The opening of a Permanent Representation to the UN in Geneva in January 2004 marks a historical development for the UN Liaison office of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church. This month an internship program starts at the UN Commission for Human Rights in Geneva. Until now the activities of the UN Liaison Office in New York and Geneva were mainly directed from the New York office. Its mandate is to provide a channel of communication and influence at the United Nations, working with the main organization and it 48 different subsidiaries such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the High Commission for Human Rights, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNCTAD, and many more.
Selected to help represent the Church at such an important level is Juan Otoniel Perla, a 2003 graduate of US-based Andrews University. Born in El Salvador, Juan speaks Spanish, English and French, and came highly recommended by professors from Andrews University (Berrien Spring, MI/USA) and Saleve Adventist University (Collonges-sous-Salève/France).
“I lived several summers in Costa Rica,” said Juan,“ and visited many countries in that region. While studying at Collonges, which is close to Geneva, I travelled to more than 15 European countries. These experiences abroad have shaped my vision in life. Now, people have become my passion, and this passion has become my life mission:‘ to help the least of these.’”
“It is vital for the Church to have permanent representation to the UN in Geneva,” states Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, UN liaison director for the Adventist Church. “We need to speak out on issues at the Commission on Human Rights, to liaise with the WHO and UNAIDS, and to influence the many permanent missions of the 191 nations that are based in Geneva. I am delighted Juan will be able to progress our work in this important new direction.” The UN Liaison Office also runs an internship program at the UN in New York City. The internships run from 8-10 months.
The UN Liaison Office works since 1980 as part of the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty department, and as such is also in contact with not only UN organizations and agencies, but also such bodies as the European Union (EU), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), other international governmental organizations, as well as non-government organizations.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church has held consultative status with the Economic and Social Committee of the UN (ECOSOC) for a number of years, and is consulted on a wide range of different subjects including religious freedom, human rights, health and medical work, education etc.
In this way the Church is represented on a number of different committees of substance, participates in international conferences and conventions, and informs the representatives of the permanent missions to the UN of Church programs and activities. Much of the work of the Church is appreciated and endorsed since it parallels the aims and objectives of the UN as outlined in the UN Charter.
Also the Church benefits from such representation and recommendations, and seeks to partner where appropriate in UN-sponsored activities such a literacy development, humanitarian aid, human rights education, anti-narcotic drug programs, and conventions and declarations of mutual interest such as trafficking in people, children's issues, preventive health, AIDS programs, pollution control, combating intolerance etc.
UN materials of direct use to the Church and its program are channelled to the appropriate departments for their consideration and implementation. Direct contacts between Church experts and UN representative are facilitated through Seventh-day Adventist UN Liaison. It also provides a mechanism to contact country representatives on matters of interest and concern to the Adventist Church.
More information on the work of the United Nations Liaison Office of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is available on the Web site: http://un.adventist.org/
