Human Rights Church

Lois Dauway

Craig Mokhiber

Dennis Frado

Yesterday, July 8th, marked the launch of this website on churches involvement in Human Rights. On occasion of the launch the Lutheran Office for World Community (LOWC) organized a panel discussion with Craig Mokhiber, Deputy Director, NY Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Joel Hanisek, UN Representative of the Presbyterian Church and Lois Dauway, Associate to the Deputy General Secretary, Women’s Division: Global Ministries, United Methodist Church. Also, Christian Albers from the LOWC, was introducing the website with a film compiling some of these remarkable interviews. Dennis Frado, LOWC director was moderating the panel.

While Mokhiber emphasized that Human Rights must be regarded in a holistic view, and not be separated in civil an political on the one and economic, social and cultural rights on the other side, Lois Dauway said that we, the churches should be the “rebel rousers”, those who are picking up dust. Finally Joel Hanisek took up Dauway’s image, saying that he has dust in his eyes when he was approaching the lectern and continued by explaining why and how churches should get involved in Human Rights and what challenges they are facing, mentioning in particular the concept of the “Responsibility to Protect”.

Christian Albers