government of France.

Titled "Reaffirming Human Rights for All: the Universal Declaration at 60," the conference will be held September 3 - 5, 2008 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

Bruce Knotts, Executive Director of the UU UN Office, is a member of the conference's subcommittee on outreach. In planning sessions, Knotts was struck by the omission of the LGBT community among those whose rights are threatened around the world. "If we were going to discuss the human rights of every conceivable marginalized group," he recalls, "we could not exclude the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community."

Leaving aside the question of same sex marriage or other actions that run up against strong religious and cultural norms, Knotts pointed to gross violations of rights that ought to trouble anyone—torture, murder, execution, rape, arbitrary arrest, and beatings. "No culture or religion can condone these crimes," he argued.

Knotts' objection carried the day and, for the first time at any UN conference of this kind, LGBT issues will be squarely on the agenda next week in Paris. Moreover, Knotts has been named LGBT Caucus Coordinator for the conference; he will moderate a panel discussion on the Yogyakarta Principles, which apply existing international law to issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity; and he will co-moderate a breakout session that will discuss issues related to all communities not normally heard at the United Nations. The speakers for the Yogyakarta Panel will be Wilhelm Monasso, Executive Director of FILAD (Philanthropy & Advice) an LGBT Dutch consulting agency; Peter Dankmeijer, Executive Director of GALE (The Global Alliance for LGBT Education) also from the Netherlands, and Cyrille Compaoe, Executive Director Action Voluntaire in Burkina Faso which advocates for and provides medical services to MSMs (men who have sex with men) in Africa.

Bruce Knotts took over the reins at the Unitarian Universalist UN Office in January, after 23 years as a diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service, where he also served on the Board of Directors of Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies. With more than 1,000 congregations nationwide, Unitarian Universalists hold human rights as a core value and have maintained a presence at the UN since 1946. The Unitarian Universalists are proud of their Human Rights history, including their commitment to LGBT rights. Unitarian Universalists have been performing same-gender marriages since the 1970s. The Manichean Society, which comprised United States Federal LGBT works in the 1950s fighting for the right to work in government service, used to meet in Unitarian & Universalist Churches. Many famous gays and lesbians from history, like Walt Whitman and Susan B. Anthony, where either Unitarians or Universalists or both. The two liberal denominations joined in 1961. The Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville, TN was attacked by a gunman in July this year due to the Unitarian Universalist liberal theology and its welcoming of gays and lesbians, according to documents written by the gunman and found by the police. In addition to fighting for LGBT rights, the Unitarian Universalist Church fought and continues to fight to end slavery, to empower women and to end racial discrimination. Many of American's Founding Fathers (and Mothers) where Unitarians or Universalists, such as America's second and third presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. The Unitarian Universalist Church maintains its revolutionary and visionary character.

All of us at the UU-UNO are proud to represent you, at UN headquarters in New York and next week in Paris. If you are not already a member of our organization, please consider joining us and look for our letter next week demonstrating our other accomplishments and you can support our continued success. You can find more information on becoming a member and our other programs at www.uu-uno.org .

Bruce F. Knotts
Executive Director
Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office
777 UN Plaza, Suite 7G
New York, NY 10017
Tel: (212) 986-5165
Fax: (212) 983-5498
BKnotts@uu-uno.org
www.uu-uno.org

United Nations Sunday 2009 - Resources - Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office

The Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office invites UUs around the world to celebrate UN Sunday. UN Sunday is an annual service dedicated to reaffirming the connections between UU principles and vital issues dealt with at the UN.

As a bit of background, the United Nations was founded on 24 October 1945. In celebration of its founding, the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office (UU-UNO) has a long history of encouraging congregations and individual UUs to deepen their understanding of the United Nations through celebrating a UN Sunday (usually the last Sunday in October but any Sunday would work).

To assist with developing this service, the UU-UNO offers a free UN Sunday Resource Packet for congregations in order to help plan a meaningful UN Sunday. The packet includes a draft order of services, relevant readings on the theme, recommended songs, RE activities, helpful information about the UN and the work of our office…and more!

This incredible resource is offered completely free and is available for download (PDF format) on our website for your convenience.

The theme for this year's UN Sunday packet is A Safe and Dignified Life for All. We hope that you’ll start your planning today. If you have any questions, please contact me or the office at office@uu-uno.org.

Kind regards,

Catherine Bordeau
Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office
777 UN Plaza, Suite 7G
New York, NY 10017
United States of America
Email: catherine@uu-uno.org
Skype: c.bordeau

Shalom שָׁלוֹם, Salaam سلام , Deep Peace to you