Introduction to GS Position Papers on Power Point format:
The priorities for ministry and mission of the 29th Congregational Chapter of the Sisters of the Good
Shepherd (2009) were expanded in 2012 into six position Papers using the topics of
Trafficking / Migration / Economic Justice / Prostitution / Girl-child / Ecology.
The Position Papers were prepared by the Good Shepherd International Justice Peace Office (GSIJPO)
and approved by the CGS Congregational Leadership Team (CLT).
The text of the Position Papers can be found on the International website at:
< http://www.buonpastoreint.org/jp-en/recursos/good-shepherd-congregational-material->
in French: <http://www.buonpastoreint.org/jp-fr/resources/matriel-de-la-congrgation-du-bon-pasteur->
in Spanish: <http://www.buonpastoreint.org/jp-es/recursos/good-shepherd-congregational-material->
This text has been put into Power Point Format (in English) as a flexible way of sharing with all GS People.
This Power Point format is a template that you can take and adapt, re-do, and use for your context and needs.
You can change images to better express your context; you can simplify language as helful.
You can be creative and use the Position Papers in many ways:
Discussion of GS mission in light of today’s realties
Review of local realities and priorities:
A foundation for chapter renewal and ministerial planning
A basis for setting province priorities
The ground work for Unit formation
Direction for GS ministry development and evaluation
Orientation for co-workers and partners in ministry
A starting point for local mission and ministry statements, policies & practices
Guidelines for advocacy actions
A framework for social analysis
Etcetera…
RESOURCE TOOL
FOLLOWING the GOOD SHEPHERD CONGREGATIONAL CHAPTER of 2009
Good Shepherd Position Paper
on
Economic Justice
“Inspired
by the creative audacity of
St. Mary Euphrasia,
her prophetic and radical response
to the needs of her time…”
Prepared by the GSIJPO, 2010
Approved by the CLT, 2011
This power point includes 2 sections
1.
slides #3 to #31
A Power Point version of the GS Position
Paper on Economic Justice
2. slides #34 to #48
Some current International Issues
on Economic Justice
You can change and adapt this
for appropriate use and training
on your local level.
The 25th Chapter, 1985
“urged new responses in relation to Social Justice…”
and declared that
“justice is an integral part of
our mission of reconciliation…”
“You are called to be so many Good Shepherds” SME
Good Shepherd Position on
Economic Justice
GS Direction, stated at the 29th Congregational Chapter, July 2009, excerpt:
We commit ourselves...
to respond to the anguish of the world calling us to the margins…
by taking courageous steps to use our international resources
effectively, to network and …
by working zealously with women and children, especially those…
oppressed by abject poverty.
We support projects for economic justice,
confront unjust systems and take a “corporate stance” when appropriate.
Modern Globalization has
resulted In decades of
economic expansion and the
concurrent increase of
peoples and communities
trapped in extreme poverty.
The Jubilee Year of 2000 announced a new millennium with a call
For the restoration of justice
For reconciliation among all humanity
For cancellation of all debts, in particular the unjust
national debts imposed by wealthy nations on nations
unable to bear debt burden.
However,
our economic systems and structures have
largely denied this call.
The new era has
begun with a massive
global financial crisis
which has reduced
millions to
inextricable poverty;
the gap between rich
and poor continues to
grow.
The disparity between
extreme wealth and
extreme poverty
threatens the dignity of human beings.
Extreme amassment of wealth and
refusal to share resources and material goods
are both cause and effect
of many social and spiritual ills.
The effects of poverty are insidious:
those in conditions of poverty suffer
social exclusion
malnutrition,
ill health,
unemployment,
illiteracy,
homelessness, and
constant anxiety for the future of their children.
Such degradation is a violation of Human Rights,
as attested by articles 22, 23, 25 & 26 of the
UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Women and
children bear the
heaviest burdens
of poverty.
They are subject to
desperate
victimization such as
trafficking and the
prostitution of
women
and girls.
GS has a vision
that all persons,
with special awareness
of women and girls,
ought to share
in the economic, social
and spiritual benefits
of our global wealth;
food, water, sanitation, shelter, health, education, and
social supports are for all.
Our commitment is based on JudaicChristian Scripture, Catholic Social
Teaching, the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, and the ethical code of
the “Golden Rule.”
GS stands with all persons of good will
who seek to eradicate poverty and
support economic justice.
We perceive this
as a call to
personal and
communal conversion,
aware of
our own wealth
and privileges.
We also understand
that there is a
prophetic call to
stand against the
systems and
structures of
economic injustice.
GS’s
first response to
economic justice
is to express
solidarity
with those who
live in conditions
of poverty.
Second,
we listen to the experiences of people,
accompany them,
develop holistic programs
to serve their needs,
and support the contributions
they make toward alternate policies.
Third,
we work to increase our capacity
to understand the dynamics of
global economic exclusion
so we can advocate effectively for
economic improvement
and
social transformation.
GS is committed to expand programs that
bring practical relief from poverty,
generate income for women, and
support grassroots actions that
empower communities and individuals.
GS continues to develop skills training, personal growth projects,
micro-enterprise projects, micro-credit schemes,
local co-operatives, international marketing
of goods, and a variety
of such projects as a
means to join with
women and their
families who struggle,
within the global
economic structures,
to find a way
out of poverty.
GS projects offer many forms of
social support and personal
empowerment opportunities.
Along with fulfilling the works of mercy
by service to those in conditions of poverty,
the eradication of poverty is
a moral and ethical responsibility of all.
It is imperative to be active in advocacy and
lobbying strategies
to address poverty and
to change dominant structures and systems
that threaten future generations with
the same vulnerabilities.
MDG
It is critical that GS:
-Develop sustainable strategies for
economic development in local
communities, in order to ensure that
income generation is direct,
practical, and effective for women
and families. This will include a
diversity of models, responsive to
local situations.
It is critical that GS:
It is critical that GS:
Support principles of Fair Trade.
They are essential to
ecological sustainability &
inclusion.
Among Fair Trade Principles are:
•Transparent and Accountable Relationships•Create Opportunities for Economically and Socially Marginalized
Producers –
•Build Capacity-
•Promote Fair Trade•Pay Promptly and Fairly•Support Safe and Empowering Working Conditions –
•Ensure the Rights of Children –
•Cultivate Environmental Stewardship –
•Respect Cultural Identity –
•Create Opportunities for Economically and Socially
It is critical that GS:
Increase our own
“consumer awareness”
link purchasing with
production and labor
rights.
Evaluate our
complicity with
unjust structures.
This
or
This?
Do you see a connection?
It is critical that GS:
Create and/or Participate in
networks and campaigns that call
for Economic Justice and inclusion
for all.
It is critical that GS:
Use the provisions
of Human Rights
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
- The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women, CEDAW
- The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination,
&
-The Convention on the Rights of the Child –
to increase public awareness of injustice.
It is critical that GS:
Advocate and lobby to support
Fair trade,
labor rights,
rights of laborers,
migrant’s rights,
sustainable environment, and
gender justice.
Winifred Doherty is the GS NGO representative
at the UN in New York.
She works, among other issues, on themes of
Social Development,
Poverty Eradication and
Social Protection.
Contact:
Winifred Doherty
NGO Representative – Economic & Social Council, New York
winifreddohertyrgs@gmail.com
Seethe latest news on her blog: http://gsijpoffice.com/
This power point was prepared November 2012
For information or questions, contact:
Clare Nolan, GSIJP Training Facilitator
211 East 43rd St rm 302
New York, NY 10017
Email: cnolan8345@aol.com
Phone: 212 599 2711
SKYPE: clarenolan62
http://www.buonpastoreint.org/jp-en
Links:
- The
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml
- The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,
CEDAW
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/cedaw.htm
- The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/cerd.htm
-The Convention on the Rights of the Child
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/crc.htm
slides #34 to #48
Some current International Issues
on Economic Justice
Social Protection
Social Protection
is an International
movement in support of
Economic Justice
Social protection consists of policies and programs
designed to reduce poverty and vulnerability by
-promoting efficient labor markets,
-diminishing people's exposure to risks, and -enhancing capacity to manage economic and
social risks, such as
unemployment,
exclusion,
sickness,
disability and
old age.
The ILO adopts the recommendation
on national social protection floors
four guarantees are:
-access to a nationally defined goods and services, constituting
essential health care that meets the criteria of availability,
accessibility, acceptability and quality
-basic income security for children, providing access to
nutrition, education, care and any other necessary goods and
services;
-basic income security, at a nationally defined minimum level,
for persons in active age who are unable to earn sufficient
income, in particular in cases of sickness, unemployment,
maternity and disability; and
-basic income security, at least at a nationally defined
minimum level, for older persons.
You can Support the Social Protection Floor
Sign the Petition:
Http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/signatur
e-campaign-social-protection-floor.html
GS works to promote the Social Protection Floor –
NGO rep Winifred Doherty presenting petitions
to the United Nations, 2012
In summary, the SPF is:
• Universal- It includes everyone
• Human Rights based
• Nationally owned and designed
• The first step in an ongoing process
of building human dignity
• Affordable by all countries
The Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights
The Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights
Based on international human rights, the Guiding Principles provide global
policy guidelines on the human rights of people living in poverty.
They are a practical tool for policy-makers to ensure that public policies
-reach the poorest members of society,
-respect and uphold their rights, and
-take into account the significant social, cultural, economic and
structural obstacles to human rights enjoyment faced by persons
living in poverty.
The Human Rights Council adopted the
Guiding Principles
at its 21st session in September 2012
The Principles can be accessed here
http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G12/154/60/PDF/G1215460.pdf?OpenElement
Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights
Extreme
poverty is
violence.
Let’s end it.
International Day
for the Eradication of Poverty
17 October
http://www.un.org/en/events/povertyday/
The International Day for the
Eradication of Poverty
has been observed every year
since 1993.
The UN General Assembly
designated this day to promote
awareness of the need to
eradicate poverty and destitution
in all countries, particularly in
developing countries –
a need that is a priority
for human dignity.
GS works actively on
Poverty Eradication
through the efforts of
our NGO representative at the UN in NY
Children's Art from around the world on the theme of
Poverty Eradication , 2007