World Plenary 2024 - part four

The Friend reports on the second Business Meeting of the FWCC World Plenary in South Africa (5-12 August)

by Joe Jones 16th August 2024

Thursday’s Business Meeting Two would have to play catch up after the ‘little occurrence yesterday’, said Simon C Lamb. A report from the Quaker United Nations Offices would have already been heard were it not for the fire. Saskia Kuhlmann and Rachel Singleton-Polser referenced the George Fox celebration by saying that they, too, tried to influence governments. They ran through QUNO’s main areas of work (peace and disarmament; climate change; human rights and refugees), which they said was ‘a bit more behind the scenes’ than the agencies represented on yesterday’s keynote panel. But its quiet diplomacy – and quiet advocacy – were successful in amplifying marginalised voices.