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Solidarity for Peaceful Elections in Kenya February 21st, 2013
On March 4, the Republic of the Kenya will hold general elections. Catholic Task Force on Africa (CTFA), a coalition of Catholic religious communities and organizations in Washington D.C. has issued a letter of solidarity for peaceful elections in Kenya.
The CTFA statement of solidarity says,
Many remember the violence that erupted during the election of 2007. We encourage you, our brothers and sisters to reject any form of violence, refrain from hate speech and to avoid making ethnic tensions the center of this historic democratic exercise. We encourage you to use legal and peaceful mechanisms as you elect your next government.
The Missionary Oblates have a presence in the Kenya where they work in catholic parishes and operate development projects. United State Province Missionary Oblate JPIC office is a member of the Catholic Task Force on Africa.
Read the statement (download PDF)
Global Report on Trafficking in Persons February 20th, 2013
VIVAT International in New York has shared with us the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons issued by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODOC).
Did you know that of all persons trafficked, 76% are women and girls? 27% of those trafficked are children (of which 2/3 are girls).
OMI UN Update – February and March 2013 February 20th, 2013
The United Nations Commission on Social Development recently concluded its 10 day session in a call to give the poorest and most vulnerable populations the tools they need to lift themselves out of poverty
According to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s latest report on promoting people’s empowerment, nearly 80% of the world’s population is without adequate access to social protection, leaving those feeling powerless to improve their position. The report also states that while more than 600 million people have overcome poverty since 1990, 1 billion people are still struggling to reach that goal by 2015. Globally 200 million people were unemployed at the end of 2011, an increase of 27 million jobless persons since 2007 and 621 million young people are neither in employment, school or training nor looking for work.
Click here to read more »
WOLA Researchers Question Border Security Rhetoric February 20th, 2013
In a talk sponsored by the University of Chicago Human Rights Program, Adam Isacson and Maureen Meyer of the Washington Office on Latin America, a non-governmental organization which the Oblates support, said the voices in Washington calling for further buildup of border security mechanisms as part of comprehensive immigration reform are wrong. Their year-long study has shown them that what those voices call a “crisis” on the border, a “war-zone” with violent criminals, “illegal aliens” and terrorists streaming over the border into the U.S. does not exist on the U.S. side. The people in actual and terrifying danger are undocumented migrants passing through Mexico and crossing the border.
Read more about their findings here.
USCCB Launches New Campaign Against Human Trafficking February 20th, 2013
The USCCB Coalition of Catholic Organizations against Human Trafficking is developing a new initiative called The Amistad Movement. The campaign, which is being developed during 2013, will work on both prevention and helping people after they have been trafficked to reintegrate into supportive communities.
The Amistad Movement
If you are interested in partnering with USCCB to roll out any aspect of The Amistad Movement, or to contribute to the content development, please be in touch with the Anti-Trafficking Unit in the Migration and Refugee Services Department of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Email: MRSTraff@usccb.org
