Clement John
4137 Austin St NE, Circle Pines MN 55014
763-785-4270
Clement.john@yahoo.com
Profile	Extensive work experience on human rights, particularly in the Asian region; organizing and conducting workshops, seminars and consultations on country specific situations as well as on thematic issues, like religious freedom and liberty, cultural, regional and religious relativity and inter-religious dialogue for promotion and protection of human rights. Monitoring the annual sessions of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights now the Council for Human Rights, at Geneva; facilitating attendance of church representatives from the regions, assisting in the preparation of documentation for making oral and written submissions. Undertaking research, studying and examining statements of global churches and ecumenical bodies on currents and affairs in preparation for developing and drafting the World Council of Churches position on international issues relating to war, peace, justice and human rights. Writing articles on national and international issues for church related magazines and periodicals. Preparing annual narrative reports of programs and activities of the International Affairs team. In course of duties travelled extensively through Asia, Africa and Europe.
Education	Degree in Law from Sind Muslim College, University of Karachi, Pakistan   B.A. degree in Political Science and Economics from Sind Muslim College, University of Karachi, Pakistan			1967 1963
Career History	The World Council of Churches, Geneva, Switzerland		1993-2007
	Program Executive/Director of Churches Commission on International Affairs ·     Organizing workshops, seminars and consultations on human rights issues both thematic and country specific in different regions of the world. ·     Organizing the Global Review of ecumenical practices and policies of the churches in the regions, as a result of which the Eighth WCC Assembly at Harare, 1998 adopted the Policy Statement on Human Rights. ·     Preparing, undertaking and staffing ecumenical fact finding team visits to Iraq, East Timor, Sudan, Pakistan and other critical human right situations. ·     Monitoring the annual sessions of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, now the United Nations Human Rights Council, preparing and facilitating the participation of church representatives at the annual sessions at Geneva; preparing the necessary documentation for oral and written interventions; organizing parallel meetings with church groups and national and international nongovernmental organization. ·     Preparing and drafting the statements of the World Council of Churches Central Committee on international issues relating to war, peace, justice and human rights ·     Headed the International Affairs team comprising of 25 staff members representing the different regions.
	Christian Conference of Asia, Hong Kong	1983-1993
	Program Executive for International Affairs and Human Rights ·     Interpreting international issue to member Churches and Councils ·     Monitoring and analyzing issues relating to human rights, religious liberty, economic justice, militarization and peace ·     Working for the development of Asian regional institutions in the field of human rights and international legal research ·     Building an ecumenical network to facilitate discussions on Asian issues, developing resources for awareness raising, official briefing and ecumenical witness ·     Representing Asian ecumenical movement at regional and national forums ·     Setting up the Asian Human Rights Commission and Asian Legal Resource Center, as a multi cultural, multi religious bodies
	Practiced Law in Pakistan initially as an Associate Attorney in Messrs Orr Dignam & Co. and later as a Partner in Messrs Pishori John and Company ·          Specialized in Mercantile Marine Insurance  and Shipping Laws ·          Labor Laws including workmen compensation. ·          Handled litigation work for clients in the district and High Court of Sind.	1969-1982

 Edited and published over 50 reports, papers and books on issues of human rights, international affairs, justice and peace.

On behalf of the organization conducted discussions with senior government and political figures these among others  include :Philippines (President Aquino, Minister for Good Government – Senator Solanga), Sri Lanka (Foreign Minister - Hameed, National Security Minister - Lalit Athmaduli, President - Kumaratunga, Leader of the Opposition - Mrs Bandaranaike), Vietnam (Foreign Minister- Nguyan Co  Thach), East Timor (President - Ramos Horta, Nobel Peace Prize Winner - Bishop Belo), Indonesia (President Abdur Rehman Wahid), Korea (President Kim Dae Jung, President Kim Yong Sam), Cuba (President Fidel Castro), Iraq (Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz), Pakistan (President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Jamali), Sudan (President Omar Al Bashir, John Garang and Foreign Minister Ghazi Salauddin).

 In recognition of services rendered to the struggle of the Dalit Community in India, awarded the title of Doctor of Divinity (Honoris CAUSA) by the Chancellor of Chennai University at the Seventeenth Convocation of the Academy of Ecumenical Indian Theology and Church Administration, 23^rd September 2005. In recognition of the services rendered to churches in Pakistan and the human rights movement, received awards from the Raiwind diocese of the Church of Pakistan and the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement, 2007

List of Publications

1. Judiciary Under Siege

Report of the Consultation on "Asian Lawyers for Justice and Human Rights". Compilation of papers on social action litigation, case studies on Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Philippines. (October 1983)

2. Religion and Asian  Politics

Case Study on resurgence of Islamic fundamentalism and its effect on Asian politics, the use of religion and religious symbols by the ruling elites to suppress basic human rights. (1984)

3. Heiwa - Life For The People

Report of the International Conference on Peace, comprising of 145 participants, held in Okinawa, the conference considered the Asia concept of peace in light of the conflict situations -Korean peninsula, Indo-China and Sri Lanka.  The conference also included papers on militarization and human rights. (February 1985)

4. Foreign Intervention In The Region

Workshop papers dealing with case studies of Japan, Thailand and Korea. (December 1986)

5. Tangled Web and Rising Sun

A case study of the way the human rights issues were dealt with in the Philippines during the Marcos period and the emergence of People's Power. (1986)

6. Nuclear Free and Independent Pacfic

A case study of the New Zealand's government nuclear free policy. (1987)

7. Religion and Politics - Case Study of Pakistan

A case study of the effects of religion on politics in Pakistan during the period of General Zia with particular reference to the suppression of basic human rights of the people. (1986)

8. Pakistan: Struggle for Human Rights

The book deals with the history of the human rights struggle of women, students, workers and religious minorities in Pakistan. (1986)

9. Lament For Lanka

Compilation of stories, testimonies and affidavits of victims of human rights violations - teachers, lawyers, journalists, students and workers. The book highlights the sufferings of the people belonging to all communities as a result of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. (1987)

10. Erosion of the Rule of Law

The report of a Seminar organized by the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) in conjunction with the International Commission of Jurists, Geneva. It deals with the erosion of the basic human rights in the region and the curtailment of powers of the judiciary by the Executive. (1987)

11. Report of the International Mission of Jurist to Singapore

This is a report of the investigative team comprising of members of the International Commission of Jurists, Geneva, Switzerland, the International Federation of Human Rights, Paris, France and the Asian Human Rights Commission, Hong Kong. (1987)

12. The Report of The Study Mission to The Philippines

In January 1988 the Asian Human Rights Commission sent a study mission to the Philippines comprising of seven Asian lawyers, journalists and human rights activists. The frame of reference for the study mission was to look into the activities of the vigilante groups and human rights violations in the country.

13. Glasnost, Perestroika and Asia

The report of the Consultation organized by CCA to consider the impact of the changes taking place in Eastern Europe and Soviet Union on the Asian Region.  Participants included representatives from North Korea, Vietnam and Eastern Europe as well as other Asian countries.  Apart from the changes likely to take place in international relations, the consultation also dealt with the politics of human rights. (1989)

14. Banished

The book is a case study of the events leading to the closure of CCA offices in Singapore.  It deals with the issues relating to freedom of religion, human rights and independence of the judiciary in Singapore.  (1990)

15. Seoul to Manila

The booklet is a five year report of the nine CCA desks and was published as part of the IXth CCA General Assembly preparatory material. It gives details of the programs carried out the by the different departments of CCA from 1985 to 1990. (1990)

16. The Tightening Grip

The publication was brought out in preparation for the Pacific Ecumenical Forum, Hawaii, 1990. It deals amongst others with the issues linking the Asia and the Pacific; the interest of U.S. and Japan in the region for its economic and trade potentials and initiatives like the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). (1990)

17. Third World War

The book was brought, out in preparation for CCA-IA's Consultation on Church, State in the New World Order. It provides an analysis of the socio-economic and political developments in "the post Gulf War period and focuses on the emerging North-South divide in the aftermath of the Gulf War. (1991)

18. Refugees - An Asian Solution

The book is a case study on Sri Lankan and Burmese refugees. It deals with the present refugee situation - diminishing resettlement opportunities, protection for refugees under UNHCR mandate and calls for a new approach to tackle the problem.  (1991)

Quarterly Newsletters produced for CCA-IA.

ASIAN ISSUES AND LIFE FOR THE PEOPLE

The periodicals dealt with different country situation and issues:

Pakistan

Thailand

Cancer of Militarism

Afghanistan

Hong Kong and 1997

Sri Lanka

Super power intervention in the region

Non-Aligned Movement

Waitangi Treaty - New Zealand

ASEAN

South Asia

World Council of Churches

19. Human Rights: A Global Ecumenical Agenda

(A compilation of Statements and Policies on Human Rights of the WCC put together in preparation for the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna (1993)

20. Report of the Ecumenical Team Visit to Sudan to study the nature of the conflict between North and South and the factors obstructing a negotiated peace settlement (1994)

21. East Timor: Prospects for Peace – Report of a consultation organized in Hong Kong among others to address issues of the right of self determination of the people  of East Timor and their socio-economic and cultural rights (1995)

22. Report of the Visit of the World Council of Churches and Christian Conference of Asia Delegation in connection with the Dili massacre, (East Timor) (1999)

23. Report of the WCC Staff Visit to North Korea (1999)

24. Report of the WCC delegation visit to Iraq to study the effects of sanctions on Women and Children (1998)

25. Human Rights and the Churches: New Challenges. Report of the global review of ecumenical practices and policies on human rights in the regions, to help in the preparation of the WCC Policy Statement on Human Rights at the VIII Assembly at Harare. (1998)

26. Report of the WCC Teams pastoral visit to Pakistan, to express solidarity with the churches, victims and families of the nine staff of IDARA-e-Aman O Insaf killed by Islamic extremists (2002)

27. Terrorism, Human Rights and Counter Terrorism (2005). Report of the consultation held in Geneva to help with the preparation of the WCC policy statement on terrorism and human rights, adopted by the Ninth Assembly at Porto Alegre.