At United Nations high-level event, 25 September
Business, Foundation and Activist Leaders to Announce Initiatives as Part of Mobilization to Reach Millennium Development Goals
UN Observer News
Let me say first of all that I am privileged and I am humbled to be at a conference of so many men and women fro whom I have got the utmost respect, the greatest admiration, and the highest affection.
Newspaper press coverage from the Lambeth Conference 'Walk of Witness'
And a very, very warm welcome to Lambeth Palace. I’m delighted that we’re able to welcome you to our modest home here. Particularly delighted by the solidarity that has been shown in this morning’s walk, which I think has been a memorable experience. And like all of you I’m sure, I’m very, very grateful for those from other Christian Churches and other faith communities who have so generously joined us this morning to witness together.
15-May-2008 - A Speech from the Anglican Observer to the Episcopal Divinity School
A Speech Delivered on Commencement Day at the Episcopal Divinity School by Hellen Grace Akwii-Wangusa Anglican Observer and Personal Representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury at the United Nations.
The Speech can be Download here
12-Apr-2008 - Challenges of Meeting the MDG Goal on Education
Presented at: St. Thomas Episcopal Church Columbus-Georgia by Hellen Grace Akwii-Wangusa Anglican Observer and Personal Representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury at the United Nations.
Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights establishes Education as a right and that elementary education shall be free and compulsory. The intrinsic value of education is:
- In its ability to add meaning and value to ones life without discrimination.
- In that it has an indispensable means to unlock and protect other human rights
The Full Speech can be downloaded here
Two topics followed closely by AUNO Geneva were high on the agenda of the concluding part of the UN Human Rights Council's 6th session in December; namely, the situation in Darfur and interreligious issues. As well as extending the mandates of the Special Rapporteur on Sudan and on the freedom of religion or belief, five other mandates were extended (health, internally displaced people, housing and terrorism). In terms of expert groups, the group on Darfur was terminated, while a new group on the rights of indigenous peoples was created.
A significant number of women gathered from across the Anglican Communion to provide input to the annual session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, meet with other NGOs, and meet amongst themselves. What better occasion than to join our concerns for improving the lives of women and children
As we are about to enter Advent, it is good time to sum up the challenges and achievements of the office of the Anglican Observer at the UN in 2007 and an appropriate time to share with you our plans for the upcoming year 2008. The arrival of Hellen Wangusa, the new Anglican Observer at the UN opened a new chapter in the history of this office.
A Cathedral where people can come to be voluntarily tested for HIV, hospitals offering antiretroviral therapy, home-based care to help with adherence to medication regimes, youth groups offering support and prevention education, palliative care and practical help to those living with HIV. These are all part of the Anglican response to HIV & AIDS which is described in a new report.
For the first time in the UN Human Rights Council’s short existence, substantive issues took slight precedence over institutional issues during this September leg of its sixth session. Although the Council still had work to do to finalise the Universal Periodic Review process, the session involved lively discussions on several issues, including the defamation of religion. In this regard, AUNO Geneva signed a statement as part of its work on religion and spirituality at the UN. In the end, a successful bid for a ‘Special Session’ on Myanmar managed to re-focus the Council’s efforts on working together to protect human rights worldwide.