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A Silent Moment
| What’s
Going On in Asia? |
| INDIA |
|
Program
for Women and Recent Demolitions in Mumbai |
| PAKISTAN |
|
Human Rights
Education and Activists Training Program |
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NCJP
Initiates Peace Education Program |
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Statement
on Human Rights Issues in Pakistan |
| PHILIPPINES |
|
Logging Ban
Statement |
| SINGAPORE |
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International
Human Rights Day Forum |
Events
NCJP Celebrates its 20th Anniversary
6th JPW Meeting, 6-11 February 2005
Obituary: Founder of Amnesty International
Human Rights Education/Resources
Asian Training and Study Session on
Human Rights
John Humphrey Freedom Award 2005
Dignity Counts: A Guide to Budget Analysis
Resources on Migrants Issue
Issues of Concern
Global Call to Action against Poverty
Response to Asian Tsunami
JPW Exchange Corner
Fr. Ben of Philippines: busy in 2004
Solidarity: Theme for 2005
JPW Calendar 2005
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A
Silent Moment
Creator,
open our hearts
to peace and healing between all people.
Creator, open our hearts
to provide and protect for all children of the earth.
Creator, open our hearts
to respect for the earth, and all the gifts of the
earth.
Creator, open our hearts
to end exclusion, violence, and fear among all.
Thank-you for the gifts of this day and every day.
Alycia Longriver - 1995
(Native American)
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What’s
Going On in Asia?
India
Program for
Women and Recent Demolitions in Mumbai
The Federation of Centres for Community
Organisation organised a commemoration program on 3
March for Women and the Impact of the Demolitions in
Mumbai upon their lives.
Recognizing women's struggles to create a niche for
her family, going an extra mile to make arrangements
to feed, clothe and shelter her family, the program
honoured every mother, wife, sister, daughter, and
the unborn child girl, supporting her struggles in
solidarity and appreciates her selfless giving. On
the occasion of the International Women's Day (8
March) the program also honours those who have been
battered in the face of the inhuman demolitions,
which were carried out in many parts of Mumbai since
January 2005.
The commemoration program included sharing
testimonies of pain and anguish as homes are
flattened to the ground, sharing on Aapli Mumbai (platform
of NGOs) interventions in the process of demolitions,
and sharing of 2 recently arrested social activists,
Medha Patkar and Vidhya Chauhan, on struggles against
the government on the issue of demolition. The
meeting concluded with a signature campaign on the
demolition and collected more than 500 signatures.
Source:
DRTC - Justice & Peace Commission Mumbai
Pakistan
Human
Rights Education and Activists Training Program
Under the Human Rights Education and
Activists Training Program (HEAT), NCJP diocesan
offices organize training workshops to impart
concepts of human rights and working tools for human
rights activists. Trainees are engaged in fact-finding
and reporting of human rights violation in their
respective localities during and after the training.
During 1997-2004, HEAT has trained at least 813
volunteers.
Details of the HEAT workshops held in December 2004:
- In Rawalpindi:
The workshop was held at the Christian Study
Centre on 2-5 December 2004. There were 24
participants from Chakwal, Mianwali,
Rawalpindi/ Islamabad, Peshawar, Abbotabad
and Nowshera, facilitated by Mr. Peter Jacob,
Mr. Mehboob Sada, Mr. Samson Joseph, Mr.
Ashar Javed and Mr. Ajmal Hydayat.
- In Baluchistan:
A one day training program was held in Quetta
on 19 December 2004. There were 12
participants from different sects and
religions. Mr. Peter Jacob and Mr. Samson
Joseph were the resource persons.
Source:
National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP)
Pakistan
NCJP
Initiates Peace Education Program
NCJP has initiated the Peace Education Programme in
three cities: Lahore, Rawalpindi and Gujranwala since
January 2005. This pilot project aims to introduce
tools of non-violence and to engage individuals to
study the philosophy of non-violence. It is hoped
that they can practise these tools and principles and
initiate a wider debate in the society to explore the
rational basis of non-violence, conflict resolution
and peace building.
The following are details of the activities held
recently:
- Training
workshops on Peace-building were held at
Gujranwala and Rawalpindi on 7-9 January and
25-27 February 2005, respectively. 47 peace
volunteers participated in these workshops
and a similar workshop has been scheduled for
Lahore on 11-13 March 2005.
- Art
Exhibitions for Peace were held in Gujranwala
and Rawalpindi on 5 and 8 March 2005,
respectively. Students of ten schools from
each city have came up with their ideas of
promoting Peace in the society. The winners
of the Art Competition for Peace were awarded
with shields and certificates. Art Exhibition
for Peace and a seminar on "Pak-India
Relations; hurdles and solutions" have
been scheduled on 22 March 2005 at Lahore.
Participants of the Peace Building workshops
from Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Gujranwala and
civil society organizations have been invited
to the seminar.
Source:
National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP)
Pakistan
Statement
on Human Rights Issues in Pakistan
During the 6th JPW meeting at Rawalpindi, which
included exposure visits, discussions and meetings
with government bodies, a press conference was
organized on 10 February 2005 at Islamabad, to
highlight issues and recommendations to improve human
rights conditions in the country. The press
conference was presided over by the Archbishop
Lawrence John Saldanha. Representatives of print and
electronic media of Islamabad attended the press
conference and questions regarding the Hudood laws
and terrorism were responded to by the panel of
speakers.
Among the issues highlighted in the statement were:
violence and discrimination against women, conditions
for labour and political participation of the masses,
and peaceful resolution of on-going conflicts in
Baluchistan province. The following recommendations
presented:
- restoration of
joint electorate for local bodies' elections
- implementation
of all recommendations made by the National
Commission on the Status of Women in 2003
- repeal of
Blasphemy Laws
- establishment
of Permanent and Independent Commission for
Minorities
- concrete
program for the elimination of bonded labour
and implementation of broad-based
agricultural reforms
- appropriate
legislation to protect rights of women
domestic workers who are often exploited and
harassed
For a copy of the
press conference statement, click here.
Philippines
Logging Ban
Statement
The Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation
Commission of the Association of Major Religious
Superiors in the Philippines (JPICC-AMRSP) issued an
Official Public Statement, advocating its strong
opposition to all activities and projects that are
harmful to both the environment and creation, and
which are causing imbalances and destruction of the
forests. They call upon the legislators for immediate
enactment of a statute that will provide for a "Total
Log Ban" in the country, as opposed to the
current "Selective Ban on Logging." They
also call on Congress to pass a law repealing the
provisions of the Mining Act of 1995, which are anti-environment
and unprotective of the rights of Filipinos over
their own patrimony.
JPICC-AMRSP also supports the Statements of the
Religious of the Assumption (RA), Assumption College
and the signature campaign launched by the Haribon
Foundation calling, for the immediate enactment and
implementation of a "Total Log Ban and Mining
Ban" in the country. Haribon aims to collect ONE
MILLION signatures by Earth Day, 22 April 2005. To
support, please contact jpicc_amrsp@yahoo.com
An Anti-Logging and Anti-Mining Conference has been
scheduled to discuss responses to the typhoon
disaster affecting Quezon and Aurora last November
2004 that killed more than 1,000 people.
Although a total logging ban was imposed across the
country after floods and landslides blamed on illegal
deforestation, Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has
been forced to lift the ban in certain areas "to
help families dependent on logging earn a living."
In December, the Supreme Court allowed 100% foreign
ownership of major mining projects in the country,
after many years of moratorium on foreign
participation.
Source:
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission
of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in
the Philippines
Singapore
International
Human Rights Day Forum
The Annual International Human Rights Day
Forum, organized by the Think Centre, was held on 11
December 2004. The theme of the Forum is: "Constitutional
Rights and Citizenship Education" and it was
attended by 50 socially concerned students,
academics, professionals, civil society activists and
political party members.
During the Forum, Think Centre President, Mr. Sinapan
Samydorai, called for Human Rights Education
programmes in Singapore Schools, to understand human
rights beyond anti-violence and anti-discrimination
values, and the need for closer examination of civil
liberties in relation to the wide-reaching anti-terror
laws worldwide.
Key points of the discussion include: concept of
human rights not limited to the freedoms of speech,
association and assembly; the role of the state in
recognizing and advancing constitutional rights; and
the government's role to promote non-discriminatory
practices in employment opportunities. Concerns were
also raised by the floor on how to overcome
resistance towards human rights education and lack of
opposition in the Parliament. The panel urged them to
lobby and pressure Members of Parliaments (MP)to
raise the issue for parliamentary debates, to
overcome fear of identifying themselves with
campaigns driven by opposition political
associations, and to vote in more opposition.
The panel of speakers is comprised of panel chair Dr.
Tan Chong Kee; non-constituency MP, Mr. Steve Chia;
Think Centre Human Rights Defender Awardee, Venerable
JB Jeyaratnam; and President of the Disabled People's
Association (DPA) - also a Human Rights Defender
Award winner - Mr. Ron Chandran Dudley.
Think Centre believes that citizenship education is
the way towards a Singapore that is respectful of
human rights, rule of law and democracy. Looking
ahead, it is hoped that the ASEAN Framework for Human
Rights practices and education would be set up by the
targeted date of 2020 and that Singapore would play a
role equivalent to its economic status.
Full article and Think Centre's message on Human
Rights Education can be found at:
Citizenship Education the way to go!
Think Centre: International Human Rights
Day Message 2004
International Human Rights Day UN Sec
Gen Message
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Events
The following are
excerpts from various sources and information
channeled to ACPP-Hotline Asia.
NCJP
Celebrates its 20th Anniversary
National Commission for Justice and Peace -
Pakistan (NCJP) completes its 20th year in 2005. A
ceremony was held on 11 February 2005 to mark the
anniversary and was joined by JP Workers from Asia,
Oceania and the Netherlands. NCJP Chairperson
Archbishop Lawrence J. Saldanha, the Apostolic Nuncio
Most Rev. Alesendro D'Errico, Bishop Anthony Lobo,
Bishop Joseph Coutts and the German Ambassador were
present at this occasion.
Executive Secretary, Mr. Peter Jacob, presented an
overview of NCJP's contribution for the protection
and promotion of Human Rights during past 20 years in
Pakistan. He expressed gratitude on behalf of
Pakistan Catholic Bishops' Conference for the support
of its partner NGOs and other national and
international network organizations. He said that the
human rights movement in Pakistan needs much more
cadre of activists than what it has now.
Sr. Filo Hirota (Japan), Mr. Victor Scheffers (JP
Netherlands), Ms. Linda Noche (ACPP, Hong Kong), Mr.
Cecil Chaudhary, Most Rev. Bishop Anthony Lobo, and
Fr. Bonnie Mendes (former Executive Secretary of NCJP)
presented their views and encouragement on the
services of NCJP.
Most Rev. Alesendro D'Errico the Apostolic Nuncio
read out the message of the Holy Father Pope John
Paul II. National Director of NCJP, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel
Yousuf, paid a tribute to the efforts of Bishop John
Joseph (late) the founder Chairperson of NCJP. He
said that in his life, the late bishop continued to
raise his voice against the discriminatory laws and
all forms of discrimination in Pakistan.
His Grace Lawrence John Saldanha, appreciated the
efforts of the Commission for the promotion and
protection of human rights in Pakistan and assured
the Commission of every possible support of Pakistan
Catholic Bishops' Conference.
Plaques were given to NCJP partner organizations (national
and international), activists and the staff.
Source:
National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP)
Pakistan
6th JPW
Meeting, 6-11 February 2005
The 6th Justice and Peace Workers (JPW)
Meeting of Asia was held at the Christian Study
Centre, Rawalpindi, Pakistan on 6-11 February 2005.
There were 26 participants from 11 countries,
including the Asian Center for the Progress of
Peoples, Conference of European Justice and Peace
Commissions and Pax Christi International. Archbishop
Lawrence J. Saldanha, of Lahore and Chairperson of
the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP)
Pakistan, was also present. The meeting was hosted by
the NCJP and co-organized by the team appointed
during the 4th JPW meeting in 2003, Colombo.
The theme for this year is "Pakistan in the
Changing Global Scenario" and the program
included: input on the Pakistani human rights
situation and characteristics, meeting with the civil
society as well as Minister and Commission
Chairperson, exposure to village communities, slums
and the nationalization of Education in Pakistan,
discussion on action plan, a press conference at
Islamabad, and cloconcluded with the NCJP's 20th
Anniversary celebration program on 11 February.
The JPW participants also reviewed the aims,
structure, and future course of action, concluding
with the following understanding:
"The Justice and Peace Workers Asia-Pacific
Forum is a proactive network of solidarity among
women and men working with Catholic Justice and Peace
organizations and affiliated groups and organizations
in the region. The forum meets periodically to
reflect on Justice and Peace work to share
experiences and information and to organize a common
action plan to meet the needs of the time. Those
organizations working for Justice and Peace outside
the region can be invited to the forum for the
meeting and solidarity action."
The action plan, based on the identified actions
requiring solidarity by the group are: Peace
initiatives and activities (South Asia); fact-finding
mission on military bases in Japan and South Korea (East
Asia); and Pastoral letter and message on migrants'
situation (South East Asia). They also agreed to
contribute to a JPW Calendar on events in each
country.
A co-organizing team was formed, to be main contact
persons to follow up the action plan per sub region
and input for the JPW Bulletin, and to co-organize
the next meeting which was proposed to be held in
2006. The new co-organizing team is composed of Mr.
Samson Salamat (Pakistan/South Asia), Mr. Sinapan
Samydorai (Singapore/South East Asia), Ms. Lina Chan
(Hong Kong/East Asia), Mr. David Tutty (New Zealand/Pacific)
and Ms. Linda Noche (ACPP-HL/Regional).
For the "Memorandum" issued at the
conclusion of the meeting, please click here.
Obituary:
Founder of Amnesty International
Peter Benenson, founder of Amnesty
International (AI), was born on 31 July 1921. He died
on February 25, 2005, aged 83.
AI is the largest and most influential independent
human-rights organisation, and a nagging thorn of
conscience in the side of dictators - and dictatorial
governments - all over the world.
The idea of AI came from Benenson's outrage at the
jailing and sentencing of 2 Portuguese students in
1960. Their crime was to have toasted for freedom in
the military dictatorship of Antonio Salazar in
Portugal. He sat in the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields
for nearly an hour and thought hard how to mobilise
public opinion. "It was necessary," he
later wrote, "to think of a larger group which
would harness the enthusiasm of people all over the
world who were anxious to see a wider respect for
human rights."
This was the beginning of encouraging individuals to
bombard governments with letters on behalf of
individual victims of torture or prisoners of
conscience, demanding they be freed.
He began amnesty as a one-year campaign for the
release of six prisoners of conscience before it grew
into a worldwide movement for human rights. The
appproach was simple - local amnesty groups adopted
prisoners of conscience and pestered governments to
release them while also writing letters of support to
the prisoners themselves. This mechanism, described
as parochial, low-key, frugal, committed to working
across ideological, religious and recial coundaries -
is amazingly effective…
According to long-time friend and foundation member
of Amnesty, Hugh O'Shaughnessy, Benenson was a
converted Catholic and "... in his life, he was
living Catholicism in action." He also gave each
one an opportunity to make a difference, with letters
flooding prison cells, giving the "prisoners of
conscience" confidence and courage.
Source: South China Morning Post
The Times, London
Sunday Examiner http://sundayex.catholic.org.hk/fe/fe050313.html
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Human
Right Education/Resources
Asian
Training and Study Session on Human Rights
The 9th Annual Asian Training and Study
Session on Human Rights, organized by the Asian Forum
for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and the
Center for Social Development Studies (CSDS), Faculty
of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University, will
take place on 9-29 October 2005 at Chulalongkorn
University in Bangkok, Thailand. The purpose of the
study session is to provide a comprehensive human
rights course for activists in the region.
It is open to applicants from all countries in the
Asia region, especially persons working in the field
of human rights, social justice, development and
peace. The program will accept 25-30 participants.
Deadline of application is 15
April 2005.
For information and application please contact:
Ms.Angkana Krabuansaeng
Capacity Building Unit, FORUM-ASIA
111 Suthisarnwinichai Road, Samsennok
Huaykang, Bangkok 10320 Thailand
Tel.: (66 2) 276-9846 Ext. 155
Fax.: (66 2) 693-4939
E-mail: angkana@forumasia.org
Web site: www.forumasia.org
Or go to:
http://www.forumasia.org/Training/HRT2005.html
http://www.forumasia.org/ExecutiveCommittee.html#Cap
John
Humphrey Freedom Award 2005
Rights & Democracy is accepting
nominations for the John Humphrey Freedom Award,
presented annually to an organization/person who has
made an outstanding contribution to the promotion of
human rights and democratic development. The award
consists of a grant of CAD$25,000 and a speaking tour
of Canadian cities to help increase awareness of the
recipient's human rights work. The deadline
for nominations is 15 April 2005.
For information, eligibility criteria or copy of the
pamphlet, please contact Anyle Coté at acote@dd-rd.ca or go to website: www.dd-rd.ca
Source:
Rights and Democracy
Dignity
Counts: A Guide to Budget Analysis
"Dignity Counts: A guide to using budget
analysis to advance human rights" an 84-page
publication, uses a real-life case study to explore
how budget analysis can be used to assess a
government's compliance with its human rights
obligation and to arrive at specific, concrete
recommendations related to the government's budgeting
and expenditures that, if implemented, would improve
the human rights situation.
Dignity Counts, produced by Fundar-Centro de Análisis
e Investigación, the International Budget Project (IBP)
and the International Human Rights Internship Program
(IHRIP), focuses on the right to health in Mexico,
but the analysis used is applicable to other human
rights, such as education and housing, and to other
national contexts. The publication describes the case
study (which focuses on health care services
available to the informally employed and unemployed
in Mexico), and includes a section on human rights
and budget analysis to a specific situation, a
detailed discussion of how this thinking process is
applied to the case study, and a section on using
budget analysis for human rights advocacy.
To order a copy, please contact IHRIP at ihripescr@iie.org
To access online copy please go to IHRIP Publications
page:
http://www.iie.org/Website/WPreview.cfm?CWID=336&WID=171
Resources on Migrants Issue
International Migrants Day is celebrated on
18 December. On this day in 1990, the United Nations
adopted the International Convention on the
Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and
Their Families In.
The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
recently published its annual survey, of which the
second part addresses trends and policies regarding
international migration. The report can be found at:
http://www.un.org/esa/policy/wess/index.html
Source: Pax
Christi International - Newsletter, 1 January 2005
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Issues
of Concern
Global Call to Action
against Poverty
Global Call to Action against
Poverty (GCAP) is a worldwide alliance
committed to making world leaders keep their
promises, and to making a breakthrough
against poverty in 2005. It is a gathering of
hundreds of organisations from diverse
backgrounds all over the globe, from trade
unions to religious groups and from the
biggest international coalitions to the
smallest civil society organizations.
The alliance calls for a shift in national
and international policies to eliminate
poverty and to achieve and exceed the
Millennium Development Goals. Demands include:
Trade justice
Debt cancellation
A major increase in the
quantity and quality of aid
National efforts to
eliminate poverty and to reach the
Millennium Goals that are developed
and implemented in a way that is
democratic, transparent, and
accountable to citizens
GCAP believes that, to overcome
poverty, people need to sustain themselves
with productive work, not to be hampered by
unfair money lending practices. Aid must
reach those who really need it. Poor
countries need their debt to be cancelled and
be free from unfair trade rules. Therefore,
national and local policies and practices
must be set by citizens themselves; their
governments must be accountable to them; and
international systems must be supportive, not
obstructive.
If all of those around the world who want
world leaders to do more to end poverty speak
together at the same time, world leaders will
have to act.
Nelson Mandela recently told a crowd of 22,000
people in London: "The Global Call to
Action against Poverty can take its place
alongside the movement to abolish slavery and
the international solidarity against
apartheid. I am proud to wear the white band,
the symbol of this global call to action."
All are invited to join in to end poverty -
wear a white band - get involved, spread the
word! For more information, please visit: www.whiteband.org
Response to Asian Tsunami
Since the Asian Tsunami of 26 December 2004,
the following efforts were undertaken by
different JP Commissions: (information as of
January 2005)
In India (Tamil Nadu)
As human rights violation related to the
Tsunami was not the priority of organizations
undertaking the much needed relief work,
rehabilitation and reconstruction, the
National Commission for Justice and Peace and
Development (NCJPD) is setting up a team of
Tsunami Human Rights Watch Cell, working
mainly in Tamil Nadu, especially victims in
the coastal areas. It will focus on
monitoring incidents and how far the funds
are reaching the poor and needy. Attention
will be made on the human rights violations
against the on the basis of Caste and creed.
The proposed team members include pesonnel of
NCJPD, Tamil Nadu Directors, media and human
rights persons and from the Franciscan
International India Cell.
The need to look into the procurement of
identity documents, ration cards, school
certificates, and baptismal documents, was
also identified and the team will concentrate
on these.
The Hotline India-Delhi office will
collaborate with the team and prepare for
Urgent Appeals, if necessary.
The NCJPD forsees this as a beginning of the
Human Rights Watch Cell in every state,
collaborating with the Lawyers Forum.
In Thailand
While the Catholic Church in Thailand has
mobilized and set up a relief mission right
after Tsunami hit the six coastal provinces
along Andaman Sea, such as setting up
temporary camps, disseminating necessary
goods, and collecting data on short and long-term
needs of the affected people, the Catholic
Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP-Thailand)
decided to focus on two special aspects: the
affected migrant workers in the area, and the
land and housing dispute raised after the
tragedy.
CCJP-Thailand observed that within
government's plan on reviving tourism
industry and boosting investment in the
affected area, the migrant workers, with or
without proper document, were not granted any
assistance, especially the Burmese. They were
also caught as robbers when searching food at
the devastating areas. CCJP monitors such
information, and seeks collaboration with
organizations working directly on the issue.
After leaving the area where Tsunami hit, the
villagers at Layan village, Phuket Province,
were not allowed to return to their land, and
even threatened by the landowner or
investors, who accused them of encroaching
the land. CCJP-Thailand is following up
closely with the land and housing dispute
case, and collaborating with the lawyer to
assist the villagers.
Source:
Catholic Commission for Jusitce and Peace(CCJP)
Thailand
In Sri Lanka
The Social and Economic Development Centre (SEDEC-
Caritas Sri Lanka) reponded immediately to
the Tusnami by reaching out to support as
many affected people as possible, through its
Diocesan Centres at Galle, Trincomalee,
Batticaloa, Jaffna and Vanni. Refugee camps
and immediate releif interventions were
organized at the coastal areas. The greatest
need was to provide basic shelter for those
displaced, like tents to house people on a
short-term basis.
In the medium and long term plan, SEDEC has
identified 4 areas: permanent shelter for the
victims; income generating actrivities for
those who lost their livelihood; training and
capacity building; and support for women and
children.
Another special need identified was trauma
counselling, for which they also have
immediate, mid-term and long-term plans:
starting from progammes in trauma counselling
at national level to all affected, to
establishing group leaders from the clergy,
youth and animators in the mid-term, and to a
follow up program, with monitoring and
evaluation in the long term.
It is expected to take at least three months
until displaced people are able to return to
their homes, while long term recovery will
take at least two years.
Source: Asia Partnership for Human
Development (APHD)
interview with SEDEC Director
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JPW Exchange
Corner
Fr.
Ben of Philippines: busy in 2004
In June 2004, Fr. Ben finished his
apprenticeship program at the Center for Family
Ministries (CEFAM) and was invited to be a full time
staff at the Centre. This is in addition to his
responsibilities in justice and peace work with the
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission (JPICC),
Kaalagad Katipunang Kristyano, Task Force Detainees
of the Philippines (TFDP), and other counselling
duties.
In the later part of the year, he was invited to the
20th Anniversary celebrations of the Philippine-German
Ecumenical Conference, where he shared on "Economic
Globalization: Boon or Bane for the Poor in the
Philippines." He also attended a five-day
conference with the families of involuntary
disappeared from ten Asian, European and Latin
American countries, organized by the Federation
against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD). He
assisted in counselling the families in hope that
they can echo their experiences in their respective
countries and help other families to go into the same
process. For more information of these meetings, you
may address your questions through hotline@acpp.org or contact Fr Ben directly.
Fr. Ben Moraleda was a participant of the JPW
networking meetings in 2001 (Manila) and 2003 (Colombo).
The information is from his Christmas Message of 2004.
Solidarity:
Theme for 2005
The Ursuline JPIC Commission met in Rome on
13-19 December 2004 to share experiences and analyze
reports from each province and to articulate their
goal for 2005. After consideration of many ideas,
they came up with nine issues on which to focus on,
in hope of strengthening their unity as a worldwide
institute striving to bring peace to the world.
At the Millennium Summit in September 2000, United
Nations Member States agreed to the following eight
goals to reduce poverty and improve people's lives.
Therefore all sisters were reminded to keep the
following goals in focus:
1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/Aids, malaria and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for development
Source:
Ursuline Commission of Justice, Peace and the
Integrity of Creation newsletter, Issue 1, January 1,
2005
JPW
Calendar 2005
| July 1 |
Mass Demonstration (HK) |
| August 6 and 9 |
Hiroshima and Nagasaki Day (Japan) |
| August 15 |
Exchange Program for 60th
Anniversary of Liberation of Korea (Korea) |
| September 23-25 |
National Concention on Justice and
Peace (Japan) |
| December 9-10 |
Pre-WTO Conferences (HK) |
| Decmeber 13-18 |
WTO Ministerial Meeting (HK) |
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