Amongst the CSW 60 events at the UN (13th – 24th March, 2016), Lynda Dearlove, RSM, (RENATE member) presented at the CSW 60 this past week (21st March) and it has been televised on UN WebTv, as follows:
http://webtv.un.org/search/
CSW 16 UN NYC Lynda Dearlove presents on The Care of Women and Girls on the Street
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person
RENATE welcomes all website visitors to read the seventh edition of its newsletter. Your feedback will be very much appreciated. Thank you.
Full text available here: RENATE Newsletter No.7_March 2016
The Gospel of St. Matthew includes an account of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, a list of eight blessings for those who are poor in spirit, meek, in mourning, hungering for justice, merciful, clean of heart, peacemakers and suffering persecution for justice’s sake (5:3-10). We know these blessings as the Beatitudes.
What if Jesus gave his sermon today? Recently the members of the Sisters of Mercy International Working Group on Human Trafficking reimagined the Beatitudes with a focus on one of the most debasing and horrific scourges of our time: human trafficking.
Full text available here: Beatitudes – Contemporary Version from the Sisters of Mercy
Source: Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person
Towards Better Social Cohesion and Tolerance in Times of Austerity
Conference organised by “Public Policy Exchange” (PPE)
Brussels, the 16th February 2016
The mission of PPE is to initiate and develop avant-garde platforms for capacity building, policy development and networking, and to serve as a progressive interface between practitioners, non-state actors and policy/decision makers at EU, national, regional and local levels in Europe.
According to the latest figures provided by Eurostat (2013), 122 million people were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in the European Union, a condition which refers to those who fall under at least one of the following categories: at-risk-of-poverty after social transfers, severely materially deprived or living in households with very low work intensity.
Certain groups in the population have emerged as particularly exposed to the risk of poverty, in particular children, young people, single parents, households with dependents, people with a migrant background, certain ethnic minorities and people with disabilities. Also, the gender divide is clearly visible and women are generally more at risk than men.
(…)
Full text available here: Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion in Europe_report by Sr. Andrea Tillmanns, RGS
Input from the Speakers:
1. Eric Marlier, Manager, European Social Policy Network
Introduction Current_contribution of the Europe 2020 strategy_Eric Marlier
2. Fintan Farrell, Acting Director, European Anti Poverty Network
EU Regulatory and Policy Framework on Poverty and Social Exclusion_Fintan Farrell
3. Simona Giarratano, Social Policy Officer, European Disability Forum
Disability Perspective_Assessing the EU Regulatory and Policy Framework on Poverty and Social Exclusion_Simona Giarratano
4. Paola Cammilli, Programme Officer Education and Training, Economic governance – ETUCE
The Role of Education in Creating more Tolerant and Less Discriminatory Societies in Times of Austerity_Paola Cammilli
5. Ides Nicaise, Professor, KU Leuven
Achieving the headline target on early school leaving by 2020_what impact on social inclusion_Prof. Ides Nicaise
6. Séamus Boland, Member & Rapporteur of opinion Fighting Poverty (SOC 530), European Economic Social Committee (EESC) & CEO, Irish Rural Link
Fighting Poverty_Actions and measures against poverty in the local context_The role of civil society in building stronger communities_Seamus Boland
7. Bart Vanhercke, Director, European Social Observatory
National Social Investment Strategies in the Shadow of the Economic Crisis_Bart Vanhercke
Additional report: CEIPA Report_23 February 2016
Prepared by Sr. Andrea Tillmanns, RGS
At the request of the Global Network of Women’s Shelters (GNWS), the Foundation of Women’s Shelters in the Netherlands and its partners organised from 3-6 November 2015 in Conference Center World Forum in The Hague, the 3rd World Conference of Women’s Shelters.
I was privileged to attend such an event where women and men, all around the world came to share their experiences and ideas with the ultimate objective of achieving an international approach to the prevention of violence against women and children. In total around a thousand people from over a hundred countries took part in the conference in The Hague.
The event was even more interesting and attractive by the presence of Her Majesty Queen Máxima. On the morning of November 4, 2015, Her Majesty Queen Maxima of the Netherlands held a keynote speech under the theme, Economic Independence of Women Survivors focused on the economic independence for women who face domestic violence which is the basis for building a new and independent life.
After the plenary session, Queen Máxima attended part of the ‘Effective social and economic reintegration of women survivors’ workshop.
Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary of Denmark also attended the conference on Thursday, the 5th of November. The crown princess gave a keynote speech during the plenary session entitled, Continents: What is Going On? Strengthening Global and Regional Networks. Through The Mary Foundation she works to help women and children who are victims of violence.
Read more here: Connect & Act_report from the 3rd World Conference of Women’s Shelters, November 2015
Sr. Adina Balan, CJ
International Women’s Day marked by the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) of the European Parliament
The EU Parliament in Brussels heard of the added traumas suffered by women refugees in recent months, in particular the practice of ‘survival sex’, where women are forced to have sex with the smugglers and mafia members transporting them to Europe from Turkey and Syria.
Survival sex among women and children is well-known, according to UN Women Regional Director for Turkey, Ingibjorg Gisladottir, but the incidence is hard to quantify as women rarely wish to record this for fear of recrimination and ‘dishonour’ among their families and communities.
Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (1997-2002) speaking at the European Parliament in early March has condemned as “unconscionable” and “inhumane” the failure of many EU states to solve the growing refugee crisis and is urging all EU member states to “share the burden” of the hundreds of thousands of refugees crossing into Europe every month.
Mrs. Robinson pointed out that women face far greater risks of “violence, exploitation and trafficking” and are more vulnerable on route to Europe. Please see http://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/femm/home.html for full information.
On the 3rd of March last, the Progressio Empower Team in London, held a photographic exhibition and a panel discussion, where they discussed their work in the context of the new Sustainable Development Goal for Gender Equality. They highlighted those who inspire them, their achievements in their fields and the challenges that remain around the implementation of this vital new Goal. Empower volunteers created this short film of the evening, to give us a flavour of the motivational discussion that took place.
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person
The 8th of March, 2016, marks International Women’s Day, when we honour the immeasurable contributions women make to humankind. This year’s theme “Pledge for Parity” reflects the need for the continued pursuit of gender parity.
Log on to www.internationalwomensday.
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person
The phenomenon of the 21st Century is the movement of peoples, whether by choice or otherwise. It is an extraordinary humanitarian emergency, where we are confronted with extraordinary challenges in trying to look for an adequate response. If we accept that migration is the ‘new normal’, then as Religious, we must ask ourselves: what is the Spirit asking us to do?
Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person attended the Conference entitled The Religious and Migration in the 21st Century: Perspectives, Response and Challenges, held in Casa Generalizia dei Passionisti, Rome from the 22nd – 24th February, 2016 and shares some insights from the Conference.
Report from The Conference_The Religious and Migration in the 21st Century_February 2016
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person
Amongst the winning films at the recently held Social Media Impact Awards (SIMA Awards), a number of films which cover the themes of exploitation of workers, prostitution, the migrant crisis in Europe and the ”jungle” at Calais, France were amongst the winners.
The films range in length from short (8 minutes) to full length (104 minutes), with the following being particularly relevant to our own work:
1. ”Dream Catcher” (104 minutes), about human trafficking, prostitution and exploitation. Awarded Best Director (Kim Longinotto).
2. ”The True Cost” (92 mins), about the human and environmental cost of the clothing industry. Jury Prize Winner & Special Mention Award.
3. ”Transit Zone” (32 mins), about refugees in Calais, France. Best Sound Editing Award and also received Special Mention.
4. ”Men Buy Sex” (8 mins), directed by Alice Russell. Best Creative Activism Award.
Video clips of the above are available on www.simaawards.org and also at info@truecostmovie.com
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person
“A Just Transition-Environmentally Sustainable Economies and Societies”
‘Time to share the wealth’; ‘New Economics’; ’Promoting environmentally sustainable economies and societies’; ’Bring people in from the margins’. These are just some of the statements that have been shared across the globe in recent days in honour of the World Day for Social Justice, 20th of February, 2016. International bodies such as the UN and the ILO (International Labour Office), Trade Unions and campaign groups took the opportunity to renew their calls for Social Justice to be prioritised by all governments and for a more equitable distribution of the world’s wealth, power and resources.
Increased armed conflicts around the globe and ensuing displacement of peoples, rising unemployment and growing levels of poverty continue to drive vulnerable women, men and children into the path of people smugglers and human traffickers as they try to pursue a better life for themselves and their families, usually in countries where they think the benefits of economic growth are available to all.
A new film The Divide (www.thedividedocumentary.com), which will premier in the UK in April, explores why and how the gap between the richest 1% in the world, continues to widen and what might possibly be done in order to end this trend. The film tells the story of seven individuals searching for a better life in modern day US and UK.
“The Divide creates a lyrical, psychological and tragi-comic picture of how economic division creates social division. It serves as both a call to arms, and a powerful waning. The film is inspired by the critically acclaimed, bestselling book, The Spirit Level, by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett.” (The Spirit Level documentary)
Social Justice is an issue at the heart of RENATE’s ministry, in reaching out to the victims of human trafficking and exploitation, across Europe.
For more information, please see the “Social Justice in the EU Index Report 2015” at Bertelsmann.
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person
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