November 2009 - Journal Letter - QUNO Geneva

Holly Mason White - QUNO, Geneva

Dear Friends,

Well, it’s midway through November and I’m at the point that I imagine many of my predecessors have found themselves, baffled by how to fit all that has happened in the past 2.5 months into a couple of pages!! I’d firstly like to say that the preparation period at Friends House in London, and then at Woodbrooke College in Birmingham, was an excellent way to start this 11 month placement. Whilst I come from a Quaker background and attended a Quaker school it was still invaluable to have a refresher into Quakerism, and helped prepare me for the variety of questions I’ve been asked here (including, “Why are you called Holly, that’s not a very Quakerly name is it?”)! A second aspect was the connection I felt with the other members of the group – my fellow QUNO Programme Assistant, Tom Richardson, four UK peaceworkers and two peaceworkers going to Burundi. Undertaking the training together and talking about our previous experiences and our hopes for our placements helped to inspire and energise me for the year ahead. Thirdly, I felt like the two weeks was a grounding, ‘centring’ time, which for me marked an important point between my life in Australia and the year I have ahead.

Arriving in Geneva on August 31st I received a very warm welcome from all at the office, and despite only being here a little under a year I’ve been made to feel very much part of the ‘QUNO family’. Having come from a large organisation of over 300, I really enjoy the intimacy and ‘cosiness’ of our little office in Geneva, aided by the fact that Quaker House is an extremely peaceful, homely environment to work in, including regular visits from a friendly neighbourhood cat! I’m working with Rachel Brett on the Human Rights and Refugees program, focusing predominantly on three issues: women in prison and children of prisoners; conscientious objection to military service; and refugees and internally displaced persons. We also closely follow the work of the Human Rights Council (HRC), and other UN bodies such as the Committee on the Rights of the Child, mainly with a focus on the above issues but always with an ear out for other human rights issues that may be relevant to our work here.

Two weeks after commencing I had my baptism of fire – the three week long 12th session of the HRC. Perhaps it’s naive of me, but it felt quite humbling and inspiring to be actually witnessing this large body at work, which previously I had only studied in a small law lecture theatre far away across the sea in Tasmania. I was struck by a feeling of this is it; this is the pinnacle of human rights negotiations at a global level. Unfortunately, or perhaps just naturally, the next three weeks brought me back to earth by giving me a more realistic picture of the Council, all of its flaws and strengths. Items of particular interest were, to name a few, the release of the Goldstone report (on violations committed by all parties to the conflict in Gaza in 2008-09 in operation ‘Cast Lead’), side-event discussions on topics as varied as women prisoners, and climate induced migration (for more information on the latter see the November issue of the QUNO Geneva Reporter); and a resolution adopted expressing concern at the conviction of Ang San Suu Kyi and other Burmese political prisoners. I have to say that although there were aspects I found incredibly frustrating, I was still truly excited to be there, and despite the many flaws I do feel that the HRC is a great achievement and step forward for human rights discussions and negotiations at a global level.

Another highlight of my time here so far has been a weeklong visit by four conscientious objectors (COs) from Israel, Colombia and Russia, organised by QUNO and Conscience and Peace Tax International. The aim of the visit was for the COs to meet with members of the Human Rights Committee (the committee that reviews state reports under the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights), members of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and government representatives. Whilst the issue of conscientious objection is one that I am familiar with, especially with it being an issue of particular Quaker concern, this was an eye-opening experience for me. Previously I had thought that it only impacted on a limited period in a COs life, but meeting the four young people demonstrated to me that this is an issue that for many concerned individuals has ramifications that can extend long beyond the period of military service or detention. Particularly moving were the descriptions by the two Israeli COs on the stigmatisation that comes with objecting to military service in Israel, including from one’s family. It made me reflect as to how I personally would respond if faced with this situation, and to gain a new respect for those standing up against it, and indeed for all human rights defenders who are fighting for rights which I take for granted.

I have also been fortunate enough to attend the Europe and Middle East section Peace and Service Consultation in Belgium, an annual gathering of around 25 Friends from different Quaker organisations. The two day period provided me with an opportunity to hear about Quaker initiatives and projects, and to share with others some of the work that QUNO carries out. I also found it an inspiring experience to hear about the valuable impact that these groups, small in both numbers and resources, are able to have, for example in the alternatives to violence programs being run in Russia and Africa.

I have to admit that there was one part of my position here that greatly overwhelmed me! My predecessors have produced an amazing body of publications in the areas of women in prison, and the impact of parental imprisonment on children. When I first arrived here, and was contemplating the work I would do, I felt quite overwhelmed by the thought of potentially producing my own publication in this area – not least because I felt like it was one I didn’t know much about. However, with this also came a sense of excitement and challenge at being able to wholeheartedly throw myself into a very interesting and little studied topic. After extensive reading, many moments of ‘wow I never knew that!’, and with Rachel’s guidance I am in the early stages of planning a draft framework for decision-making that takes into account the best interests of the children of offenders. As with the issue of conscientious objection, I feel like this is an area that has moved me more and more as my knowledge of it has grown. Parental imprisonment affects millions of children worldwide, almost entirely in highly negative and damaging ways, and yet the issue has been paid very little international attention.

On to more day to day matters, in the time I’ve been here Geneva has changed greatly from the sunny, warm place it was when I arrived to a cold wintry city, and I, in true antipodean fashion, am realising how horribly unprepared I am for a European winter! After spending some time disgruntled at the change in seasons – less daylight and the necessity of wearing numerous layers every time you step outside, I’m learning to appreciate the change. Looking out of my window here at Quaker house, for example, I see the beautiful colours of autumn in the garden, and walking to work in the morning I catch glimpses of snow covered mountains. I feel incredibly lucky to be here, and am hit by it in so many different circumstances – looking around me at the buzz that is a plenary session of the Human Rights Council; lunches at Quaker house where you can find yourself simultaneously talking to diplomats about some of the most pressing refugee issues in the world, and trying to work out if you’ve put too much lemon juice in the salad dressing; and also just the quiet contemplative moments on my regular jogs along the lake, Mt Blanc visible on a clear day and the tip of the Jet d’Eau tirelessly shooting upwards. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity given to me by the Friends, and look forward to filling you in more of my thoughts over the coming months.

In Friendship,
Holly Mason-White
November 2009