The Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada is leading the global voice of Sisters of St. Joseph throughout the world to send an urgent message to the United Nation’s Commission for Social Development’s 53rd Session Feb. 4-13, 2015. Their message presses the commission to consider priorities in “strengthening social development in the contemporary world”. It also calls upon the commission to enact policies that create comprehensive protection of the rights of all migrants.
The Sisters’ statement, “The Overview to the Statement on Migration to the United Nations” cites Article 2 of the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”: “Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration without distinction of any kind”. Concerning this claim, the submission points out, “Such rights are only as strong as the commitments of governments to uphold them, and the Congregations of the Sisters of St. Joseph are disturbed by practices and policies that weaken these rights in the countries where we live and work. This pattern is particularly evident with regard to rights that apply to migrants and refugees”.
The submission also outlines concerns with a host of other social problems, including refugee resettlement, human trafficking, climate change and the politics of xenophobia.
Sr. Sue Wilson, is the director for the Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada Office for Systemic Justice and principal writer of the statement that was submitted to the United Nations. The submission represents over 10,000 CSJ Sisters in 49 countries of the 6 continents in the world. The Congregations of St. Joseph are a Non-Governmental Organization with General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council at the United Nations.
With the UN’s endorsement through the Commission, of the Sisters’ plea for a fair and just interpretation of refugee rights and the rights of so many other marginalized people, the Sisters hope that all levels of government as well as ordinary citizens will again embrace their responsibility to love and assist the dear neighbor in need.
Click on link to read more: “St. Joe’s Sisters spearhead call to protect migrants”
Jean Moylan CSJ