Tag Archives: best practices

Catching a glimpse of Good Shepherd advocacy work from Paris to Indonesia, and from Washington to Santiago Chile.

An unusual moment to catch such a glimpse of advocacy work undertaken by Good Shepherd around the same time around the world.

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Cristina Durante and Catherine Mutindi were actively engaged in the OECD meeting in Paris. Director of Good Shepherd International Foundation , Cristina Duranti participated on April 17th together with Amnesty International and other panelists at #Cobalt session at #OECDminerals in Paris, to present our DRC program in Kolwezi and discuss abuses suffered by the most vulnerable in the cobalt mining communities.  Catherine presented on community-based approaches to ending child labour in Kolwezi during an NGO sponsored side event.  This side event was in collaboration with Care and Protection of Children – CPC Learning Network  Photographs are from Facebook.  Catherine is with the co-found of CPC Learning Network Mark Canavera.    Read more    See the documentary

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Once again children to the fore – now from Indonesia!  Congratulations to  Maria Anggelina, who  won Hermann Gmeiner Award 2018.  Maria Anggelina is an Administrative staff, Kindergarten of Good Shepherd Sisters, Batam, Indonesia 
Maria Anggelina is a champion for the cause of children and marginalised women in Indonesia. She is particularly active in trying to save children who have been trafficked to Batam, an island in Indonesia’s Riau Archipelago. As part of her work with the Good Shepherd Sisters, Ms Anggelina and a team cooperate with law enforcement, the military, social services and church organisations to combat human trafficking on the island. Thanks to their efforts, at least 40 victims have been rescued and returned to their home villages. Seeing many cases, especially ones where children from her own hometown have fallen victim, makes Ms Anggelina very grateful to have been cared for by SOS Children’s Villages Flores in Indonesia. She realises, if it were not for SOS Chlldren’s Villages, she could have been a victim of trafficking herself. By raising the awareness of parents and children, Ms Anggelina hopes to reduce the number of trafficking victims.  Read more

Washingon

The National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd are organizing a Human Trafficking Conference for Tuesday, May 15, 2008

In Santiago Chile, the regional preparatory meeting for the High Level Political Forum (HLPF) which will take place in New York, July 9-18, 2018 is presently happening.  The High Level Political Forum meets annually  to evaluate implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.   We have two members present at the meeting in Santiago – Marta Iris and Erika Sanchez.  Hedwig Joehl attended a similar meeting in Geneva.  Georgette hopes to attend in Beirut (April 24 to 26)  and Donatus will attend with the Sisters from Senegal at Dakar (May 2 – 4) the meeting for Africa.  Read more HEREErika 5

Click on – Video Clip

 

 

Celebrating women who are no longer left behind and Marietta Latonio who has made the difference.

A parallel event on Wednesday March 22nd entitled ‘Inherent Dignity, Real Choices: A Preventive Approach to Ending Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation’ celebrated women who are no longer ‘left behind’ and a woman – Marietta Latonio – who has made the differences.

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This was a collaborative event with Mercy International, UNANIMA International, the NGO Committee to Stop Trafficking in Persons, Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary and US Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking. The event was recorded and uploaded on You Tube

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Marietta Latonio, advocate, researcher, professor of social work, and monitor and evaluation officer at Good Shepherd Welcome House, Cebu in the Philippines was awarded a ‘Woman of Courage’ by Sr Jean Quinn, Executive Director of UNANIMA International in recognition of her work and dedication. It was stressed that she is a woman who gives of herself. Remember she co-researched with Angela Reed  ‘I Have A Voice Trafficked women – in their own words’

 

Inherent Digntiy 1

We were honored to have H.E. Mrs Irene Susan B Natividad, Deputy Representative of the Mission of the Philippines Mission to the United Nations attending the event. Later in the evening we discovered that Her Excellency is a niece of Sr Mary James Wilson RGS. Small world!

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Great pictures – Marietta, H.E. Mrs Irene Susan B Natividad (in the center) and Jean Quinn. Angela Reed – the moderator of the event standing in the back. The event opened and closed with a group named ‘Raging Grannies’ a socially conscious non-violent group who bring lots of fun and laughter to the cause. Lyrics to Love and Justice:

Chorus:  Love and Justice be my flag I’ll live my truth what e’re will be                                                    I swear that I cannot rest till there is equality Love and Justice be my flag                           I’ll live my truth whatever comes so many rivers to cross till our journey’s done

More connections – one of the members of the group worked as a social worker in Good Shepherd Services NY many years ago!  A central part of the event had the recorded voices of women from Welcome House, Cebu who are now empowered women through care and education.

Stories

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Mariana Vanin – Programme and Communications Officer of Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW) (pictured above) was a panelist with Winifred Doherty. Winifred noted the similairites in approach offered at Welcome House in Cebu and at Ruhama, Dublin Ireland.  The advocacy work of Ruhama was instrumental in the passing of the new sexual offense criminal bill whereby anyone who buys sex is prosecuted and women in prostitution are decriminalized. Prostitution is violence.

Congratulations Marietta!

Co-sponsors

Back Row – Angela Reed; Cecelia O’Dwyer; Jean Quinn.   Front Row – Mariana Vanin; Winifred Doherty; Marietta Latonio.

 

 

UN – High Level Political Forum 2016

HLPFThe High Level Political Forum (for those who love acronyms HLPF) starts on Monday July 11th.  Full details of all that will take place is on the website Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform  If you have a smart phone you can down load the app HLPF and have immediate access.  The website is only in English (apologies). The HLPF is the central platform for follow up of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  By clicking HERE you can see easily the sustainable development goals which is the subject of the review.  Commitment to implementation began in every country on  January 1, 2016.  The theme of this years’ review is ‘Ensuring That No One Is Left Behind.’   There are the official meetings of the HLPF and multiple side events.

Part of the official meeting is the presentation of 22 national reports on implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  Good Shepherd is present in 1o of the 22 countries -Colombia, Egypt, France, Germany, Madagascar, Mexico, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Switzerland and Venezuela. A direct link is HERE and the reports are in French, Spanish and English depending on the language of the country. (The French report is not yet posted)

Apart from inputs from governments there are inputs from Intergovernmental Bodies and Forums – including the Commission for Social Development,  Commission on the Status of Women,  Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women  (CEDAW),  Human Rights Council ,    Human Rights Treaty Bodies, International Labour Organization (ILO) and International Dialogue on Migration  These are points of contact that the GSIJP Office follow at the United Nations throughout the year. The full list can be accessed here

A third group is  Major Groups and Other Stakeholders   We are members of the Women’s Major Group and have signed on to that paper.  Click HERE  The paper is divided into six areas 1. Introduction; 2. The Women’s Major Group; 3. Addressing the systemic causes of ‘being left behind’; 4. Key areas of action for implementation, follow-up and review to ensure no one is left behind; 5.Ensuring that the Review of 2030 Agenda Leaves No One Behind; and 6. Conclusion.

The focus on addressing systemic causes of ‘being left behind’ is central to our work at the United Nations. ‘Identifying and responding to the intertwined systemic issues of neoliberalism, fundamentalisms, militarism, racism and patriarchy, and their correlation to inequality and gender inequality, are essential for the successful implementation o the 2030 Agenda and shout be an important focus of follow up and review processes at all levels…” and address the systems that negatively affect the lives and lived realities of all girls and women of all ages.

In section 4 there is a call for a) inclusion and participation of grassroots women’s organizations in planning, implementation and monitoring of the 2030 Agenda at the local and national level.  The advice of 19 year old Berryl from Kenya sums this up quite succinctly:        “Bringing girls and young women to the table during the discussions about the SDGs is important because girls are the experts in their own lives. Girls and young women in the communities should be taught about the SDGs and how they affect their lives so they can monitor the implementation and how well the governments are doing. I think that world leaders need to:

  •  Give better support to girl advocates by providing resources and encouragement.
  •  ….allocate budget[s] for implementation of the SDGs, especially Goal 5 and Goal 16.
  • Invest in girls and their access to education

An educated, empowered girl is good not only for the family but also for the community, country and the world.” 

b) Financing and capacity building for women’s rights groups at all levels.

c) Gender disaggregated data

Section 5 states that women’s groups must be meaningfully engaged at all levels of the implementation, follow up and review from the national level to the global.

We also have a voice in the Major Group of Non Governmental Organizations  See HERE

Another set of inputs can be found in Partnerships and Voluntary Commitments

GSIFThroughout the HLPF the GSIJP Office are using the brochure prepared by the Good Shepherd International Foundation ONLUS ‘Promoting Inclusive Development for Women and Children.’ highlighting  Participation, Empowerment, Livelihood and Human Rights in programs focusing on  community development and economic justice; child protection and education; girls and women’s empowerment; and migrant and anti-human trafficking.  See the brochure by clicking on the link

GSIF Promoting Inclusive Development for Women and Children

Good Shepherd International Foundation Brochure – Where are the SDGs?
How We Help

  •  Community Development and Economic Justice
  • “Projects to eradicate extreme poverty” (SDG 1)
  •   Market research, business training and planning, micro‐finance and micro‐credit to start micro-enterprises to raise level of income (SDG 8)
  •  Advocating to change unjust structures discriminating women and to break the cycle of poverty and exploitation (SDG 5)
  • Children Protection and Education
  •  “Programs protect and promote the rights of the most vulnerable children” in a holistic model of care
  • Psycho‐social assistance (SDG 3)
  • Nutritional Support (SDG 2)
  • Remedial education to be mainstreamed in the school system (SDG 4)
  • Awareness of human rights and activities for social cohesion and peace building (SDG 16)
  • Girls and Women Empowerment
  • Projects “help to achieve SDG no.5”
  • Engaging women and girls living in poverty (SDG 1), at‐risk of exploitation or victims of violence (SDG 16)
  • Counseling, psycho‐social assistance (SDG 3)
  • Reintegration in formal education (SDG 4)
  • Skills training, access to micro‐finance and micro‐credit, support to income generating activities (SDG 8)
  • Migrants and Anti‐human Trafficking
  • Programs to protect children, girls and women who have been trafficked or victims of commercial sexual exploitation (SDG 5, 8, 16)
  • Programs in border areas, where the rights of children, girls and women migrants are most at risk (SDG 8)
  • Psycho‐social support programs for children and women refugees (SDG 3)

March 8, International Women’s Day

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Pledge for Parity … read more

Happy-Womens-Day

Today Yolanda read the following statement at the Human Rights Council in solidarity with all trafficked girls and women throughout the world calling for a ‘Life Course Perspective’ to address the root causes of human trafficking .  Zelna Oosthuizen, link counselor from the Congregational Leadership Team to the GSIJP Office was present at the session.  This statement was make in collaboration with the Sisters of Mercy.

Yolanda

Call to Girls to Grade the Beijing Platform

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An on line or mail in survey is available for girls up to 18 years of age to complete in English, Spanish French, Portuguese and Arabic.

 

On Line Survey in 5 languages – Click here

Download hard copies of the survey here, complete and mail them to Working Group on Girls  777 United Nations Plaza, Suite 6E, New York, NY 10017.

If you would like to check what your country is saying visit this web page and insert the name of your country

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A Program that Works – NILS – Australia

Caroline Price, Mission, People and Culture Team, Australia shares the following story which was on commercial television last night about the No Interest Loans (NILS) program.

The program began in the early 1980s when the Sisters gave seed funding to start it.  Now it is a program worth millions of dollars and has the support of one of the national Banks and the Government.

Video Link Here      Congratulations Good Shepherd and NILS!

Concrete practical steps towards ending poverty!  ‘Fair and affordable finance and services’ and the last words from the commentator ‘A terrific caring service.’

Link to the Webcast of ‘The Girls Shout Out’ on International Day of the Girl

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Photo – The Working Group on Girls – Girl Advocates who presented the programme

The Girls Shout Out at the United Nations on October 10th was a great event celebrating the International Day of the Girl.  I hope that you will take time to look at it.  Click her for the webcast

Girls Speak Out 2014

 

Above girls who auditioned to be presenters of ‘The Girls Shout Out’ and were selected.

A World Where All Girls Can Reach Their Full Potential

Click on Ending Child, Early and Forced Marriage to see the webcast from the United Nations.  The event took place yesterday September 22 and was sponsored by Canada, Italy, Yemen and Zambia and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).  The Working Group on Girls through the Anglican Women’s Empowerment sponsored one of the panelist bringing her from Kenya.  Her name is Faith.  Listen to her address the UN Member States.  Well done Faith!  End FGM and Child, Early and Forced Marriage Now!

Preparations have begun for CSW 59

Preparations are already underway for CSW (Commission on the Status of Women) 59 tentatively scheduled for 9-20 March 2015. Read more   The Commission will undertake a review and appraisal of the progress made in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This will mark 20 years after its adoption at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995.   Member states have been invited to do a review.  Guidelines have been provided by UN Women in all 6 languages of the United Nations.   English     French    Spanish   Arabic   Chineese

It is a 13 page document with background and introduction and guidance on the content of national reviews proposing 4 sections.

  • Overview analysis of achievements and challenges since 1995
  • Progress in implementation of the critical areas of concern of the Platform for Action since 2009
  • Data and Statistics
  • Emerging priorities

Pages 11,12 & 13 outline the critical areas of concern and strategic objectives.

  • A. Women and poverty
  • B. Education and training of women
  • C. Women and health
  • D. Violence against women
  • E. Women and armed conflict
  • F. Women and the economy
  • G. Women in power and decision-making
  • H. Institutional mechanisms for advancement of women
  • I.  Human rights of women
  • J. Women and media
  • K. Women and the environment
  • L. The girl-child

In Africa, Member States have been requested to submit reports to UN Women and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) by June 30th 2014. This provides time for analysis and compilation of the regional report ahead of the review process scheduled to take place in November 2014.  FEMNET (Africa) make the following suggestions for engaging in the process.  See here for more details including   Ninth Regional Conference on Women (Beijing+20), which will take place 11–14 November 2014 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 

How to engage in the process?

Given the deadline for submission of country/national reports is 30 June 2014, please contact the Ministry of Gender or Gender focal in your country to make submissions and get involved in the process of developing the reports. Additionally, this is an opportunity to mobilize other women’s rights organizations to submit shadow reports following the submission of the national reports.

ESCAP (Asia Pacific) the date is passed April 15.   See   See more  Asian and Pacific Conference on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: Beijing +20 Review (17-20 November 2014)

ECE (Europe) date is passed May 1st See  The Beijing+20 Regional Review Meeting will be held on 6 – 7 November 2014 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

ESCWA: (Western Asia)  A consultative regional workshop is tentatively scheduled for April 2014. A high-level regional conference is tentatively scheduled to take place in June 2014, at a venue to be determined. – 

Already some national reports have been posted See drop down box

Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Ireland, Paraguay, and Senegal.

 

It is 8.25 p.m. New York time – still waiting for agreed conclusion from CSW 58

Since I wrote the caption it has been announced that the meeting will not start until 10.00 p.m.  Rosa G. Lizarde uploaded some pictures and send an update at 7.30 p.m.  At that stage the paragraphs relating to climate had been agreed.

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Some news is not so good for some key areas where women have already gained ground starting as back as 20 years ago! Other good news did filter in —- the news on the inclusion of climate change language comes like a cool polar vortex into the steamy corridor. The language adopted includes how the Commission “is deeply concerned that 
the adverse impacts of climate change on women and girls, especially those living in poverty can be exacerbated by gender inequality and discrimination.”  After 24 women’s tribunals on gender and climate justice, we know that the “can be” in the sentence above should be a definitive “ARE” exacerbate by gender inequality and discrimination.  Also, the CSW adopted language stating that “women and girls are disproportionately affected by the impacts of desertification, deforestation and natural disasters, persistent drought, extreme events, sea-level rise, coastal erosion and ocean acidification,…” see below
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We’ve been informed that the CSW will meet again in plenary in less than one hour to adopt the full Agreed Conclusions of the CSW 58. The Facilitator is currently drafting a Facilitator’s Text for the the final sticky paragraphs which include important issues we care about including but not limited to Comprehensive Sexual Education, child and early forced marriage, diversity and issues of sexual orientation and gender identity, women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights, and language of Post 2015 which some friendly governments who support a gender equality stand alone goal are being careful of having this language in fact limit in some way post 2015 language down the line in the Post 2015 process.

Climate Change language:  The Commission is deeply concerned that climate change poses a challenge to the achievement of sustainable development and that women and girls are disproportionately affected by the impacts of desertification, deforestation and natural disasters, persistent drought, extreme weather events, sea-level rise, coastal erosion and ocean acidification, and is deeply concerned that  the adverse impacts of climate change  on women and girls, especially those living in poverty can be exacerbated by gender inequality and discrimination, and expresses profound alarm that the emissions of green house gas emissions continue to rise globally, remains deeply concerned that all countries, particularly developing countries, are vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change and are already experiencing increased impacts, including persistent drought and extreme weather events, sea-level rise, coastal erosion and ocean acidification further threatening food security and efforts to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development and in this regard emphasizes that adaptation to climate change represents an immediate and urgent global priority. AD REF.
OP: s bis and t bis
Promote the integration of a gender perspective in environmental and climate change policies and strengthen mechanisms and provide adequate resources to ensure women’s full and equal participation in decision-making at all levels on environmental issues, in particular on strategies and policies related to the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events and slow onset impacts, including drought, ocean acidification, sea level rise, and loss of biodiversity on the lives of women and girls; and ensure a comprehensive approach to address the hardships faced by women and girls by integrating their specific needs into humanitarian response to natural disasters and into the planning, delivery and monitoring of disaster risk reduction policies to address natural disasters and climate change, and ensuring sustainable natural resources management.  AD REF  AD REF means language has been finalized. 
Based on agreed language in UNGA 68/212, Rio+20 66/288, CSW Agreed Conclusions 57, CSW Resolution 55/1
(Thanks Rosa for the update)