Reports: October 02, 2016
From 13 - 20 September 2016, the United Nations held the 71st meeting of the General Assembly. Mercy Global Action at the UN representative, Angela Reed rsm, attended the opening session of the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants hosted by the UN General Assembly on 19 September. At this session, the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants was officially adopted—expressing the commitments from nations to address the challenges and take responsibility for protecting refugees and migrants on a global scale.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (shown on screens) addresses the opening segment of the United Nations high-level summit on large movements of refugees and migrants.
19 September 2016
United Nations, New York
Photo # 691872 Used with permission
Within that session, all present heard a compelling address (04:12) from the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein. He stressed the importance of nation states sharing global responsibility as a means of protecting and assisting those who have suffered from innumerable and abominable crimes.
Nadia Murad Basee Taha, UNODC (UN Office on Drugs and Crime) Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking, addresses the opening segment of the United Nations high-level summit on large movements of refugees and migrants.
19 September 2016
United Nations, New York
Photo # 691894 Used with permission
Significantly, Nadia Murad, a 23 year old Yazidi trafficking survivor of ISIS, also spoke at the event (04:48). She is a survivor advocate of human trafficking and urged those at the General Assembly (to recognize the human face of suffering. Nadia has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and was recently declared the Good Will Ambassador for Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking for United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Sr. Angela has been fortunate to have heard Nadia Murad speak in both the Security Council and the General Assembly. Nadia is the voice of courage for those living in torment; and now, Amal Clooney will represent Nadia and other victims of the Yazidi genocide against ISIS—holding ISIS accountable for the crimes they have committed. While both addresses are extremely distressing for listeners, they must be heard; the addresses also received standing ovations.
Mercy Global Action at the UN was also present at another UN event this September entitled “Fighting Human Trafficking in Conflict: 10 Ideas for Action by the UN Security Council”. This event was hosted by the state of Liechtenstein, the United Kingdom and the United Nations University, with further support from Thomson Reuters and the Grace Farms Foundation. The workshop sought to provide tools and actions as ways to sever the ties between modern day slavery and conflict. The linked report, along with an accompanying video can be accessed here.
Messages to:
Angela Reed rsm - Interim Coordinator, Mercy Global Action at the UN
Colleen Cloonan - MGA Intern at the UN