ESSAY | First One Orphan, Then Many More: Orphans International

April 13, 2024

ESSAY | First One Orphan, Then Many More: Orphans International

Photo: Children gather in the Orphans International residence in Gonäives, Haiti. Credit: Orphans International.

The United States has plenty of affluent do-gooders who are taken with the idea that with their experience and creativity they could harness expertise and money to better the lives of people in the developing world.

*Jim Luce with orphans from the 2004 tsunam*i.

New York, N.Y. I know now, seven years after founding my own global charitable organization, that this is possible though often problematic. You need to have a lot of passion, energy and wits, but so must the people overseas who are helping you.

Working on Wall Street years ago, I encountered a mosaic of people of diverse ethnicities and personalities, all happily pursuing the almighty dollar. I realized that, with a mutual cause, all differences are surmountable.

At the time, I was spending weekends contentedly rescuing dogs and cats from the streets of New York. But I was interested in doing something to help the world. Asked by an Indonesian friend to travel with him to his hometown in the Celebes Islands, I jumped at the chance and off we went. My life was about to turn dramatically.

By happenstance, we drove by an orphanage, and I felt drawn to visit it. I was intrigued. Over the years, orphanages have been phased out in the United States, replaced by foster care. Stepping inside the dimly lighted facility, I was overcome by the extraordinarily poor conditions. There was plenty of loving care, but the facility itself was dilapidated. If these children only had more money for food and shelter — about $600 a year would do it, I figured — they could thrive. What could I personally do to make this happen?

One infant literally stood out from the others, and his pleading yet determined eyes seemed to demand that I take him home with me. His name was Mathew. He was ten months old.

The connection between us was immediate, and after talking to my fiancée, I agreed to adopt him. The staff asked that his undershirt, full of holes, be left for the next child.

Within a year Mathew had cleared Indonesian and American bureaucracies and was in my arms at Kennedy Airport.

Before Matt arrived, I had discussed what I had witnessed with a sharp-minded child psychologist in Boston — Frances Dudley Alleman-Luce, my mother and friend. I could not stop thinking about the other infants at the orphanage, existing in such Dickensian conditions, worse than New York’s animal shelters. They could not all be adopted, but they could be helped. My mother and I talked about ways we could do that.

Then came the denouement: “Mom, guess what?” I said. “I adopted that little boy — you are now his grandmother!” It took her only seconds to realize that the theoretical was now deeply personal — and a new page in our family history had been turned. The matriarch of our family, with deep roots in Puritan and Anglican New England, had been given a Chinese-Indonesian grandson.

When Matt came, she immediately embraced him as her own and gave him the same tour of Harvard Yard that she had given me as a child, pointing out our family’s roots there. Today he is your average New York City teenager.

Solutions to the overall problems I had encountered in the Celebes Islands had to exist. My mother studied my inclination to give love and affection to the needy and challenged me to conceptualize my aim to improve the lives of orphans.

So was born the idea of a surrogate foster care system in developing nations. My concept was based on small homes with only four children and a house parent at each dwelling. My vision was to raise orphaned children from toddlers to adulthood the way I would raise my son. This simple notion is now codified as “Mathew’s Rule.” Could Mathew thrive here? This is our strict and primary criteria.

My mother died in 2001, and in her will she designated money with the hope that I would begin Orphans International. Given my heritage — from a co-founder of Harvard (Thomas Dudley) to the founder of the Naval War College (Stephen Bleecker Luce) — perhaps she believed institution-building was in my genes.

We incorporated Orphans International in Indonesia later that year, and opened our first home in Sulawesi. In 2002, we incorporated in New York and began raising money here. We started work in Haiti in 2003, eventually opening a home in Gonaïves.

Then, the tsunami slammed across the Indian Ocean from Indonesia to Sri Lanka. Contributions poured in, from my own Roosevelt Island community and from prominent families around the world that had heard about us through word of mouth. We placed staff on the ground— actually in the mud — within days in Aceh, Indonesia, quickly set up a home and embraced our first tsunami orphans with love and compassion. I thought of my mother.

When the wave smashed Sri Lanka, a young Sri Lankan-American couple were caught in its deadly grasp on a beach near Galle. The husband was washed away. His American wife survived. In his memory, her father pledged to build an orphan village in Sri Lanka.

*Mr. Luce with his son, Mathew, whom he adopted as a baby.*

Backed by our board, we built a United Nations-associated nongovernmental organization. Our umbrella organization is Orphans International Worldwide, with our administrative office staffed by volunteers in Lima, Peru, and our volunteer internship program in New York. This structure enables us to maintain a low overhead; our latest audit shows less than 8 percent spent on administration.

To underwrite these efforts, we created the usual Founder’s Circle, President’s Circle and Advisory Board — each group with specific financial commitments. Since we became associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information, Matt’s Rule has been fleshed out and become a standard for orphanages in the developing world.

After the tsunami, I resigned my Wall Street job to dedicate myself to increase financing, build programming and assure compliance with our global standards. Tremendous progress has been achieved with honest, supportive and caring local professionals. We had hoped they would help us avoid the setbacks — including countless cases of nepotism and corruption — that we have encountered. They have to some degree, but challenges still occurred.

For example, a board member for one of our programs pressured us to hire his mistress as our director and rent his brother’s mansion as our orphanage. No. A staff member saw dollar signs after the tsunami and the millions in aid flowing after, and announced he was taking over the organization. No. Another officer, with me for two years, could not account for funds. Again, no. How can anyone betray their own children?

Despite these behind-the-scene battles, we are on the ground in 12 countries and have an annual budget of a half-million dollars, with projects in Haiti, Indonesia and Peru and opening in Sri Lanka. Interestingly, Sri Lanka is the only country in which we have never been cheated. There we have not faced corruption, but rather the slow torture of a bureaucracy. I believe our project there, which is about to accept its first children, may become the model for our global efforts.

Orphans International has become my calling, and it can be a dangerous one. Last summer in Haiti, out for a swim with our local director and two of our children, we were attacked by a mob of people who thought we were kidnapping their children. The Haitian police saw the danger and rescued us but were themselves overrun by the violent crowd. Ultimately, we were saved by United Nations peacekeeping soldiers.

Ultimately, I believe, patience, trust, good will and the Internet make our efforts possible. We communicate with our 218 volunteers across time zones by e-mail, instant messaging and Skype. Plaxo, Facebook and LinkedIn also play a role in our outreach. Plans are for our child sponsors to be able to greet their children directly via Skype.

As on Wall Street, the 100-hour weeks continue, except now I no longer receive a salary or annual bonus. In 2006, I cashed in my retirement plan savings to keep our efforts afloat. My focus continues to be pursuing the almighty dollar — only now for others.

Jim Luce is the founder and president of Orphans International Worldwide.

Originally published in the Giving Section of The New York Times November 12, 2007. Edited by Ethel Grodzins Romm.

Jim Luce Writes on Orphans & Orphans International

Mayflower Roots – and a Metrocard – Get One on the Subway

Jim Luce

April 13, 2024

Mayflower Roots – and a Metrocard – Get One on the Subway

New York, N.Y. Who we are is shaped by where we have been as much as by where we wish to go. For me, knowing where my family has been over the last several centuries gives me the sense that I fit into the world as I should without worry about my place. I know I am exactly where I should to be. To be a part of the mosaic of America, with my adopted Asian son, is intensely international as well as American. I also know that I, as most families, have my share of skeletons in the closet.

Although I go by plain Jim Luce, I was born James Jay Dudley Luce. There is now a foundation being formed in that name. The first time I ever heard my entire name read out loud was when as I was approved by voice vote at an Episcopal Diocesan Convention as youth representative at the age of 16. I thought, That is a name I will need to live up to.

Yale University Skull and Bones included Henry Robinson Luce in its 1920 roster. Although a secret society, I understand my father joined at Yale 25 years later. Skull and Bones was founded by Alphonso Taft, my fourth cousin, six times removed.

Older Americans always ask me about me relationship to Henry Luce (“Harry”), founder of Time-Life magazines. Yes, it is the same family, but not particularly close. The original Henry Luce was born in Gloucestershire, England in 1640 and came over to Martha’s Vineyard. He is my eighth great grandfather. I am a direct descendant of his oldest son Robert (Henry/ Robert/ Jonathan/ Rowland/ Elisha/ George/ Rev. Frank/ Stanford/Stanford/ me). The publisher Harry Luce was a descendant of the original Henry’s youngest son (Henry/ Josiah/ Nathaniel/ Nathan/ John/ Stephen/ Van/ Rev. Henry/ Harry). This makes him my seventh cousin, twice times removed. Always hard to explain in detail at cocktail parties.

My son loves to point out the description of one biographer who described Admiral
Stephen Bleecker Luce as “Intensely unhumorous,” laughing that it must be genetic.

The Luces had a large impact in history, long before Harry Luce and his “American Century.” Consider Admiral Stephen Bleecker Luce, founder of the Naval War Academy at Annapolis and proponent with Alfred Thayer Mahan of America’s Manifest Destiny (fifth cousin, four times removed) and Renaissance woman Clare Boothe Luce (wife of seventh cousin, twice removed). Hank Luce III, past president of the Henry Luce Foundation, was a friend and supporter of my organization Fundamentalists Anonymous (FA) dedicated to fighting religious extremism. I wrote an obituary last year for his colorful wife Leila.

Charter of Harvard College, signed in 1650 by Gov. Dudley, my ninth great grandfather.

My mother’s Harvard side of the family — the Dudley’s — always looked down on the Luce’s since they arrived in 1663, several decades after the Dudley’s arrived in 1630. Thomas Dudley, the Third Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, signed the Charter that created Harvard University. His daughter, Anne Bradstreet, was the first published female poet in either the Colonies or England (he is my ninth great-grandfather.

This means I am somehow related to other Dudley descendants such as Connecticut Gov. Lowell P. Weicker, playwright Tennessee Williams, comedian Kelsey Grammer, actor Christopher Reeve, astronaut Rear Admiral Alan Shepard, and Yale’s A. Bartlett Giamatti.

Dudley Castle, West Midlands, England, is where the longest line of my descendants comes.

Luckily, my father’s Yale side of the family also have the Delano’s, who go back to Plymouth (Lt. Richard Warren, Nathaniel Warren, Mercy Warren, Jabez Delano Sr., Jabez Delano Jr., Jabez Delano III, Capt. James Delano, Sophia Delano Luce, Rev. Frank Leonard Luce, Stanford Leonard Luce Sr., Dr. Stanford Leonard Luce Jr., James Jay Dudley Luce).

It is amazing to know that the same side on which I am related to FDR, the husband of my second great-grand aunt Sophia Delano Luce, in a line that goes back to my eleventh great-grandfather Jean De Lannoy, born in Aquitaine, France in 1511. But the Dudley side is longer, going back to my thirtieth great-grandfather in 1030 in Lincolnshire, England. That, believe it or not, is my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather DeSutton.

Luce Hall at the U.S. Naval Academy, housing the departments of Leadership, Ethics, and Law, was named for Stephen Bleecker Luce

I remember my paternal grandmother explaining to me the importance of her family, the Foote’s, but now I cannot recall exactly why. I know they trace back to John Foote, my twelfth great-grandfather, who was born in 1490 in Hertfordshire, England. Perhaps Grandmother Foote-Luce was talking about Rear Admiral Andrew Hull Foote, my fifth cousin four times removed, or maybe his father, U.S. Senator Samuel Augustus Foote. She has passed on, a wealth of information now buried.

In the U.S. Civil War, Andrew Hull Foote led the gunboats in the Battle of Fort Henry.

As in most families, our family genealogy has been handed down verbally, in old records, and in family Bibles. As a child, my paternal grandmother dragged me to see Luce Hall at Annapolis, while my maternal grandmother pulled me around Harvard Yard to see Dudley House and the Dudley Gates. The Internet had helped confirm all of the notes I have taken since the age of ten, and has filled in missing gaps. My grandmother Irene Simpson, for example, explained how she was related to Wallis Simpson, who went on to marry King Edward VIII, who was then downgraded to Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor. We’re cousins of some kind. Although Granny lived to be 104, she too is now gone and I can no longer confirm with her.

My mother, Frances Dudley Alleman-Luce (child, middle), with her mother Irene Simpson Alleman, brother Dudley Alleman, Jr. (r.) and Irene Alleman (l). Taken in their back yard in Portland, Maine, 1928.

The other week my electronic calendar informed me it had been fifteen years to the day that I had brought my adopted son Mathew James Luce home from Indonesia. The same week I helped him with his genealogy homework assignment. I explained to him about “Boston Brahmans,” the historic core of the East Coast establishment that my own father rejected. Mathew was able to report in his homework his “roots” to the Delanos, Dudleys, Footes, Luces, Simpsons, Tafts, Warrens, and Winthrops. Who knows what his teacher thought. In theory, America is a meritocracy, the nation of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps. Pedigrees are not supposed to matter.

My mother’s father, Dudley Alleman, is the boy sitting in the middle.

There is more. My ninth great-grandfather, Richard Warren, was Lieutenant on the Mayflower. He settled in Plymouth Colony and was among ten passengers of the Mayflower landing party with Myles Standish at Cape Cod in 1620. Warren co-signed the Mayflower Compact and was one of only 19 — among 41 — signers who survived the first winter. My son Mathew thought that was so ‘cool.’

My ninth great-grandfather Richard Warren co-signed the Mayflower Compact.

Born in 1640, Robert Taft was my ninth great-grandfather. This makes President William Howard Taft my fifth cousin, a mere five times removed. From 1901 to 1903, this distant relative served as the first civilian Governor-General of the Philippines following the Spanish-American War. Coincidentally, Alphonso Taft, my fourth cousin, six times removed, founded Yale’s Skull and Bones Society.

My ancestors were as bad as they were good. Some are presumed to have captained slave ships, and others are documented to have owned slaves. The government record of my second great-grandfather, Warfield Simpson, shows that he had five slaves, “Black” and “Mulatto,” in 1850. I am connected to American slavery, which makes the concept of civil rights so much more real to my son. I am excited to be moving soon to Haiti — the world’s oldest free-slave nation — to work with the organization I founded a dozen years ago, Orphans International Worldwide (OIW).

Wallis Simpson and the Duke of Windsor were cordial with Adolph Hitler, the epitome of evil.

Harry Luce was also a tremendous fan of Chiang Kai-shek and admired Mussolini in his early days. Wally Simpson was on friendly terms with Adolph Hitler.

Slave records for Warfield Simpson, 1850 – my great-great-great grandfather.

In my family there are doctors, lawyers, ministers, professors, naval officers, governors and senators – with lots of gentlemen farmers thrown in. Very few were business people. Harry Luce of Time-Life was unique in that his own father was part of the Presbyterian mission in China, along with Pearl S. Buck, where Harry was born. Although we have some Protestant, French Huguenot roots, it is mostly White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP). Most of my ancestors were Presbyterian or Episcopalian (Anglican).

Clare and Harry Luce were ardent supporters of General and Madam Chiang Kai-shek.

My son Mathew wanted to know how our family background has helped us, and how it related to the egalitarian ideals of America he is learning in social studies. He realizes that in any family you have the good, the bad, and the indifferent. I explained that in my own experience being “Brahmin” – and having a Metrocard – gets me on the subway. He thought that was pretty cool, too.

Originally published in The Huffington Post, Oct 16, 2010

Historic Win for Pakistani-American Author, Mumtaz Hussain, at International Impact Book Awards

Staff

April 13, 2024

Historic Win for Pakistani-American Author, Mumtaz Hussain, at International Impact Book Awards

By Mohsin Zaheer

New York, N.Y. New York-based Pakistani American author, poet, and filmmaker Mumtaz Hussain has etched his name in literary history by clinching the prestigious International Impact Book Award for his English masterpiece, “Portrait in Words.”

The grand ceremony, held in New York, witnessed a gathering of luminaries from the literary world, including authors, writers, and scholars, as they celebrated Hussain’s remarkable achievement.

Hussain’s triumph signifies a watershed moment in the nation’s literary landscape, placing him alongside legendary Urdu short story writers such as Manto, Ghulam Abbas, and Asmat Chughtai. His diverse portfolio, which includes accolades in painting and filmmaking, further cements his status as a pioneering force in literature.

His latest work, “Portrait in Words,” distinguishes itself by intertwining storytelling with captivating paintings, setting a new standard in literary expression.

Expressing his gratitude upon receiving the award, Hussain remarked, “It’s a tremendous honor for me to be recognized in this manner. This award is incredibly encouraging.”

The Pakistani American community and literary circles have showered Hussain with congratulations, affirming that his victory is well-deserved and a moment of pride for all.

#UrduNewsUSA #UrduNews

Historic Win for Pakistani-American Author, Mumtaz Hussain, at International Impact Book Awards (April 13, 2024)

Portrait in Words | Mumtaz Hussain

The Alphabet of the Image |
Mumtaz Hussain’s short stories with paintings

Pakistani Mumtaz Hussain Bags 2024 International Impact Book Award

Staff

April 13, 2024

Pakistani Mumtaz Hussain Bags 2024 International Impact Book Award

New York-based Pakistani-American Writer, Poet, and Filmmaker

From the Lahore Mirror

New York, N.Y. New York-based Pakistani American writer, poet, and filmmaker Mumtaz Hussain has made his name in literary history by clinching the International Impact Book Award for his English book Portrait in Words.

This prestigious accolade, bestowed upon him in 2024, represents a monumental triumph for Pakistani literature on the global platform.

Mr. Hussain’s achievement stands as a significant milestone in the country’s literary landscape, placing him in the esteemed company of renowned Urdu short story writers such as Manto, Ghulam Abbas, and Asmat Chughtai. The grandeur of his accomplishment was celebrated in a lavish ceremony held in New York, attended by eminent figures from the literary world, including writers and scholars.

With a repertoire that already boasts accolades in painting and filmmaking, Hussain’s latest triumph solidifies his status as a trailblazer in the realm of literature. His success resonates as a source of immense national pride, underscoring Pakistan’s rightful position on the international stage.

The International Impact Book Awards, which recognizes outstanding works for their content, quality, writing style, presentation, and cover design, serves as a testament to the caliber of Hussain’s book and its contribution to the literary and professional domains.

Upon receiving the award, Hussain graciously expressed his gratitude, remarking, “It is a great honor for me. This award is incredibly motivating.” His sentiments reverberated throughout the Pakistani American community and literary circles, who hailed his victory as commendable and a source of immense national pride.

Pakistani Mumtaz Hussain Bags 2024 International Impact Book Award (April 13, 2024)

Portrait in Words | Mumtaz Hussain

The Alphabet of the Image |
Mumtaz Hussain’s short stories with paintings

Meet the U.N. Secretary General’s Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide

Jim Luce

April 13, 2024

Meet the U.N. Secretary General’s Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide

As traffic cop to the world, Francis M. Deng is a thought leader and global citizen extraordinaire.
I am confident that if there is one man who can identify and stop genocide before it occurs, it is he.

By Jim Luce, Editor

New York, N.Y. Last year, I met a Sudanese diplomat who was so interesting that I have not been able to get him out of my head – his name is Francis M. Deng [Luce Index™ Score: pending] He is the U.N. Secretary General’s Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide at the level of Under-Secretary-General.

I was introduced to Francis at a cocktail party honoring H.E. Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann [Luce Index™ Score: pending], the U.N. General Assembly President. Peter Yarrow [Luce Index™ Score: 99], of Peter, Paul & Mary, had invited me as his guest to this event.

I met recently with Francis at his office overlooking the busy traffic of the F.D.R. highway below to discuss how he is handling such a weighty responsibility. As the U.N. Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, Francis’ job is to alert the world of situations in a particular country or region that could potentially result in genocide and make recommendations for preventing or halting the bloodshed. He acts as a catalyst of action within the U.N. system and, broadly speaking, within the international community.

Francis believes — based on his many years as a diplomat and thought leader at various institutions — that genocide is almost always a result of national, racial, religious, and ethnic identity-related conflicts. As such, it can be anticipated and even stopped before it begins by understanding these underlying causes. The conflict does not result in the mere differences but in the inequities discrimination, marginalization, and exclusion associated with those differences.

Identity-related conflicts ultimately become a clash between those who “belong” and those who have been excluded and marginalized to a point of near statelessness. Francis acquired global insights into these identity issues when he was Representative of the U.N. Secretary-General on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from 1992 to 2004. During his missions to the affected countries, after meeting with national leaders and government authorities at various levels, he would then meet with the displaced and traumatized persons.

As he left, he would ask them: “What message do you want me to bring to your Government leaders?” The response was often, “Those are not our leaders!” Government authorities identified these tragic victims with the rebels and saw them as part of the enemy. Francis feels he must be able to diagnose the disease before he can proffer a cure. Inevitably, this includes managing diversities and trying to create shared national identities. He attempts to work with all sides of a conflict to build a framework which establishes basic equalities.

He is well-educated – to say the least! He holds a LL.B. degree from Khartoum University in the Sudan, and both a LL.M and J.S.D. (Doctor of Juridical Science) from Yale University. He also attended London University. He has been frequently recruited as an expert researcher, teacher, and “thinker” at many prestigious institutions. These include Yale Law School, Columbia Law School, New York University, the U.S. Institute of Peace, the Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies as well as the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, the Kluge Center for Scholars of the Library of Congress, the Woodrow Wilson International Center, and The Brookings Institution.

Francis has served as the Ambassador of Sudan to Canada, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the United States, and as Sudan’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. He has authored and edited over 30 books in the fields of law, conflict resolution, internal displacement, human rights, anthropology, folklore, history, and politics and has written two novels on the theme of national identity crisis in his native country of the Sudan.

He wrote The Man Called Deng Majok: A Biography of Power, Polygyny, and Change (Yale University Press, 1986) about his father, the renowned Paramount Chief of the Ngok Dinka in the Sudan, which Francis was kind enough to autograph for me.

Francis’ father had over 200 wives and thus Francis has over 1,000 siblings – that fact alone is sure to grab one’s attention.

He was appointed to the full-time position of Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide by U.N. Secretary-General H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon in 2007, as part of a continuing effort to strengthen the U.N.’s role in genocide prevention. The Advisory Committee on the Prevention of Genocide, which provides guidance and support to the Special Adviser’s work, includes:

David Hamburg as Chairman. President Emeritus of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, who has played a pioneering role in the prevention of genocide and deadly conflicts,
Sadako Ogata of Japan, former U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees,
Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize,
General Romeo Dallaire, whose heroic attempt to stop the Rwanda genocide was constrained by the limitations on his U.N. mandate,
Monica Andersson of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs which had been instrumental in promoting U.N. action on genocide prevention,
Zakari Ibrahim of Nigeria, a former Senior Government Official,
Roberto Garreton of Chile, former Special Rapporteur on Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo DRC),
Juan Mendez of Argentina, Francis’ predecessor as Special Adviser, and
Gareth Evans, former Foreign Minister of Australia, who has been a leader in the development and promotion of the emerging norm of the Responsibility to Protect.

Francis and his colleagues at the Brookings Institution’s Africa Project developed the concept of Sovereignty as Responsibility which guided his work on IDPs and which has now been widely acknowledged to have contributed to the evolution of the ‘Responsibility to Protect.’

When it comes to his current work, Francis believes strongly in two principles:

One, that the diplomacy needed to stop genocide is to a significant degree an art, not entirely a science. While Conflict Resolution Studies are a good foundation, the cultural milieu is so complex that academic expressions are not enough. Like an artist, technical skills only go so far. One must have the touch, culturally nourished. A major aspect of Francis’ intellectual work has been devoted to cultivating cross-cultural perspectives on matters that are relevant at local and global levels.
Two, that national sovereignty is key. Governments must manage their own affairs and protect their own people. They may need international support to discharge their national responsibility. When they cannot, international bodies must be ready and able to respond to the crises. This is the essence of the three pillars of both “Sovereignty as Responsibility” and “the Responsibility to Protect.”

The U.N. genocide prevention system is straightforward. The Office of the Special Adviser has developed three clusters of countries:

Those on the brink of disaster or actively engaged in genocidal conflicts are coded red.
Yellow indicates that problems exist but have not yet passed the tipping point into genocide.
Green – you are essentially in North America, Europe, and most of East Asia, not genocide or genocide-risk regions.

However, Francis emphasizes that since diversity and disparity are widespread, the potential for genocide is equally global, even though some countries and regions are more vulnerable than others. Francis is not quick to name the red team, as he must have the ability to work with them to shift them to yellow and green.

“I am sometimes asked to ‘name and shame,’ but such tactics make it difficult to move toward resolution and reconciliation,” Francis admits. He believes that constructive engagement based on exploring a common ground promises better results than confrontation. He admits, however, that there is room for different complementary approaches.

Going on the offensive against a government might preclude Francis from travel to that country and thus hinder his ability to negotiate with the government – or see the actual conditions. Some independent human rights experts have angered governments so much that they are not allowed to visit the countries concerned. They have written their reports from outside the country, using sources that governments then feel justified to discredit since the expert does not have first-hand information.

As the U.N. Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, Francis’ role is to call attention to crises. His voice is not needed in regions where the big international players are already involved although his silence in such situations is also untenable. His job is mainly to shine a light into the darkest corners of humanity, not where there is light already. “Genocide” itself is an emotive term that has both legal and popular definitions. Francis is not the arbitrator of what genocide is or is not.

He simply advises the U.N. Secretary-General on specific problems that could erupt into genocide and possible solutions to those problems. Francis is torn between three constituents, each of whom have different objectives and concerns:

Foreign governments, who do not want him interfering with their sovereignty;

His colleagues at the U.N. for whom the label “genocide” creates an accusation that often makes their work on the ground more difficult; and finally,

NGOs many of whom often focus on issues of human rights in a rather adversarial manner.

Human beings are normally harmonious in their relations, Francis believes. Conflicts — caused by national, racial, religious, and ethnic clashes — are the negation of human cooperation and peaceful coexistence in its natural state. Francis feels he has a call of duty to help communities return to this natural state of harmony.

Like the city traffic below our window, Francis points out that the cars flow in cooperation, not conflict. When a car — or an individual or groups of individuals — go against the traffic rules, conflict ensues. As traffic cop to the world, Francis M. Deng is a thought leader and global citizen extraordinaire. I am confident that if there is one man who can identify and stop genocide before it occurs, it is he.

Originally published in The Huffington Post, June 7, 2009.

TAGS: Ambassador of Sudan to Canada, Ambassador of Sudan to Denmark, Ambassador of Sudan to Finland, Ambassador of Sudan to Norway, Ambassador of Sudan to Sweden, Ambassador of Sudan to U.S., Anthropology, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Argentina, Australia, Ban Ki-moon, Biography of Power, Polygyny, and Change, Brookings Africa Project, Brookings Institute, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Center for International Studies, Chile, City University of New York, Columbia Law School, Conflict resolution, Conflict Resolution Studies, Cross-cultural perspective, National sovereignty, CUNY Graduate Center, David Hamburg , Democratic Republic of the Congo, Diplomacy, Discrimination, East Asia, ethnic identity-related conflict, Europe, Exclusion, Folklore, Francis M. Deng, Gareth Evans, General Romeo Dallaire, genocide, Genocide prevention, Genocide-risk regions, Global citizen, History, Huffington Post, Human cooperation, Human rights, Human rights, IDPs, Inequities, Internal displacement, Internally Displaced Persons, international community, International support, Japan, Jim Luce, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Juan Mendez, Khartoum University, Kluge Center for Scholars, Law, Library of Congress, London University, Marginalization, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, MIT, Monica Andersson, Name and shame, national conflict, National identity crisis, New York City, New York University, NGOs, Nigeria, Nobel Peace Prize,, North America, Paramount Chief of the Ngok Dinka, Peaceful coexistence, Peter Yarrow, Peter, Paul & Mary, Politics, Prevention of deadly conflicts, Prevention of genocide, racial conflict, Responsibility to Protect., Roberto Garreton, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Rwanda genocide, Sadako Ogata, South Africa, Sovereignty as Responsibility, Special Rapporteur on Zaire, Statelessness, Sudan, Sudanese diplomat, Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Man Called Deng Majok, Thinker, Thought Leader, U.N. General Assembly, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, U.N. Secretary General, U.N. Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, U.N. Under-Secretary-General., U.S. Institute of Peace, United Nations, Woodrow Wilson International Center, Yale Law School, Yale University, Yale University Press, Zakari Ibrahim

UNICEF: Every Child Has the Right to Learn

United Nations

April 13, 2024

UNICEF: Every Child Has the Right to Learn

Children in Gaza need life-saving support

Muna Ali bin Ali, a student at Al-Zahra’a school in the classroom in Yemen in September 2021

UNICEF/UN0526284/AlObidy

New York, N.Y. A child’s right to education entails the right to learn. Yet, for too many children across the globe, schooling does not lead to learning.

Over 600 million children worldwide are unable to attain minimum proficiency levels in reading and mathematics, even though two thirds of them are in school. For out-of-school children, foundational skills in literacy and numeracy are further from grasp.

Children are deprived of education for various reasons. Poverty remains one of the most obstinate barriers. Children living through economic fragility, political instability, conflict or natural disaster are more likely to be cut off from schooling – as are those with disabilities, or from ethnic minorities. In some countries, education opportunities for girls remain severely limited.

Even in schools, a lack of trained teachers, inadequate education materials and poor infrastructure make learning difficult for many students. Others come to class too hungry, ill or exhausted from work or household tasks to benefit from their lessons.

Compounding these inequities is a digital divide of growing concern: Most of the world’s school-aged children do not have internet connection in their homes, restricting their opportunities to further their learning and skills development.

Without quality education, children face considerable barriers to employment later in life. They are more likely to suffer adverse health outcomes and less likely to participate in decisions that affect them – threatening their ability to shape a better future for themselves and their societies.

Israel Brings Relentless Death, Destruction to Women, Children – U.N. Secretary General

Mideast

United Nations

April 12, 2024

Israel Brings Relentless Death, Destruction to Women, Children – U.N. Secretary General

New York, N.Y. The past six months of Israel’s military campaign has also brought “relentless death and destruction to Palestinians”, with over 32,000 reported killed, the vast majority women and children. “Lives are shattered. Respect for international law is in tatters,” he said.

The resulting humanitarian disaster is unprecedented, with more than a million “facing catastrophic hunger.” Children are dying due to lack of food and water: “This is incomprehensible and entirely avoidable”, the U.N. chief declared, repeating that nothing can justify such collective punishment.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres briefs the media outside the Security Council on the situation in Gaza. Credit: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe.

Marking six months of war since the “abhorrent” Hamas-led terror attacks of 7 October, 2023, António Guterres told journalists at U.N. Headquarters in New York that nothing could justify the horror unleashed by Palestinian militants that day.

“I once again utterly condemn the use of sexual violence, torture injuring and kidnapping of civilians, the firing of rockets towards civilian targets and the use of human shields”, he said, calling again for the unconditional release of all hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip.

Having met many of the family members of those held captive “I carry their anguish, uncertainty and deep pain with me every day”, added Mr. Guterres.

‘Relentless Death’

But the past six months of Israel’s military campaign has also brought “relentless death and destruction to Palestinians”, with over 32,000 reported killed, the vast majority women and children.

“Lives are shattered. Respect for international law is in tatters”, he said.

The resulting humanitarian disaster is unprecedented, with more than a million “facing catastrophic hunger.”

Children are dying due to lack of food and water: “This is incomprehensible and entirely avoidable”, the UN chief declared, repeating that nothing can justify such collective punishment.

Weaponized AI

Mr. Guterres said he was deeply troubled by reports that the Israeli military has been using AI to help identify targets during its relentless bombing of densely populated areas of Gaza.

“No part of life and death decisions which impact entire families should be delegated to the cold calculation of algorithms,” he said.

AI should only be used as a force for good, not to wage war “on an industrial level, blurring accountability.”

UNRWA staff in Amman, Jordan, attend a ceremony to remember colleagues who have lost their lives in Gaza. Credit: UNRWA/Shafiq Fahed.

Humanitarian Deaths

Branding the war “the deadliest of conflicts”, he highlighted that 196 humanitarians including over 175 U.N. staffers have been killed, the vast majority serving with Palestine relief agency UNRWA.

“An information war has added to the trauma – obscuring facts and shifting blame”, said the U.N. chief, compounded by Israel denying journalists entry into Gaza, consequently allowing disinformation to spread.

Tactics Must Change

And following the appalling killing of the seven staffers with World Central Kitchen, the main problem is not who made the mistakes but “the military strategy and procedures in place that allow for those mistakes to multiply time and time again”, the Secretary-General said.

“Fixing those failures requires independent investigations and meaningful and measurable changes on the ground.”

He said the U.N. had been told by the Israeli Government that it was now planning to allow a “meaningful increase” in the flow of aid to Gaza. The UN chief said he sincerely hoped the increase in aid would materialize quickly.

‘Failure Would be Unforgivable’

“Dramatic humanitarian conditions require a quantum leap in the delivery of life-saving aid – a true paradigm shift.”

He noted last week’s Security Council resolution calling for hostages’ releases, civilian protection and unimpeded aid delivery.

“All those demands must be implemented. Failure would unforgivable,” he said.

Six months on, the world stands on the brink of mass starvation in Gaza, a regional conflagration and a “total loss of faith in global standards and norms.”

A boy runs through the destroyed streets of Gaza. Credit: © UNRWA/Ashraf Amra.

Unprecedented Violations: U.N. Rights Office

The violations committed since 7 October in Israel and Gaza, as well as the destruction and suffering of civilians in the enclave are unprecedented, the U.N. human rights office, OHCHR, said on Friday, warning that the risk of further atrocity crimes is high.

OHCHR upheld the need to ensure aid delivery and the protection of humanitarian workers, noting that attacks against them may amount to war crimes.

The Israeli airstrikes that killed the World Central Kitchen personnel underline the horrific conditions under which humanitarians are operating in Gaza, said Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence told journalists in Geneva.

“Israel has also killed law enforcement officials and others involved in securing humanitarian aid delivery, directly contributing to the breakdown of civil order and putting humanitarian workers and those in need of aid in further danger,” he added.

Following the attacks, World Central Kitchen and other NGOs suspended aid delivery and distributions in Gaza, “increasing the already real risk of more deaths from famine and disease at larger scale.”

War Crimes Warning

Mr. Laurence recalled that international law requires all warring parties to respect and protect humanitarian personnel and ensure their safety, security, and freedom of movement.

As the occupying power, Israel has the additional obligation to ensure, to the fullest extent possible, that the basic needs of Gaza’s population are met. This means the authorities must either ensure that people can access food and medical care or facilitate the work of humanitarians delivering this assistance.

“Attacking people or objects involved in humanitarian assistance may amount to a war crime,” he said.

He pointed out that U.N. Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Türk has repeatedly stated that impunity must end.

Gay Pride Parade Unlike Any Other in NYC: We Can Marry Now!

Jim Luce

April 11, 2024

Gay Pride Parade Unlike Any Other in NYC: We Can Marry Now!

My partner John Lee and I were there at the Sheraton Hotel when Andy Cuomo was elected last fall. He promised us he would bring gay marriage to the Empire State. I cheered, but did not hold my breath. In less than six months, he kept his promise. I may now marry the man I love. As can any resident or non-resident of New York State from anywhere in the world. I am stunned and overwhelmed, Andrew. Thank you.

**The Heritage of Pride Committee has run the parade brilliantly for almost 50 years**

New York, N.Y. A sea change in New York. Although I have attended the NYC Pride Parade since 1983 – many as a marshal – this one was different. As the lesbian on motorcycles thundered into view down Fifth Avenue I did something I had not done in 28 years. I burst into tears. After 28 years in New York City, I finally have the right to marry the man I love. Thank you, Andrew Cuomo.

History of NYC’s Pride March

The first New York City Pride March, also known as the Christopher Street Liberation Day March, took place on June 28, 1970, one year after the Stonewall Riots. The march began at Washington Place in Greenwich Village and moved north up Sixth Avenue, attracting thousands of participants. The march was intended to end in Central Park, but organizers didn’t have a police permit.

Governor Andy Cuomo promised us he would usher in gay marriage. Promise kept.
With him was Mayor Mike Bloomberg, NYC’s Chris Quinn, and NYS’s Tom Duane.

New Yorkers United for Marriage – the grand coalition of activist organizations –
performed an unexpected miracle in Albany last week with the help of Republicans.

The Stonewall Riots began on June 28, 1969, when police raided the Stonewall Inn, a Greenwich Village bar that was a hub of the city’s underground gay community. Community members fought back against the raids, which sparked the modern LGBTQ rights movement and the organization of the first Pride March.

The Heritage of Pride (HOP) organization has produced and organized the parade and related events since 1984. HOP is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that welcomes participation from all ages, genders, races, religions, and more.

The NYC Pride March takes place on the last Sunday in June each year and celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community. Over the years, the march has reflected the community’s evolving priorities, highlighting issues such as anti-gay legislation, AIDS support, and marriage equality

Rep. Maloney Supports Gay Rights

Carolyn Maloney, U.S. Representative from New York representing the Upper East Side and our Roosevelt Island, has firmly established herself as a champion for LGBTQ+ rights, showcasing an unwavering commitment to equality and inclusivity throughout her political career.

With a resolute dedication to the cause, Maloney has consistently advocated for LGBTQ+ equality on both local and national fronts. Her unwavering support has been evident through her co-sponsorship of crucial bills aimed at bolstering anti-discrimination protections, advocating for marriage equality, and safeguarding the rights of LGBTQ+ youth. By lending her voice and influence to these initiatives, Maloney has helped pave the way for tangible progress and social change.

Beyond legislative efforts, Maloney has emerged as a vocal advocate and ally for the LGBTQ+ community, using her platform to amplify their voices and champion their rights. Her outspoken stance on various issues pertaining to gay rights has resonated deeply, earning her widespread respect and admiration within the LGBTQ+ community and beyond.

Corporate America was out in full strength – including New York Life, MasterCard,
Delta, Wells Fargo – with their impressive stage coach – and a host of others.

One of my favorite groups, – Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps, marched with pride.

**Perennial good guy and senior U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer celebrated with us.**

One of Maloney’s landmark achievements in advancing LGBTQ+ rights came with the introduction of the first measure in New York to recognize domestic partnerships, inclusive of those formed by same-sex couples. This groundbreaking initiative not only symbolized a significant step forward in the fight for equality but also underscored Maloney’s unwavering dedication to fostering a more inclusive society for all.

In essence, Carolyn Maloney’s steadfast commitment to gay rights epitomizes the essence of principled leadership, as she continues to advocate tirelessly for equality, dignity, and justice for the LGBTQ+ community. Through her actions and advocacy, Maloney has left an indelible mark on the landscape of LGBTQ+ rights, reaffirming her status as a beacon of hope and progress for generations to come.

**New York City’s finest—**our police force—**honored us, as did our fire department.**

Every great organization marches down Fifth Avenue to the applause of the crowds.

I actually knew Emery Hetrick and Damien Martin – what pride we have in our community!

New York University buses were used to chauffeur SAGE members – our wise elders.

As I watched the parade I remembered my impression from my very first parade three decades ago – no city in the world is as diverse as New York, and no community in the world is as accepting as our LGBT community. In this one parade you have the Irish, Puerto Ricans, Israelis, Macy’s balloons, our police drummers – and fire trucks. All of the multi-nation corporations headquartered here that embrace diversity. Our universities, churches and synagogues. Our progressive political leaders from both sides of the aisle. I am so proud to be both gay and a New Yorker.

My own U.S. Congress Member Carolyn Maloney has a superb gay-positive record.

**Borough President Scott Stringer was there – Manhattan now gay capital of the world.**

My partner John Lee and I were there at the Sheraton Hotel when Andy Cuomo was elected last fall. He promised us he would bring gay marriage to the Empire State. I cheered, but did not hold my breath. In less than six months, he kept his promise. I may now marry the man whom I love. As can any resident or non-resident of New York State from anywhere in the world. I am stunned and overwhelmed, Andrew. Thank you.