Franciscans International Annual Report 2019 Imprint Franciscans International: 37-39 rue de Vermont, P. O. Box 104, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland, T +41 22 7 79 40 10, [email protected] Design: Verlag und Agentur, Friedensstraße 9, 65510 Idstein, Germany, T +49 61 26 9 53 63-0, F +49 61 26 9 53 63-11, [email protected] o Cover photo: © Franciscans International; Brother Auguste Agounkpé OFMCap during a campaign event in Northern Benin Franciscans International Annual Report 2019 Introduction Letter from the President 4 Letter from the Executive Director 5 Franciscans International in numbers 6 30 years at the United Nations 8 About Franciscans International 9 Global Advocacy 11 Regional Programs 17 Africa Program 17 Americas Program 21 Asia-Pacific Program 25 Financial Report 28 Help us protect human rights 29 Donor acknowledgement 29 Staff 30 International Board of Directors 31 4 / Annual Report 2019 / Letter from the President / On behalf of the International Board of Directors, I am pleased to present our Annual Report for 2019 – a year that holds special significance for Franciscans International, as it marks 30 years since our common ministry was officially recognized by the United Nations. Throughout the year at various celebratory events, we had the pleasure of meeting many of the brothers and sisters who have contributed to this endeavor over the decades. In sharing their experiences as well as their ambitions for a more just future during these gatherings, they underlined how deep this work is ingrained in our roots. Francis himself admonished the leaders of his day to care for those under their rule, reminding them that they too are accountable for their actions. In 1219, he travelled to the Holy Land to deliver a message of peace to Sultan Al-Kamil. Eight centuries later, their meeting is still held up as an example of dialogue and mutual respect. In October 2019, the board had the opportunity to meet with UN Secretary General António Guterres in New York. During this visit we presented him with highlights of the work Franciscans International has done over the years, but also expressed our concern about specific brothers and sisters who have faced threats due to their ministry. During our conversation, the Secretary General also remarked on the dovetailing of Franciscan values and the aims of the United Nations in promoting human rights, peace and reconciliation, the preservation of our planet, and the importance of having a consistent voice present to defend them.Today, standing up for these values and inspiring a new, young generation to join us remain as relevant as ever. The International Board of Directors expresses its sincere gratitude to all the Franciscan Orders and Congregations who continue to support our work at the United Nations. We also thank the brothers and sisters who speak out to affect positive change in these international forums, despite the many difficulties and challenges this may bring. Finally, we are grateful to the managers and staff of Franciscans International for their tireless work in supporting our common ministry. Fraternally, Joseph Rozansky OFM President of the International Board of Directors Annual Report 2019 / 5 / Letter from the Executive Director / 2019 has been a difficult year for many of our brothers and sisters working on the frontlines to defend human rights. From Brazil to the Philippines, those standing up for the dignity of their communities and respect for our common home have faced intolerance and, in some cases, direct attacks by the powerful. At the international level, we work in a context that increasingly turns away from multilateral and common solutions, as governments choose to look inwards instead. Nevertheless, I am encouraged by the many meetings and conversations I have had throughout the year with the many Franciscans representing our global family. Our 30-year celebrations in Geneva, Rome, and New York provided an opportunity to reflect on our accomplishments but were also characterized by the determination of all who attended to continue our common ministry. While our team prepares to formulate its strategic plan for the next years, we are encouraged and inspired by the work of our partners at the grassroots. As I write this, it has already become evident that 2020 will be unlike anything we could have anticipated. In just a few weeks, the rapid spread of covid-19 has laid bare the systemic injustices in our societies and raised profound ques- tions about human rights. While the impact on our work at the United Nations remains uncertain, I am confident that our team will rise to the challenge. Franciscans worldwide have done the same, supporting their communities in these difficult times. Meanwhile, we must be conscious that many of the acute problems we are confronted with today – poverty, injustice, environmental degradation – are not new and, indeed, were already a daily reality for so many. As the Franciscan voice at the United Nations we will continue our work mindful of the fact that we do so in the long tradition that was founded over eight centuries ago by Francis and Clare. On behalf of all the staff, I wish to express my gratitude to all those that have supported us in this endeavor: the Franciscan Orders and Congregations, the International Board of Directors, the funding agencies, our partners, and all those that raised their voices at the United Nations. Fraternally, Markus Heinze OFM Executive Director Franciscans International in Numbers 50 Advocacy interventions and submissions at the United Nations 20 28 Advocacy events and conferences Franciscans and other partners advocating at the United Nations 9 107 In-country consultations Franciscans and other partners who benefitted from capacity/ strategy-building initiatives Influence Empower 55 % FI recommendations included in United Nations reports 18% 750 Increase in social media following Franciscan Family members reached in 21 gatherings Members of the Conference of the Franciscan Family host FI’s 30-year celebrations in Rome © Franciscans International 8 / Annual Report 2019 / Thirty years at the United Nations / Throughout 2019, Franciscans International organized a series of events to celebrate the three decades since it was first officially recognized by the UN Department of Public Information, affirming that the organization was considered to have the commitment and means for sustained work at the United Nations. As a non-governmental organization, FI was granted Category I status in 1995 and currently holds Generally Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council. On 15 March, FI hosted a reception at its headquarters in Geneva, welcoming our NGO partners, diplomats, and Franciscans from all over the world. Not just a celebration, the event brought together people who have worked together for years bridging a gap between groups that do not always easily meet. The reception was followed the next day by a High Mass that was presided over by Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič, the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva. The Conference of the Franciscan Family also organized a gathering at the Auditorium Antonianum in Rome on 15 July. Brothers and sisters gathered for the keynote address ‘Memory and Prophecy’ which was delivered by Minister General and former FI staff member Michael Perry OFM. He was then joined by long-term partners Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu OFMCap and Sister Diana Muñoz Alba FFM, representing FI’s regional programs. The event was also attended by Brother Dionysius Mintoff OFM, who first raised the suggestion to establish a Franciscan presence at the UN in 1982, together with the late Sister Elizabeth Cameron of the Sisters of Saint Francis from Clinton, Iowa. A final event took place on 8 November in New York. We welcomed Helena Yánez Loza, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the UN who explored the topic of collaboration between civil society and governments. Also in attendance were former FI directors Kevin Smith OSF, Ignatius Harding OFM, and Kathie Uhler OSF who gave a short presentation about the early years of the organization. Ahead of this gathering, the International Board of Directors met with UN Secretary General António Guterres where they presented some of the work FI has done to connect Franciscans at the grassroots with UN mechanisms to bring about positive change. The Secretary General expressed his appreciation for the contributions made by FI and stressed the importance of this engagement and work by civil society. To mark the 30-year anniversary, FI also published a short booklet documenting its history and the deep connections between Franciscan values and human rights. It is available in the “Franciscan Corner” on our website. Annual Report 2019 / 9 FI’s International Board of Directors with UN Secretary General António Guterres / About Franciscans International / © UN Photo/Manuel Elias Franciscans International brings the human rights challenges faced by its Franciscan and lay partners at the grassroots to the attention of international and national policymakers. Working with civil society in over 30 countries across four continents, we address some of the most pressing human rights issues of our times. At the core of FI’s mission is our belief in the dignity of all people, which is lived out in our commitment to protecting and preserving human rights and the environment. We use advocacy as a tool to combat and curb human rights abuses, and to reclaim the central role of human rights in the formulation and framing of national and international public policies. We believe that human rights must be at the heart of all political processes, in particular those that are related to international development, the environment, and security. With offices in Geneva and New York, FI plays a significant role in denouncing human rights violations and empowering human rights defenders.