This is a library of QUNO publications, newsletters, and statements. Recent Publications
Review of the activities of QUNO in 2011.
QUNO Review 2011: English 882.4 KB Rapport d’activités du Bureau Quaker auprès des Nations Unies 2011: Français 2.78 MB Revisión de Programas de QUNO-Oficina Cuáquera ante las Naciones Unidas 2011: Español 931.94 KB This document lays out the ways in which conscientious objection has been recognized and is protected under human rights treaties and mechanisms. In this way, it responds to those who claim that, as conscientious objection to military service is not explicitly recognized by international human rights treaties, it is not protected by them.
ENGLISH_International Standards on Conscientious Objection to Military Service.pdf 275.26 KB ESPAÑOL_International Standards on Conscientious Objection to Military Service.pdf 294.6 KB FRANÇAIS_International Standards on Conscientious Objection to Military Service.pdf 319.4 KB DEUTSCH_International Standards on Conscientious Objection to Military Service.pdf 203.23 KB Pусский__International Standards on Conscientious Objection to Military Service.pdf 335.84 KB Conscientious objection to military service is now clearly protected as a human right under international law, even if the term "conscientious objection" does not appear in the international human rights treaties per se.
This paper presents the analysis and findings of the UN Human Rights Committee, the European Court of Human Rights as well as procedures of the Human Rights Council (Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief) that show how conscientious objection to military service is protected under international human rights law, particularly under the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
QUNO Geneva Newsletter for July 2011 to October 2011. Featured stories:
Geneva Reporter, July 2011 - Oct 2011 499.72 KB In 2011, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child held a Day of General Discussion on the issue of children of incarcerated parents, marking the first time that this issue had been discussed substantively anywhere within the UN system. This Briefing Paper provides a brief synopsis of the Day of General Discussion.
See also Collateral Convicts: Recommendations and Good Practice, and the related Exhibition.
QUNO New York newsletter from September 2011.
Features articles on:
In & Around the UN, Sep 2011 196.65 KB A joint statement of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), and the Quaker United Nations Office(QUNO) in New York on the Palestinian quest for statehood recognition at the United Nations in September 2011. Includes recommendations for the Obama Administration and U.S. Congress.
Palestinian UN Bid Statement 42.81 KB This is the report of a panel discussion that considered how Intellectual Property (IP) can help preserve biological diversity, and how IP might undermine such diversity. The discussion looked at some of the fora in which IP and biodiversity issues are being discussed, in particular the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Panellists pointed to some likely future directions of policy and thinking in this area.
This panel was organised by QUNO and the Geneva Environment Network.
Intellectual Property and Biodiversity 157.51 KB An exhibition by the NGO Group for the Committee on the Rights of the Child, focusing on “the often neglected issue of children of incarcerated parents. It includes drawings and quotes by children from across the world and highlights local initiatives that address the issue and seek to fulfill the rights of children whose parents are incarcerated.”
See also:
The Geneva Environment Network and the Quaker UN Office held a roundtable discussion on intellectual property (IP) and biodiversity. Panellists considered in what ways IP rights can help preserve Biological diversity, and in what ways IP protection might undermine such diversity. They discussed some of the fora in which IP and biodiversity issues are being discussed and some likely future directions of policy and thinking in this area. QUNO has prepared this report of the discussion.
QUNO IP Biodiv.pdf 157.51 KB QUNO Geneva newsletter for February 2011 to June 2011. Featured stories
Geneva Reporter, Feb 2011 - June 2011 366.57 KB A joint statement by QUNO and the Genocide Prevention Program of the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution of George Mason University on the Occasion of the Informal Interactive Dialogue on the Role of Regional and Sub-regional Arrangements in Implementing the Responsibility to Protect (R2P).
Paths Toward Peace - Best Practices in VIolence Reduction and Development in South and Southeast Asia, Comunidad Segura Good Practices Magazine, Year III, number 7.
Brings stories from Asia as sources of inspiration and reflection on armed violence prevention, conflict resolution, post conflict reconstruction and promoting livelihoods and development in the region. It features best practices from Civil Society Organisations that participated in the “Regional Seminar on Armed Violence and Development in South and Southeast Asia” held in Kathmandu, Nepal, March 2011.
Comunidad Segura “Good Practices” magazine aims to serve as a source of information on grassroots initiatives that can help to inform advocacy campaigns and national and international public policy and programming.
Introduction to QUNO's work on Food, Seeds and Intellectual Property.
QUNO New York newsletter from June 2011.
Features articles on:
In & Around the UN, Jun 2011 295.77 KB Letter to Friends from QUNO New York Director Andrew Tomlinson and QUNO Geneva Director David Atwood describing the current and future work of QUNO in the areas of:
Letter of Greeting to Friends 145.49 KB This statement, delivered at the 16th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, concerns certain military recruitment processes in Colombia, which raise questions about the guarantee of an individual’s right to conscientious objection - a right recognized under the Constitution of Colombia
Remarks given by QUNO New York Director Andrew Tomlinson at the "Workshop for Incoming Members of the UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC)."
The workshop was co-hosted by the International Peace Institute and QUNO New York in collaboration with the UN Peacebuilding Support Office. Workshop topics included:
PBC Workshop Presentation 147.14 KB The Bangkok Rules supplement a set of international standards on the treatment of prisoners – The UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and the UN Standard Minimum Rules for Non-custodial Measures (‘Tokyo Rules’). The Bangkok Rules address the needs and characteristics of women in the criminal justice system. QUNO and Penal Reform International participated in the development of the Bangkok Rules, and issued this Briefing to encourage their dissemination and implementation.
ENGLISH_Briefing on Bangkok Rules.pdf 153.21 KB ESPAÑOL_Briefing on Bangkok Rules.pdf 142.48 KB FRANÇAIS_Briefing on Bangkok Rules.pdf 130.14 KB Pусский_Briefing on Bangkok Rules.pdf 162.72 KB 汉语/漢語_Briefing on Bangkok Rules 101.49 KB The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) influences global policy relating to agricultural research, as it is the only international organisation with responsibility for plant variety protection.
This report seeks to raise awareness about UPOV’s role and way of working. It aims to provide a point of reference around which key actors – both supportive and critical of current approaches to intellectual property (IP) protection of plants – can engage in discussions and exchange of ideas.
The report also discussion the history of Plant Variety Protection (PVP) and Plant Breeders' Rights (PBRs) as well as UPOV's relationship with the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the FAO's Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA). It also refers to discussions on disclosure of origin of genetic resources, farmers' rights and the WIPO Development Agenda.
