14 March 2022

We, the girls of the 66th Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, see climate change as a global emergency, particularly in the context of girls’ rights. Climate change worsens long-standing inequalities for girls, including gender-based violence, and jeopardizes access to education, economic security, and health resources. We call on the Member States of the United Nations to recognize and act on this growing problem.

As the severity of natural disasters increases, so does climate migration and displacement, increasing girls’ vulnerability to child marriage, pregnancy, and physical dangers including gender-based violence, limited access to food and clean water, and a lack of housing security. These are exacerbated by the absence of gender-conscious legislation, leading to a reliance on charities for disaster relief.

To resolve these issues, we urge Member States to:

• Establish disaster resilience programs and invest in disaster-resilient hospitals, homes, schools, and shelters and
• Ensure girls’ equal access to safe and accessible disaster relief programs, including nutritious food, clean water, menstrual products, and proper sanitation facilities.

Climate change related economic insecurity forces girls into unpaid domestic labor like caregiving and fetching water, hindering their ability to pursue full education, formal careers and economic security. Increased financial burdens caused by climate change put girls at disproportionate economic disadvantage and increased gender-based violence.

In order to equip girls with the skills we need to problem-solve and lead community-based climate resilience initiatives, we demand that Member states:

• Ensure girls’ educational opportunities are equal with boys’ and
• Implement programs that focus on STEM subjects, emphasizing green skills and adaptable agricultural practices.

We, the girls of the 66th Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, call on UN Member States to examine climate change’s disproportionate effects on girls. Member States must actively recruit girls most impacted by climate change, especially those from rural and indigenous communities, to be at the forefront of policy decision-making in order to produce girl-specific solutions. This can be achieved by eradicating stereotypes about girls' ability to lead, listening to girl activists, and encouraging them to take up leadership positions. Member States must also hold the entities that emit large amounts of carbon dioxide accountable for causing climate change by compelling them to reduce emissions and rectify damage that has been done by climate change.

The UN Charter is committed to ensuring the protection of human rights. Mitigating the effects of climate change on girls and securing our rights is included in that promise. Member States are responsible for supporting girls and ensuring girls are equipped with climate-adaptation resources and educational opportunities. We expect these responsibilities to be fulfilled without delay. Full protection of human rights will only be achieved once girls, too, have equal rights and freedoms.

08 June 2017

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Council applauds the inclusion of marine pollution in this conference’s call to action. The consequences of continued runoff of agricultural discharge, nitrogens, sewage and plastics (among other pollutants) will be compounded by the very real effects of climate change as sea levels are anticipated to rise worldwide. The need to eliminate pollution and ocean acidification is especially dire when we consider that marine pollution and climate change are interconnected.

Chapter 17 of Agenda 21, which was adopted by 178 governments in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, specifically cites land-based polluting substances as a particular concern to the marine environment.

Sustainable Development Goal 14 aims to “conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.” The Proposal of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals calls for the reduction of pollution and the elimination of the release of hazardous materials by 2030.

The UN Environment agency’s #CleanSeas campaign, which launched just a few months ago, is a noteworthy step in drawing attention to the wasteful nature of single-use plastic.

But we can and we must do more. Pollution is spreading; the climate is changing much faster than our policies.

Thus, we recommend the following to all Member States:

1. Adhere to or adopt the Paris Agreement, and establish greenhouse gas emission targets that clearly go beyond previously set goals.
2. Prefer clean energy sources—such as renewables, solar, wind, and hydrogen—wherever available, to limit offshore drilling.
3. Supplement municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants with technologies that convert sewage sludge into high value added resources, like carbon-phosphorus fertilizer.
4. Adopt enforceable ecological regulations on agricultural and industrial pollution, which so often runs from streams and rivers into lakes, estuaries and ultimately into oceans.
5. Cut marine debris and reduce the need for single-use plastic through better waste management and education, and even consider [[different ways to eliminate]] single-use plastic bags.
6. Invest in plastic extraction technologies and deploy them in ocean garbage patches.
7. Prohibit the manufacture and use of microplastics in cosmetics, clothing and industrial processes.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader to 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide, repeatedly calls the world’s attention to the crisis at hand. He reminds us that:

“We have been commanded to taste of the world’s fruits, not to waste them; we have been commissioned to care for the world, not to waste it. It is never too late. God’s world has incredible healing powers; and human choices can change the tide. Within a single generation, we could steer earth toward our children’s future. That generation can begin now.”

 

09 March 2017

NEW YORK ‒ The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America will be heavily involved in the 61st United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, continuing its decades-long work in promoting women’s rights.

The functional commission is held annually in New York City at U.N. headquarters, and is generally aimed at advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women worldwide.

During the two-week commission, the Archdiocese is co-sponsoring three parallel events that will focus on various topics related to women’s economic empowerment. All three events are open to the public.

More information about the three events can be found here:

• Empowering Refugee Women and Children through Education and Employment
• HIV/AIDS and Property Rights: Overcoming Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment
• Defense of Land and Water: Economic Empowerment for Women

The Archdiocese has also submitted two policy interventions to the commission. The statements encourage the commission to act urgently to end violence against refugee women and girls and to ensure equal access to medical treatment and to property ownership, regardless of their HIV status.

The Archdiocese has been actively working at the U.N. for more than 35 years since it was first accredited in 1979. The pan-Orthodox effort is directed by the Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations.

Stay informed about the work of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese at the U.N. by signing up for our mailing list.

 

03 February 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Nicholas Anton

NEW YORK ‒ The Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is inviting graduate and recent post-graduate students to apply for its fellowships at the United Nations.

“Our programs at the U.N. have been growing every year and continue to effectively represent the Church in civil society,” said the Rev. Dr. Nathanael Symeonides, director of the department. “We want to continue bringing Orthodox Christians into these fellowships to empower them as future professionals, diplomats, policy-makers and advocates.”

Two applicants will be selected for yearlong stipended fellowships that will begin in the fall of 2017. The fellows will work in New York City in the department’s office at the Church Center for the United Nations.

Fellows will focus their work at the U.N. in three main areas: human rights, environment, or humanitarianism.

Among other activities, fellows will have the opportunity to join and participate in the work of nongovernmental organization committees at the U.N., assist in formulating oral and written statements and interventions, plan and host events during U.N. Economic and Social Council functional commissions, and participate in panel discussions at future biennial national clergy-laity congresses.

The Department launched its Faith-based Diplomacy and Advocacy Initiative in 2015 with funding from The Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund. Since then, a total of three fellowships have been granted.

For more information about the program and to apply for a fellowship, visit un.goarch.org/fellowship.

The deadline for the submitting an application for a 2017-2018 fellowship is May 15, 2017.

Stay informed about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s work at the U.N. by signing up for our mailing list.

 

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese is accredited as the Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Council (GOAC) through the United Nations Department of Public Information and has General Consultative Status under the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It has been actively engaged at the UN for more than 35 years.

11 December 2015

PRESS RELEASE

NEW YORK—The Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America announces the continuation of its Faith-based Diplomacy & Advocacy Initiative. The Initiative established a total of four (2 for 2015-2016 and 2 for 2016-2017) yearlong Archdiocesan fellowships at the United Nations. All Orthodox Christian graduate and post-graduate students are invited to apply for this stipend fellowship.

The Faith-based Diplomacy and Advocacy Initiative is made possible by a generous grant awarded by The Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund, and is meant to help develop future professionals, diplomats, policy-makers, and advocates by providing them the a framework upon which to exercise their academic training.

Fellows will focus their work at the United Nations in five main areas: 1) Human Rights & Religious Freedom 2) Environment/Ecology 3) Peace, Security, & Humanitarianism 4) Equality (inter alia, Gender, Race, Economic) and 5) Health Advocacy

Among other activities, fellows will have the opportunity to join and participate in the work of NGO Committees at the United Nations; assist in formulating oral and written Archdiocesan statements and interventions; help plan and host events during ECOSOC Functional Commissions; and participate in panel discussions at future Biennial National Clergy-Laity Congresses.

To apply for the fellowship please visit un.goarch.org/fellowship. The deadline for submitting an application for the 2016-2017 fellowship is April 30, 2016.

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese is accredited through the United Nations Department of Public Information (UN DPI) and has General Consultative Status under the Economic and Social Council of the UN (ECOSOC).

The Archdiocese has been actively working at the United Nations for 30 years. Keep up with the work of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America at the United Nations by signing up at un.goarch.org/newsletter.

20 July 2016

by Nicholas Anton
Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Council

After speaking with a wide array of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants, I discerned a few key points as “high concerns” from the ground. They first did not feel they were being heard. Yes, they said people came to listen to them, but they weren’t heard when it came to actual implementation or follow-through. But given the time allowance, today I will only provide specific recommendations based on two of the concerns:

Generally in both the Declaration and the Global Compact:

Since different countries define “children” by different age and maturity brackets, we suggest that “and youth” is added after “children” throughout the document as appropriate, especially when unaccompanied children and education are mentioned.

As appropriate throughout the document include a commitment to “special financial or resource provisions for families with children and youth in order to ensure children and youth not only have the right to education but are free to enjoy it rather than entering the labor force to support their families.”

In the Declaration:

4.15 – add “early childhood” before “primary and secondary education”

4.14 – Change “essential support in key life-saving sectors, eg. Food, water and sanitation, shelter” to “We commit to providing humanitarian assistance to refugees so as to ensure, inter alia, their human rights to water and sanitation, health care, food, and shelter.”

In the Global Compact:

Point 5, 3^rd paragraph – change this to read “meet essential needs of refugees by ensuring, inter alia, their human rights to water and sanitation, food, nutrition, shelter, health care and psycho-social support;”

12 October 2004

Ambassador Terunch Zenna of Ethiopia delivered remarks at the 4^th UN prayer service, co-organized by the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas and the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches.

Your Eminence Metropolitan Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim, Archbishop of the Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese for the Eastern United States,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

All recent events, unfortunately confirm that violence is on the rise in many parts of our globe. Conflicts between different ethnic and religious groups have been claiming thousands of lives, especially on the African continent. The basic causes of conflicts, here, however, are not their ethnic or religious difference, but mere scarcity of resources. The African poor use violence to secure its share over scarce resources, such as land and water.

The other source of violence is the ever-growing awareness, and subsequent grievances among the poor people of a rapidly globalizing world. The root causes of violence in this regard are socio-economic, and political such as poverty, ignorance, disease, environmental disorder, corruption, and political oppression.

In a globalized world, it would be unwise to ignore poverty, exclusion and oppression of minority by majority in any corner of our planet. Otherwise, there will be a far reaching negative consequence on all humanity be it at the center or the periphery.

Therefore, there is an absolute necessity for all of us to speak loudly and in unison against oppression and exclusion of one by the other.

In this regard, there is an extra duty to Orthodox Christians to emphasize service for the disadvantaged and oppressed as a necessary consequence of our recognition of all humanity bearing the image of God.

The kind of violence mentioned above could be minimized or abolished all together by redressing the root causes of violence that is by strengthening the democratic institutions and enhancing development among the poor and disadvantaged.

The other and the most dangerous form of violence is the acts of terrorists who for the own perceived reasons hate and fear other people, their values, culture and civilizations.

These groups use violence to kill and damage indiscriminately to make a political or cultural point and influence others by brutal force. This is the most flagrant violation of fundamental human rights, especially the right to life and that of peaceful coexistence.

Some of these groups want to associate religion with their evil acts or try to find justification in religious practices for their crimes against humanity. If a religion advocates terrorism and violence instead of tolerance and peace, then that religion loses its raison d’etre.

For a person like me, who comes from Ethiopia, where Orthodox Christianity has been practiced since 320 AD and Islam as minority religion flourished since 615 AD and Judaism as an oldest religion existed for many thousands of years, it would be difficult to imagine a religious practice which advocates exclusion and violence.

Religion should serve to promote peace and understanding among peoples, not the contrary. But we should not forget also that if misused religion can serve a destructive end.

There are two important principles for all religious groups to adhere to in order to avoid any misguided practices and that is, first, to emphasize the separation of Church and State and, second to discourage a claim by any religious group that its religion alone knows the truth. If we adhere to these lofty principles, we can free all religions serving as a tool to any misguided or frustrated group to justify its evil acts.  I thank you.

12 October 2004

Your Beatitude, Eminences, Graces,
Excllencies, Very Rev. and Rev. Fathers and dear brothers and sisters:

I should first of all like to thank the distinguished speakers for their thoughtful and insightful presentations. Their words should indeed be an encouragement to us all to pursue the goal of true peace in a world filled with ever increasing violence. I also wish to express my gratitude to the United Nations ambassadors, mission heads and staff for being with us this evening for our prayer service. We very much appreciate your effort in being with us and for taking the time for your busy schedule to do so. Likewise, I want to thank my dear brother in Christ, His Eminence Archbishop Khjag Barsamian, for providing us the use of this beautiful Cathedral of St. Vartan for today’s service and all who in any manner helped arrange our service this evening. My gratitude is also given to all our beloved members of the hierarchy, who were able to be with us as participants in tonight’s service as well as members of their clergy. May the Lord bless them all. It is also a joy for us to have among us this evening His Eminence Archbishop More Gregorios Yuhanna Ibrahim, our Metropolitan of Aleppo, Syria. Your Eminence, you are most welcome.

I wish to briefly speak on three specific points this evening, namely the place of the human being in creation, the role of the Holy Church in promoting peace and harmony among all people and the role of the United Nations in establishing peace among nations and countries.

In one of the beautiful Syriac Aramaic prayers, which we sung this evening, St. James of Sarugh, a great Father of the Syriac Antiochean Church, who slept in the Lord in AD 521 says: “whoever has a mouth, a word and tongue is indebted to give thanks on behalf of the speechless creatures.” St. James is clearly holding us, human beings, responsible for the integrity and well-being of God’s beautiful creation. This responsibility is laid upon on shoulders because of the mere fact that we are the only creatures who have many things in common with the Creator, as we are created in God’s image. The Almighty went beyond creating us in His image. He also gave us authority over all other creatures. He even made our father Adam name all the creatures. Thus we read in the book of Genesis 2:19 “so out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them / and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name”.

As the crown of creation, we have been called by God to care for all creation and to respect and preserve the environment entrusted to us by the Almighty. We are called to make peace with ourselves, with our neighbor and with all God’s creation. Over the centuries and down to our days, most of human history has been stained with acts of violence against God’s own image and in many cases in the name of worshipping God. Like Cain, we failed to recognize that we are indeed our brother’s keeper (Gen. 4:9). We ought to accept that we are not the keepers of only our brothers but also of the whole creation. We are given tongues to praise the Creator on behalf of His whole creation.

As Christians and members of Christ’s Church, we are called upon to be peacemakers. By virtue of our baptism, which admits us to the house-hold of God, we are given the charge to be Christ’s messengers who ought to proclaim His Good News concerning the heavenly peace which He promised to those who believe in Him. It is, therefore, very appropriate that the World Council of Churches dedicated our present decade to be one of overcoming violence in the world. This designation calls us to two kinds of action: first, to examine ourselves as individuals, churches, and communities and to try to locate and eliminate all kinds of violence that may exist in our life. Second, to be more actively engaged in putting an end to all kinds of violence in our world. We are particularly invited to wholeheartedly participate in the various humanitarian efforts undertaken by the United Nations. We ought not to forget that on the Day of Judgment we will be asked about the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the prisoner (Mt. 25: 31-46).

In the search for world peace and social justice, the role of the United Nations is crucial. The very reason for the existence of the U.N. is the establishment of peace and harmony among all nations and countries of the world. However, true peace will be never achieved as long as there are countries and people under the heavy burden of occupation and oppression of all kinds.

Peace is only possible when it is built on justice. As long as I am not able to identify with my neighbor’s pain and suffering, we will not have peace. The United Nations, therefore, is called upon to supersede the narrow political interests of its member nations and truly help to establish a world based on true human values which form the basis of all human rights and the dignity of man. Among other things, this requires the U.N. to be as even-handed as possible in implementing its resolutions. Eradication of violence and true peace will never arrive by the dictates of the so-called world powers but rather the recognition of the dignity of each human being as a child of God, created in God’s image and likeness.

We pray the Lord to guide and bless the work of the United Nations by His Grace. May the peace of the Lord be with you all.

Cyril Aphrem Karim
Archbishop

12 November 2008

PRESS RELEASE

New York, NY – On Thursday, October 30^th, Hierarchs of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) and of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches in America (SCOOCH) celebrated the 8^th Annual Prayer Service for the United Nations. His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern), welcomed His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese), the Chairman of SCOBA, assembled Hierarchs, Clergy, Ambassadors and Dignitaries of the UN Diplomatic Corps and laity to the Saint Vartan Armenian Cathedral, the traditional site when the service is hosted by an Oriental Orthodox Church.

Archbishop Barsamian presided over the Vespers Service, which included liturgical chanting by Armenian, Coptic and Ethiopian choirs. The Vespers marked a significant milestone in the life of SCOBA, as for the first time, Bishop Mercurius of Zaraisk (Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate) participated in the Vespers as a full Member of SCOBA. Additionally, there were present Archbishop Mor Cyril of the Armenian Church (who is also President of the NCC), and Bishop Seraphim, (returned Bishop of Sendai, Orthodox Church of Japan,) representing the Orthodox Church in America.

His Excellency, Ambassador Negash Kebret, the Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia to the United Nations addressed the assembled faithful. Following the conclusion of Vespers, led by the Hierarchs and Diplomatic Corps, over 300 of the Clergy and Faithful attended a reception in the Kavookjian Hall.

02 August 2015

The NGO Mining Working Group produced a press release commending the naming and reaffirmation of the human right to water and sanitation in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Agenda was adopted by unanimous consensus on August 2nd, 2015.  View the press release here.

01 June 2001

Article from the New York Times entitled, "U.N. Assembly Votes to Condemn Attacks on Religious Sites." His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, as part of an interfaith initiative organized by the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, advocated for the condemnation of attacks on relgious sites.

01 October 2002

NEW YORK, NY [OCA Communications]

New York City’s landmark Saint Vartan Armenian Cathedral was the site of the second annual gathering of UN officials of Oriental and Eastern Orthodox backgrounds, Orthodox ambassadors and delegates of the various UN missions, Orthodox staff of the Secretariat, and heads of Orthodox NGOs on Monday, September 30, 2002.

Among the religious leaders attending the gathering and Prayer Service was His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America and His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

The first Orthodox Prayer Service for the UN community was inaugurated in 2001, by coincidence within days of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, as a means of establishing an Orthodox presence for the cause of world peace and understanding. The annual gatherings are organized by the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) and the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches (SCOOCH).

His Eminence, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), celebrated the Prayer Service and welcomed attendees.

In recalling last year’s gathering, Archbishop Khajag delivered a homily in which he said the quest for peace “must be a shared action for all our churches.”

Among the distinguished speakers addressing attendees was His Excellency, Ambassador Sergey Lavrov, the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN, who called for a “redoubling of our collective efforts for peace.”

Mr. Benon Sevan, UN Undersecretary-General and Executive Director of the Iraq Programme, also addressed the gathering, reminding those in attendance that “religious groups must speak up against those who use religion to harm others.”

Ambassador Lavrov and Mr. Sevan have long and distinguished records of service at the highest levels of world diplomacy.

A reception followed in the Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium.

Co-chairs of the Joint Commission are Archbishop Khajag and His Grace, Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Members of the UN event committee include the Rev. Emmanuel Gratsias, Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese; the Very Rev. Fr. Leonid Kishkovsky, Orthodox Church in America; the Rev. Anthony DeLuca, Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church; the Rev. Simeon Odabashian, Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church; and Mr. Bishoy M. Mikhail, Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria, Archdiocese of North America.

28 September 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Inaugural event for Joint Commission of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas and the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches.

New York, NY – The Joint Commission of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) and the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches (SCOOCH) will sponsor their inaugural event, an Orthodox Prayer Service and Reception for the United Nations Community at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Cathedral (319 E.74^th St.) on Tuesday, October 9^th at 6:00 p.m.

Speakers will include His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America; The Honorable John D. Negroponte, Ambassador of the United States to the United Nations; His Excellency Moses Abelian, Ambassador of Armenia to the United Nations and, also invited to participate, His Excellency Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations.

The Joint Commission, in what is anticipated will be an annual event, hopes to establish an Orthodox presence for the cause of world peace and understanding, thus enabling Orthodox Christians to share in their common religious and cultural heritage.

Invitations to the Prayer Service have been extended to Orthodox Ambassadors and delegates of the various missions of the United Nations, Orthodox staff of the Secretariat and the heads of Orthodox NGOs. Acceptances to date include the UN Ambassadors of Greece, Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria.

Members of the Joint Commission are: His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian (Armenian Church of America) and His Grace Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos, (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese) co-chairmen; members of the UN committee event are, Bishop Dimitrios, Rev. Dr. Robert Stephanopoulos (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese); V. Rev. Dr. Anthony DeLuca ( Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church ) V. Rev. Simeon Odabashian (Diocese of the Armenian Church) and Mr. Bishoy M. Mikhail (Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria, Archdiocese of North America).

15 October 2004

PRESS RELEASE                                                                                                                                                

New York, NY - The fourth annual Orthodox Prayer Service and Reception for the United Nations Community was celebrated on Tuesday, October 12, 2004 at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, at 6:30pm.  This year, the service, jointly sponsored by the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, (SCOBA) and the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches in America, (SCOOCH) was presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim of the Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese for the eastern United States.  Under the theme of overcoming violence in the world, suggested by the World Council of Churches' program of the "Decade to Overcome Violence", the service focused on the verse from the Gospel of St. Matthew 5:9: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."

The distinguished speakers at this year's service were His Excellency Kaha Chitaia, Deputy Permanent Representative of Georgia to the United Nations, His Excellency Ambassador Teruneh Zenna, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the United Nations, Mr. Giandomenico Picco, Under Secretary-General of the United Nations and Personal Representative of His Excellency Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, and His Eminence Archbishop Karim.

His Excellency Chitaia spoke of the need for the Church to speak out when there is "even the slightest evidence of violence, whether it be of moral, ethical or criminal character..."  The Church must "manifest clearly its position in regards to such violations.  This manifestation should be motivated only by the moral principles of the Church, and not other motivations."  The position of the Church, he said, "would not only serve as a strong message for political leaders and public figures, but also strengthen the faith of the believers." 

In his remarks, Ambassador Zenna noted several causes of violence, such as the increase of poverty in a "rapidly globalizing world."  "There is," he said, "an absolute necessity for all of us to speak loudly and in unison against oppression and the exclusion of one by the other."  We "Orthodox Christians," he noted, "must emphasize service for the disadvantaged and oppressed as a necessary consequence of our recognition of all humanity bearing the image of God."  His Excellency also addressed the violence of terrorists, "who for their own perceived reasons hate and fear other people, their values, culture and civilizations."

In the message of the UN Secretary General, His Excellency Kofi Annan wrote, "At a time when some would seek to divide the human family by exploiting differences among peoples, we need more than ever the contribution of men and women of faith who defend and promote the practice of dialogue.  That is why I am pleased to extend my best wishes to this prayer service for the United Nations Orthodox community.  It is reassuring to know that you have gathered to celebrate your commitment to overcoming violence in our world and to reaffirm your rejection of intolerance and hatred.  As you pray for the United Nations, I hope you will pray that whatever the challenges and crises that confront us, we may make this indispensable instrument as effective as it can be.  Pray that world leaders find the wisdom and the will to use this tool to its full capacity, in the interest of the people it exists to serve.  Pray for peace in the family of nations."

Archbishop Karim, presiding hierarch at the service, spoke of the place of the human being in creation, the role of the Holy Church in promoting peace and harmony among all people and the role of the United Nations in establishing peace among nations.  Concerning the United Nations, His Eminence stated: "Peace is only possible when it is built on justice.  As long as I am not able to identify with my neighbor's pain and suffering, we will not have peace.  The United Nations, therefore, is called upon to supercede the narrow political interests of its member nations and truly help to establish a world based on true human values which form the basis of all human rights and the dignity of humankind.  Among other things, this requires the U.N. to be as even-handed as possible in implementing its resolutions.  Eradication of violence and true peace will never arrive by the dictates of the so-called world powers but rather the recognition of the dignity of each human being as a child of God, created in God's image and likeness."

Approximately 200 persons were in attendance, including Ambassadors, Mission heads and personnel from the United Nations, as well as many area clergy and laity.  Among the church dignitaries present were Metropolitan Herman of the Orthodox Church in America, Archbishop Vsevolod of the Western Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, Bishop Antoun Khouri of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, Archbishop Abune Matthias of the Archdiocese of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in the USA, Archbishop Mor Titus Yeldho of the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church of North America, Archbishop Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim of the Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo, Syria, Bishop David of the Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of North  America, and Bishop Vicken Aykazian, of the Armenian Church of America.

Liturgical music offerings were made by the St. Vladimir Orthodox Theological Seminary Octet, the Yared Ethiopian Choir, the St. Mark's Syrian Orthodox Cathedral Choir and Florence Avakian,  organist of the St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral Choir.  Following services, a reception was held in the Kavookjian Auditiorium.

The Fifth Annual Orthodox Prayer Service for the United Nations community will be held in October 2005, at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.

13 October 2003

Published by the Orthodox Church in America, October 2003

NEW YORK, NY [SCOBA/SCOOCH] -- Hundreds of clergy and faithful from throughout the metropolitan New York City area joined hierarchs from the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas [SCOBA] and the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches [SCOOCH] and dozens of representatives from the United Nations at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Cathedral here on Monday, October 6, 2003 for the third annual Orthodox Prayer Service for the UN Community.

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, hosted and presided at this year's service, before which His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America welcomed the numerous UN ambassadors, diplomatic representatives, and staff members in attendance.

"Orthodox communities in the United States and around the world are well aware of the evil potential of religion when it is misused," Metropolitan Herman told the over 400 attendees in an address at the conclusion of the service. "Extremist nationalism or other forms of extremist ideologies often seek to harness the energy of religion to their own purposes and aims. Sometimes, religious communities succumb to manipulation and to the temptations of idolatrous nationalism, ethnocentrism, or other forms of ideological extremism.

"The true ministry of the Orthodox Christian faith, of Orthodox Christian communities, is loving service to God and to humanity," Metropolitan Herman continued. "We believe that every human being carries the image and likeness of God. When we honor the human being, we honor God. When we serve human community and the common good, we are imitators of God, we are disciples of Christ, we are full of the Holy Spirit."

Mr. Joseph Stephanides, Director of the Security Council Affairs Division of the UN Department of Political Affairs read a message from UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who was unable to attend the service.

"This year, we welcome such services more than ever," the message read. "Just seven weeks ago, our United Nations family was struck by a brutal and barbaric blow. Colleagues who were in Iraq with no other mission than to help its people build a better future, were taken from us, from their families, and from the people they were working to assist. We, whose work is so wrapped up in the tragedies of others, continue now to wrestle with one of our own.

"But if our hearts are filled with sorrow, and our minds with images of violence, our spirits can still draw strength from occasions such as this, where people of different cultures and faiths come together in friendship," the message continued. "We need that strength, the comfort of sharing grief with friends, the solace of prayer. As the grieving process takes its course, and the work of healing continues, we must also learn to draw purpose from this experience. We must learn to apply the lessons it has taught us. We must find the best way to honor the memory of our fallen friends, and carry on their work. We must confront death by reaffirming the value of life."

Mr. Annan concluded by calling upon the hierarchs and faithful to "pray for our lost colleagues, and for their families and loved ones.

"I ask you to pray for the rest of us, that we may find the right way forward, [and ] I ask you to pray for Iraq and for the whole family of nations, that people everywhere be allowed to live in dignity, freedom, justice and peace," his statement concluded.

Ambassador Adamantios Th. Vassilakis, Permanent Representative of Greece to the UN, challenged the assembly to present the world with "the human face of Christianity."

"We, Orthodox people especially, come from a long tradition of suffering and searching," Ambassador Vassilakis noted. "Our collective psyche is steeped in experiences of great hardship, uprooting and despair. Yet, we endured. With faith and dignity, we always responded to challenge, we always hoped and worked for a better future."

"Orthodoxy had to carry the heavy cross of foreign domination, but has thus been relieved of the burdens of a medieval past," Ambassador Vassilakis continued. "The relationship of the faithful to the institution has remained a natural one, and love, tolerance, peace, conciliation have been flowing without discrimination, as at the first hour, [presenting] the human face of Christianity."

Armenia's Ambassador, Permanent Representative to the UN Armen Martirossian, also addressed those gathered for the service.

"The first such service took place two years ago, in the shadow of the shocking events of September 11," Ambassador Martirossian noted. "In the aftermath of that terrible day, an international coalition emerged to fight the dreadful scourge of terrorism. Alas, despite the best intentions and efforts undertaken by the international community, the world has not become a safer place since then.

"For this reason, we must never shy away from bringing a spiritual dimension to the work of the United Nations, he continued. "For though military, political, economic and social concerns may be important, it is the spiritual element alone which will make the United Nations the common sanctuary of mankind, whose highest objective is peace and security for all."

In addition to Ambassadors Vassilakis and Martirossian and Mr. Stephanides, members of the UN community attending the service, which was organized by the hierarchs of SCOBA and SCOOCH, included US Ambassador John D. Negroponte; Moldovan Ambassador Vsevolod Grigori; Polish Ambassador Janusz Stanczyk; Romanian Ambassador Mihnea Motoc, who was accompanied by Mr. Marius Ioan Dragolea, Deputy Permanent Representative; Serbian and Montenegrin Ambassador Dejan Sahovic; Slovak Acting Permanent Representative Klara Novotna; Ukrainian Deputy Permanent Representative Markiyan Kulyk; Albanian Ambassador Agim Nesho; Belarusian Acting Permanent Representative Oleg Ivanov; Czech Ambassador Hynek Kmonicek; Cypriot Ambassador Andreas Mavroyiannis; Egyptian Amassador Ahmed Ali Aboul Gheit; Ethiopian Deputy Permanent Representative Teruneh Zenna; Finnish Ambassador Stu Marjatta Rasi; Georgian Deputy Permanent Representative Kaha Chitaia; Indian Ambassador Vijay Nambiar; Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Charge d'Affaires Dimce Nikolov.

Eastern Orthodox hierarchs in attendance, in addition to Metropolitan Herman and Archbishop Demetrios, included His Eminence, Archbishop Peter of New York and New Jersey [OCA]; His Eminence, Archbishop Nicolae, Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America and Canada; His Grace, Bishop Mercurius, Moscow Patriarchal Parishes; His Grace, Bishop Antoun, Auxiliary, Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America; His Grace, Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos, Greek Archdiocese; His Grace, Bishop Savas, Chancellor of the Greek Archdiocese; and His Grace, Bishop Nikon of Baltimore [OCA], Auxiliary to Metropolitan Herman.

Oriental Orthodox hierarchs present included His Eminence, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocese of the Armenian Church of America [Eastern]; His Eminence, Archbishop Matthias, Ethiopian Orthodox, Archdiocese of America; His Eminence, Archbishop Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim, Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch; and His Grace, Bishop David, Coptic Orthodox Church, Archdiocese of North America.

Concelebrating the Vesper Service, at which a combined choir from Saint Vladimir Seminary, Crestwood, NY and Saint Tikhon Seminary, South Canaan, PA offered the liturgical responses, were Protopresbyter Frank Estocin, Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA; Protopresbyter Robert S. Kondratick, OCA; the Rev. Djokan Majstorovic, Serbian Orthodox Diocese; the Very Rev. Luke Mihaly, American Carpatho-Russian Diocese; the Very Rev. Ioan Casian Tunaru, Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese; the Rev. Elias Villis, Greek Archdiocese; and the Rev. Thomas Zain, Antiochian Archdiocese.

The "Good Shepherd Choir" from St. Mary and St. Anthony Coptic Orthodox Church performed a number of traditional Coptic hymns after the service.

The service was followed by a reception in the cathedral center, at which "The Good Shepherd Choir" of St. Mary and St. Anthony Coptic Orthodox Church, under the direction of Mr. Jan Naguib, sang a number of selections.

20 September 2005

NEWS RELEASE

New York, NY - On the occasion of the 60^th Anniversary of the United Nations, the Joint Commission of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) and the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches (SCOOCH) will sponsor their fifth annual Orthodox Prayer Service for the United Nations Community at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Cathedral (319 E. 74^th St.) on Tuesday, October 11^th, at 6:30pm.

Speakers will include His Eminence Metropolitan Christopher of the Serbian Orthodox Church in America, and Ambassador Dr. Milos Prica, Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations.  The theme of their remarks will be "Building a Community to Work Towards Peace and Tolerance". 

Invitations to the Prayer Service have been extended to Orthodox Ambassadors and delegates of the various missions of the United Nations, Orthodox staff of the Secretariat, and the heads of Orthodox NGOs.  All Orthodox Christian faithful in the Metropolitan New York area are encouraged to participate and to join in praying for world peace and understanding.

Co-chairing the Joint Commission are: His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian (Armenian Church of America) and His Grace Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese).  Members of the UN Prayer Service committee are: Fr. Djokan Majstorovic (Serbian Orthodox Church); Rev. Dr. Robert Stephanopoulos (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese); V. Rev. Dr. Anthony DeLuca (Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church); V. Rev. Simeon Odabashian (Diocese of the Armenian Church); V. Rev. Chorepiscopos John Meno (Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese); Fr. Emmanuel Gratsias (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese); and Mr. David Lucs (Orthodox Church in America).

26 October 2009

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon sent remarks, delivered by Under-Secretary-General Vijay Nambiar, Chef de Cabinet, to the 9^th UN prayer service, co-organized by the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas and the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches. Click here to view his remarks.

13 November 2007

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon sent a message the 7^th UN prayer service, co-organized by the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas and the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches. Click here to view his message.

12 October 2004

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan delivered remarks at the 4^th UN prayer service, co-organized by the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas and the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches. Click here to view his remarks.

12 June 2015

Click here for a PDF version

Your All-Holiness,

The NGO Mining Working Group is a coalition of more than 25 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) most of whom are faith-based. We advocate at and through the United Nations (UN) for the human rights of all people, especially in the context of the extractive development model, with a particular focus on the human right to water and sanitation. We have been actively participating in the Post-2015 Development Agenda process, and our advocacy efforts have consistently emphasized the importance of a human rights based approach to all sustainable development.

This month, the NGO Mining Working Group mobilized more than 600 faith-based groups and NGOs from around the world, who focus on water justice and who collectively represent billions of people, in calling on UN Member States to ensure that the human right to water and sanitation be made explicit in the Declaration of the Post-2015 Development Agenda. The letter built on the consistent and urgent advocacy efforts of the NGO Mining Working Group throughout the Post-2015 process (see enclosed).

The United Nations General Assembly has officially recognized the human right to water. However, we are deeply concerned that unless the human right to water and sanitation is explicitly mentioned in the Post-2015 Agenda, this critical and basic right for the protection of God’s creation and the human family will be ignored.

In this regard, we deplore the fact that the human right to water and sanitation continues to remain unrealized for hundreds of millions of people. According to a recent joint study by UNICEF and WHO, at least 1.8 billion people drink fecally contaminated water.  In addition, 2.5 billion remain without access to basic sanitation. Water is being increasingly exploited on a global scale as a disposable commodity to be sold to those who have the power and resources necessary to control it.

For all these reasons, the NGO Mining Working Group calls for the unequivocal recognition of the human right to water and sanitation in order to ensure that the Post-2015 Agenda gives priority to people over profits, and protects water as a vital common good shared by all in the human family as well as our Earth. We believe that if the Post-2015 Development Agenda is to be truly sustainable, people-centered, transformative, and representative of a road to human dignity, it must explicitly name the human right to water and sanitation.

Your All-Holiness, we have been encouraged by your statement on World Water Day in which you named water and sanitation as a human right. Your resounding moral voice is heeded by people of all faiths and no faith.

In similar manner, Pope Francis declared that water is a common good that must be accessible to all. Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Mariadiaga also added his voice to this discourse during an event at the United Nations on March 5, 2015. He said, “The United Nations is launching a Sustainable Development Agenda this year, which presents an opportunity to make changes that put the needs of marginalized and vulnerable communities first. Water and sanitation must be recognized at the domestic and international levels as a human right. It must also be managed as a common resource that is protected from private profiteering and abuse.”

We believe strongly that if you call on Member States of the UN to acknowledge the human right to water and sanitation in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, the world’s marginalized and disenfranchised will receive renewed hope that their fundamental right to lead a life of dignity will be realized.

We are grateful for your moral leadership on so many pressing issues. Be assured of our constant prayers and support as you lead us in accord with Gospel values.

Sincerely,

Members of the NGO Mining Working Group:
Blue Planet Project of the Council of Canadians, Meera Karunananthan
Congregation of the Mission, Rev. Joseph Foley CM
Dominican Leadership Conference, Sr. Margaret Mayce OP
Edmund Rice International, Brother Kevin Cawley CFC
Franciscans International, Fr. Markus Heinze OFM, Amanda Lyons, and Sr. Odile Coirier FMM
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOA), V. Rev. Dr. Nathanael Symeonides
International Presentation Association of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Sr. Elsa Muttathu PBVM
Loretto Community, Sally Dunne COL, CoMember of Loretto
Marianists International, Brian Reavy
Medical Mission Sisters, Sr. Celine Paramundayil MMS
Passionists International, Mirek Lesiecki, c.p.
Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Sr. Veronica Brand RSHM
Salesian Missions, Rev. Thomas Brennan SDB
Sisters of Charity Federation, Sr. Teresa Kotturan SCN
Sisters of Mercy (NGO), Mercy International Association: Global Action, Sr. Áine O’Connor RSM
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Sr. Jean Stoner SNDdeN and  Sr. Grace Ezeonu SNDdeN
Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, Sr. Suzanne Golas,  CSJP
Temple of Understanding, Grove Harris
UNANIMA International, Sr. Michele Morek OSU and Sr. Cecelia Martin NDS
VIVAT International, Rev. Robert Mirsel SVD and Sr. Zelia Cordeiro SSpS
Women’s Division of the General Board of Global Ministries, the United Methodist Church, Rev. Kathleen Stone
Yamasi People, Southeast Indigenous Peoples Center, Lori Johnson

Enclosed:
Letter signed by more than 620 civil society organizations calling for the inclusion of the human right to water and sanitation in the Declaration of the Post-2015 Development Agenda