FMSI

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is one of the main mechanisms of the United Nations to monitor compliance with human rights. FMSI has presented 38 reports since 2009, to show the situation of children in 32 countries with a Marist presence, mainly in Africa and America.

In 2017, the reports on Argentina, Peru and Ghana were presented. Brothers and lay people from those countries were involved in the preparation of the reports, working together with organisations such as Edmund Rice and Vivat. They researched and gathered information about issues such as: violence against children in families, action by the State, right to education, among others.

In the last part of the UPR cycle, the countries publicly accept the recommendations that have been made to them. In this case, Argentina, Peru and Ghana did so on March 15 at the Palais des Nations (Geneva).

Pleasantly, we can see that some of the recommendations that were made from FMSI were accepted. Now it is appropriate to continue monitoring compliance.

FMSI recognises the effort made by the Marist solidarity and children’s rights teams in these countries. And, at the same time, it invites other provinces to join in this effort to continue defending human rights in international forums.

FMSI is currently working on the reports of Vanuatu, Mexico, Uruguay and Chile.

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In the picture: Br Constantine D'Abrue and Ryan Wait, of Edmund Rice International, with Br Álvaro Sepúlveda

FMSI is the foundation created by the Institute to promote and protect the rights of children. FMSI carries on its mission through the activity of advocacy and lobbyingand with projects in the countries in which the Marists are present.

FMSI was constituted in 2007 in Italy as a non-profit organization of social usefulness (ONLUS).

From 2011 it has the special consultative status before the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations.

FMSI is member of: Bureau International Catholique de l’Enfance (BICE), Centre Catholique International de Genève (CCIG), Child Rights Connect, Movimiento Mundial por la Infancia de Latinoamérica y El Caribe, FOCSIV (Federazione degli Organismi Cristiani Servizio Internazionale Volontario), Observatorio Niñez y Adolescencia (ONA), Santiago de Chile.