The closing session was one of the best, with summary statements and reviews from various caucuses and conference organizers. Also on of the original drafters of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights shared his perspective on the document 60 years later. (He is 90 and was a fully involved participant and contributor to this conference.)
Most inspiring was a live web-address by Ingrid Betancourt, the Columbian politician kidnapped and held by rebels for more than 6 years. She spoke passionately and eloquently with no prepared statement, for more than 20 minutes. Her message to reach out to those who live in lawlessness showed such compassion and grace. Her experience was unimaginably brutal yet her plea to us was not to focus on her suffering but to recognize and appreciate our freedom to speak out and be heard and to use that right to speak out on behalf of human rights.
It was a privilege to hear her speak. It was a fitting closure to the 3 days of meetings and collaborations.
I called this my UN blog but it also will be my un-blog. I will continue to post, though likely not daily, with follow-up and outcomes from this conference and with developments in Soroptimist activities. I hope you will keep checking back - even if I can't post photos like this (the view from the cafeteria at UNESCO!)
No comments:
Post a Comment