Tag: women

columns2015

Violence against women not God’s will

Post author By Web administrator
Post date November 22, 2015

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI

“I…encourage you to continue your pastoral work, paying particular attention to the situation of women: promoting the role of women in society and fighting against abuse and violence toward women is also a way of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who chose to be born of a woman, the Virgin Mary.” (Pope Francis to Bishops in Mali, May 2015)

On Wednesday, November 25, the world will observe International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. “Everyone has a responsibility to prevent and end violence against women and girls, starting by challenging the culture of discrimination that allows it to continue.” (UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon)

Tags violence, women

columns2015

Women: playing our part to transform society

Post author By Web administrator
Post date June 6, 2015

Leela Ramdeen (centre) sits with Prof Rima Malek, Faculty of Education, Lebanese University, Lebanon (left) and Sr Constance O'Brien of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, a senior lecturer in the Dept of Social Development, University of Cape Town, South Africa, and other conference participants as they await the start of Mass on Pentecost Sunday. — Leela Ramdeen (centre) sits with Prof Rima Malek, Faculty of Education, Lebanese University, Lebanon (left) and Sr Constance O’Brien of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, a senior lecturer in the Dept of Social Development, University of Cape Town, South Africa, and other conference participants as they await the start of Mass on Pentecost Sunday.

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ (rcsocialjusticett.org) & Director, CREDI

From May 22-24, I attended an International Conference in Rome entitled: “Women and the post-2015 development agenda: the challenges of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
Over 100 women participated in the three-day event which was organised by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, in collaboration with the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations, and the World Women’s Alliance for Life and Family.
Although progress has been made in certain areas, the world will not successfully attain the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by September 2015. Currently, the UN is elaborating a new post-2015 development agenda and is consulting on 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), 169 targets and more than 400 indicators.

Tags event, women

columns2015

Women and developmental issues

Post author By Web administrator
Post date May 24, 2015

On this Pentecost Sunday, let us open our hearts and minds to allow the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, to work in and through us to renew the face of the earth. It is the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us that will make us credible witnesses.

Tags women

columns2015

Empower women, empower humanity

Post author By Web administrator
Post date March 7, 2015

March 8 is International Women’s Day. It is clear that if we empower women, we will empower humanity. Women are breaking through the proverbial glass ceiling in many countries. While we celebrate their achievements in various fields of endeavour, let us resolve to reach out in solidarity to the millions of women and girls around the world who continue to struggle to address social, economic, cultural and political challenges.

Tags women

columns2014

Empower the ‘girl child’

Post author By Web administrator
Post date October 11, 2014

“Empowerment of and investment in girls are key in breaking the cycle of discrimination and violence and in promoting and protecting the full and effective enjoyment of their human rights.” – UN Resolution 66/170

The world observes International Day of the Girl Child (girls under the age of 18 years) on October 11. The human rights of the girl child continue to be violated daily in every country. As Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said in his encyclical God is Love, “the Church must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice.”

Tags girls, women