Edmund Rice International November Training

Edmund Rice International (ERI) hosted a diverse group of members of the Edmund Rice network from across the world. A total of nine participants from ministries in Australia, India, Argentina, Canada, Tanzania, South Africa, Italy and the Philippines brought diverse perspectives to the training program held in Geneva from November 6th to the 21st. Throughout the training, participants explored the evolution of Advocacy, Human Rights and how the United Nations mechanisms are designed to protect Human Rights around the world. The opportunity to actively engage in the United Nations 75th Universal Periodic Review and 45th Treaty Body Committee was an incredible experience for many of the participants.

‘It was a very surreal experience to witness the review of my own country and to understand how important this process is to holding government accountable when it comes to Human Rights.’ -Violet Mary

Participants gained the tools to use a rights-based approach to develop an Advocacy Plan that could be used in their own community or on a national or global level.

‘It was thought-provoking to be asked to consider issues in my own community through the lens of advocacy rather than that of charity.’ -Michelle Rapier

ERI was granted ECOSOC status at the UN in 2012, and is committed to working for children and young people who are marginalised because of poverty, lack of access to education, legal status, environmental degradation, or involvement in armed conflict. ERI continues its important work at the international level to promote and protect the rights of children and young people particularly in regard to education.