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Peace & Disarmament

August 2014

QUNO and Minute 36

Minute 36 (the Canterbury Commitment) challenges Quakers to seek a sustainable, equitable and peaceful life on Earth. Britain Yearly Meeting is responding to this challenge by focusing on how to become a low-carbon sustainable community. The Quaker United Nations Office responds to the same challenge at the international level in our work on climate change, natural resource management, food and sustainability, and human rights.

This briefing paper connects the work of QUNO to the concerns and the spirit of Minute 36, describing the linkages between local, national and international levels of engagement.

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May 2014

Video: Children of Parents Sentenced to Death

 

 

This video explores the situation of children when their parent is sentenced to the death penalty or executed. Drawing on perspectives shared at the side-event co-sponsored by QUNO in September 2013 at the Human Rights Council session, experts from around the world indicated the experiences of children of parents sentenced to death. This video highlights the stigma and discrimination faced by these children and addresses how they are often "ignored, not thought about or conveniently forgotten."

This video was prepared with the Child Rights Connect Working Group on Children of Incarcerated Parents.

 

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March 2014

Oral Statement: Violence experienced by Children of Parents Sentenced to Death or Executed

Delivered to the 25th session of the UN Human Rights Council - Interactive Dialogue with the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence against Children.

This statement highlights the psychological and mental violence experienced by children when their parents are sentenced to death or executed. These children have been invisible in statistics, policies and programmes. The statement provides examples of the welcome increasing attention in the UN to the situation and rights of these children. FWCC (Quakers) recommends that much more is done to understand how and why these children are exposed to violence and to undertake actions that can lead to their effective protection.

To view a video recording of the oral statement by QUNO's Rachel Brett, click here.

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March 2014

Children of Parents Sentenced to Death or Executed, written statement submitted by FWCC to the 25th session of the Human Rights Council

This written statement to the 25th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) provides an overview of developments in the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Universal Periodic Review and the General Assembly since the holding of the HRC Panel on Children of parents sentenced to the death or executed.  It recommends, among other things, prompt implementation of the recommendation for a UN expert seminar on the issue, and that moratoria extend to the imposition of death sentences, in addition to executions, and are accompanied by commutation of all existing death sentences.

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October 2013

Geneva Reporter

Geneva's newsletter from July to October 2013. Features stories:

  • Children of parents sentenced to death or executed
  • New framework for trade and investment in agriculture
  • Conscientious objection to military service
  • New energy on nuclear disarmament
  • Highlights from QUNO New York

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September 2013

Building Peace around water, land and food: Policy and practice for preventing conflict

Water and land are two of the key natural resources that shape billions of peoples’ livelihoods, food security, wellbeing and identity. Developing management of water, land and food that is equitable and peaceful is an increasingly challenging task due to a multitude of factors – such as resource degradation, population growth and violent conflict – that can fuel tensions and exacerbate vulnerabilities around natural resources. Increasing climate uncertainties now lend an additional urgency to the need to develop appropriate policy and practice at international, national and local levels.

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September 2013

Children of Parents Sentenced to Death or Executed: How are they affected? How can they be supported?

This document highlights the experiences of children with a parent(s) accused of a capital crime. From the point of arrest, to sentencing, to release or execution of the sentence, the study points out the devastating effects on these children’s physical and mental well-being. Unfortunately, these consequences are not paid much attention in criminal justice systems. The study concludes with recommendations for States.

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September 2013

Impact of the death sentence on the children of the accused and measures to mitigate it, joint written statement to the 24th session of the Human Rights Council

This joint written statement was submitted by the Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers), Defence for Children International, Geneva Infant Feeding Association, the International Catholic Child Bureau, the International Institute for Child Protection and SOS Kinderdorf International. This submission highlights the need for increased attention to the impact on children of having a parent sentenced to death or executed. 

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September 2013

Oral Statement: Panel on Children of Parents Sentenced to the Death Penalty or Executed

This oral statement was delivered to the Panel on Children of Parents Sentenced to the Death Penalty or Executed at the 24th session of the Human Rights Council. It was submitted jointly by the Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers), Defence for Children International and the International Catholic Child Bureau.

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June 2013

Lightening the Load of the Parental Death Sentence on Children

This is a very detailed study exploring the situations of children whose parents have been sentenced with capital punishment. It looks first at the commonalities between their experiences and those of children whose parents have been incarcerated, and then at the differences between these groups of children. It also sets out recommendations.

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March 2013

Geneva Reporter

Geneva's newsletter from January to March 2013. Featured stories:​

  • QUNO engagement with climate talks
  • Natural resources, conflict and cooperation
  • Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners
  • Highlights from QUNO New York

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March 2013

Oral Statement on Mental Health of Children of Prisoners

This submission highlights the effects of imprisonment of a parent on mental health of children. It was submitted jointly by Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers) and the International Catholic Child Bureau (BICE) to the 22nd session of the Human Rights Council.

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September 2012

Oral Statement: Children of Parents Executed or Sentenced to Death

This submission welcomes the UN Secretary General’s report on the death penalty, in which the children of sentenced persons are recognized. It updates states about recent QUNO efforts to highlight the effects of parental execution or sentencing on children.

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August 2012

Geneva Reporter

Geneva's newsletter from May to August 2012. Featured stories:

  • Water, conflict and cooperation
  • Conscientious objection to military service
  • Highlights from QUNO New York
  • News in brief
  • Children of parents sentenced to death: New work at QUNO Geneva

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March 2012

Children of (Alleged) Offenders: Revised Draft Framework for Decision-Making

This publication arose out of QUNO’s wider work on the question of women in prison and children of prisoner’s. The study looks at children of incarcerated parents as individuals unto themselves, rather than as extensions of their parents, and therefore adopts a child’s rights approach. The Revised Draft Framework is a comprehensive exploration of the relevant child rights issues throughout the criminal justice process, from a parent’s arrest or detention to release following imprisonment. Examples of potential good practice, as well as relevant international/regional standards are included.

See also the following oral statement to the 14th session of the Human Rights Council.

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March 2012

Collateral Convicts: Recommendations and Good Practice from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child Day of General Discussion 2011

The first time a UN body considered the question children with parents in prison was in September 2011, in a Committee on the Rights of the Child day of general discussion on the topic. This paper details the issues, good practice and recommendations relating to children of prisoners that emerged from that day of general discussion.

See also the related Briefing Paper and Exhibition.

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