Mercy International and Franciscans International sent an international delegation to attend the UN Regional Forum on Business and Human Rights in Medellin, Colombia from August 28-30, 2013.

The 9 delegation members—from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Panama, and Peru—came together at this important UN event to add their collective voice to the call for guaranteeing the rights of the marginalized as well as the health of the planet.

The purpose of the forum was to provide a multi-stakeholder platform for constructive dialogue on the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which were endorsed by the Human Rights Council in June 2011.The Framework of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights rests on three pillars:

1. The duty of governments to protect people from human rights abuses committed by others, including businesses
2. the responsibility of corporations to respect human rights; and
3. the right of victims of human-rights abuses to effective remedy.

Both Mercy and Franciscans have prioritized addressing the human and ecological abuses of the prevailing extractive model of development on local communities and indigenous peoples. The representatives of the joint delegation brought to the event their experiences of working in this context at the grassroots and national level. The voice and the social, legal, economic, and cultural perspective that delegation members brought to bear on this meeting should not be underestimated. The delegation’s presence at this forum was particularly timely given Mercy International and Franciscans International’s ongoing involvement at the United Nations on the design of the Sustainable Development Goals and our commitment to addressing just, equitable and sustainable development in the current UN discussions.

Overall, it is expected that members of this delegation would:
1. listen and engage in the discussion on the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Members of our delegation brought their experience of extractives abuse, neglect of indigenous peoples rights, the commodification of nature and human trafficking to bear on the discussion, considering if and how the guiding principles help ensure or secure justice on the ground.
2. build collaborative relationships amongst our delegates to address extractive and sustainable development justice concerns on the ground using the guiding principles.
3. have an opportunity to further engage with Franciscans International and MIA at the UN to address the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights at the national and local level.

Questions for consideration by delegation members included: How do they assess and give voice to the critical implementation of the principles? Where is the voice from the grassroots absent from the dialogue? In addressing people’s concerns, what recommendations do they have for the Working Group on Business and Human Rights on gaps in implementation and on the shortcomings in the guiding principles?

Mercy International Association was represented by delegates from Panama and from Peru.

From Panama, Sr. Edia (Tita) del c Lopez and her colleague, Patricio Sire, represented the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy International Association at the UN. Mr. Sire is a lawyer, a member of the Traditional Congress of Ngöbe authority, and a delegate to the congress in San Felix, Chiriqui Province. Sr. Tita and Mr. Sire have a wealth of experience and knowledge to bring to the focus of this forum as they journey with and address the Ngöbe peoples’ issue around land and collective rights in Panama.

From Peru, MIA was represented by members of GRUFIDES, Pablo Sanchez and Mirtha Vasquez, who partner with the Sisters of Mercy on the ground in Cajamarca Peru. GRUFIDES focuses on human rights, environmental sustainability, gender equality, and economic-development outreach. Our colleagues from GRUFIDES have extensive experience to bring to bear on the application and the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles as it relates to the current situation in Cajamarca.

Franciscans International was represented by:
- Maria Elena Aradas (Argentina), co-director of the Franciscan Center for Regional Studies and Development in at the Catholic University of Argentina in Rosario;
- Bárbara Curbelo Castillo (Argentina), national JPIC coordinator for Young Franciscan Movement (YuFra) of Argentina.
- Fr. Rodrigo Peret, OFM (Brazil), Pastoral Land Commission and executive committee of SINFRAJUPE,
- Maria Leonor Mesa Arango, OFS (Colombia), Justice and Peace Commission of the Franciscan Family of Colombia
- Miguel Andrés Ramos (Colombia), community lawyer with Committee for the Defense of the Water and Moor of Santurbán

Messages to Aine O’Conno rsm - MGA Co-ordinator at the UN
For more information on this forum and live transmission of the discussion (in Spanish), visit the website