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Human Rights & Refugees

QUNO works to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights through the United Nations system, with particular reference to the interface between human rights and armed conflicts, the protection of refugees and other Quaker concerns. The questions of the rights of indigenous peoples, gender, violence against children and the impact of the "war on terror" are included in all programme areas.

The specific topics which form QUNO’s current priorities are:

• Child Soldiers

• Protection of Refugees

• Conscientious Objection to Military Service

• Women in Prison and Children of Imprisoned Mothers

• Rights of Indigenous Peoples

• UN Human Rights Council and Commission on Human Rights

QUNO also organises informal, off-the-record meetings to promote and enhance dialogue, networking and the building of relationships on human rights and refugee issues between government representatives across the regional groups of the UN, amongst the key Non-Governmental Organisations and across the government, NGO, UN secretariat and independent expert spectrum in order to further the promotion and protection of human rights. Such meetings encourage a greater understanding of why there are disagreements and provide an opportunity to challenge assumptions between those who would not otherwise have the chance to talk openly. Participants may try to find common ground or to explore difficult, controversial or sensitive issues.