Statements
This week the Holy See Mission delivered two statements at the UN.
Women's Economic Empowerment
in a Changing World of Work
Commission on the Status of Women
On March 16, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN, gave an intervention during the Sixty-First Session of the Commission on the Status of Women dedicated to the theme of “Women’s Economic Empowerment in a Changing World of Work.”
In his statement, Archbishop Auza said that women are treated more fairly in public and private institutions when the absolute equality of woman and man, with their important differences, is accepted and when the value they bring as women, both in the family and in the workplace, is acknowledged. Women’s dignity in the workplace, family and beyond must be protected and strongly affirmed, he said, and their feminine genius — women’s special capacity to care for others — unleashed. They must be given access to basic resources for caring, incorporated in pension and social protection plans, and defended against discrimination in promotions, pay, hiring, and parental or extended leave. Women should not feel pressured or forced, he emphasized, to sacrifice their maternal capacities and familial desires in order to hold a job or advance. Insofar as women’s unpaid work contributes to every country’s economic development and sustains the fundamental pillars of society, it must be better acknowledged and appreciated. Appropriately empowering women in every area of life and work, he concluded, strengthens and empowers all of society.
The statement can be found here.
Trafficking in Persons
in Conflict Situations:
Forced Labour, Slavery
and Similar Practices
Security Council
On March 15, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN, gave an intervention during the Security Council Open Debate dedicated to “Trafficking in persons in conflict situations: forced labour, slavery and other similar practices.”
In his statement, Archbishop Auza said that fighting the atrocity of trafficking in persons is one of the defining priorities of the papacy of Pope Francis. To eliminate human trafficking, the international community must eliminate its causes: extreme poverty, underdevelopment, exclusion, lack of access to education and employment, and especially wars and conflicts. All provide traffickers opportunities to exploit the vulnerable. Archbishop Auza decried the lack of serious efforts to punish those guilty of gross violations of human rights in Mesopotamia and to prevent arms and weapons of mass destruction from getting into the hands of armed groups who can use them to create the violent situations in which traffickers thrive. He also noted how the criminalization of the situation of undocumented migrants makes them far more vulnerable to exploitation. Up until now, Archbishop Auza emphasized, the response to trafficking in persons has not been commensurate to the plague. He urged much more to be done in raising public awareness, in coordinating a response among governments, the judiciary, law enforcement and social workers at the national and international levels, and in preventing and stopping armed conflicts.
The statement can be found here.
Upcoming Events
These are the events for which we are presently taking sign-ups. Due to heightened UN security, please be sure to register by the deadline, providing the name that exactly corresponds to your state-issued ID. More information regarding each event will be provided shortly. Please contact event@holyseemission.org with any questions.
March 22: Economically Empowering Trafficking Victims to Stay Permanently Off the Streets
3 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
UN Headquarters, Conference Room 11
RSVP at holyseemission.org/rsvpMarch22/Trafficking
March 23: Fertility Awareness and Women's Economic Empowerment
10 a.m. - 11:15
UN Headquarters, Conference Room 11
RSVP at holyseemission.org/rsvpMarch23/FertilityAwareness
March 23: The Distinctiveness of Woman's Work and Her Empowerment
3 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
UN Headquarters, Conference Room 11
RSVP at holyseemission.org/rsvpMarch23/WomenWork
May 10: An Evening with Raphael: Raphael's Art and Human Dignity
6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
UN Headquarters, Conference Room 4
RSVP at holyseemission.org/rsvpMay10
May 12: The Centenary of Fatima and the Enduring Relevance of Its Message of Peace
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
UN Headquarters, Conference Room 2
RSVP at holyseemission.org/rsvpMay12
Please join us for the 26th Anniversary Path to Peace Gala Dinner on Wednesday, May 24 at the Pierre Hotel. The 2017 Path to Peace Award will be presented during the dinner to Mario Cardinal Zenari, Apostolic Nuncio to Syria in recognition of his work defending Christians and other victims in the Middle East.
To register for the gala dinner, please visit holyseemission.org/PathtoPeace2017