Networks
UNANIMA International: Working for justice in the international arena
In September 2003 the Brigidine Sisters joined UNANIMA International, a Coalition of Congregations of
Religious Women to address justice issues at the systemic level. UNANIMA International, with members on
all continents, is committed to work at the United Nations for peace and human dignity in response to the needs of:
- women and children in poverty
- immigrants and refugees
- the welfare of the planet
The major focus at present is addressing the issue of trafficking of human beings
Our participation in UNANIMA International is part of a much bigger movement of religious congregations
and their partners in mission taking action to address injustices at the global and structural level.
It is heartening that our efforts through our UNANIMA Coalition can be linked with that of almost 800
other congregations. As one part of the UISG Declaration 2004 states:
We will:
- Intensify our efforts, as bearers of reconciliation in the world, to eradicate the trafficking of women and children,
- To promote the education and formation of women and girls
- Be proactive in peace-building, and in caring for all creation
UNANIMA International Update
Encountering strong, passionate women: the possibilities of making a difference!
This was the experience of the January Board meeting. Eight grassroots workers – sisters from the Congregations in
UNANIMA or partners with whom we work – were invited to the meeting to inform the Board about their work with
victims of trafficking and to build a foundation for practical strategy building in the long term. The meeting
was timed to coincide with the UN session on the Convention to Eradicate All Forms of Discrimination Amongst Women (CEDAW).
These women came from India, Brazil, Nigeria, Gabon, Italy, Canada, Ireland and the USA. Their presentations were
brilliant and the dialogue stimulating! The Board members and our guests were able to attend some of the UN
sessions. We could see first hand how NGO’s can present alternative views in formal sessions and how they can
influence and educate the UN community and use their grassroots knowledge to get leverage on global issues of injustice.
UNANIMA International hosted two panel sessions at the UN which gave our guests an opportunity to speak to a wider
group and to interact with the human rights lawyers present. Italy and Gabon were two of the countries reporting at
CEDAW so we were able to have our two women give ‘shadow reports’ and to bring the issue of trafficking of women
and girls right to the forefront. You could see the influence of these reports when the committee of expert human
rights lawyers crafted their questioning of the presenters of the country’s official government report. We were
very proud to have sponsored such articulate and passionate women!
Next steps
At the end of the strategy session, three areas of emphasis for our actions and lobbying against trafficking emerged:
working specifically on the demand aspect of the problem (What can we do and with whom to eliminate the “clients” for sexual exploitation?); working specifically at awareness and education campaigns; and working specifically to
do more successful lobbying work on the issue internationally, nationally and regionally. It will now be the task of
our various follow-up committees to turn these aspects of our work into concrete actions and networks.
|
