News Archives » South America
January 11, 2011 – Human Trafficking Awareness Day January 5th, 2011
In honor of Human Trafficking Awareness Day, here are some websites to check out:
- Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center
- Stop Trafficking Newsletter
- End Child Prostitution and Trafficking
Google The Dark Side of Chocolate to find several websites that show how children in Africa suffer in the production of the chocolate we enjoy so much.
Human Rights Day Resource Available December 10th, 2010
The theme for Human Rights Day 10 December 2010 is human rights defenders who act to end discrimination.
Human rights defenders acting against discrimination, often at great personal risk to both themselves and their families, are being recognized and acclaimed on this day. VIVAT International has prepared a very useful resource for the occasion.
Urge Senators to Ratify the “New Start” Treaty December 8th, 2010
Pax Christi is asking members to Urge our Senators to approve the New START anti-nuclear treaty this year! As Catholics, we are motivated by our faith to protect people from indiscriminate and disproportionate weapons, including nuclear weapons.
Why is New Start so important?
• New START will reverse the US’s diminishing knowledge of Russian nuclear weapons. It has been almost a year since the expiration of the original START treaty, and since then there have been no inspections into either side’s nuclear arsenal. Under the new treaty, there will be 18 short-notice inspections each year.
• New START is a precursor to progress on additional weapons reductions. This includes reductions of tactical nuclear weapons, which are not covered by New START.
• Delaying New START will harm ongoing non-proliferation efforts. This treaty demonstrates our commitment to limit the spread of nuclear weapons. If the U.S. allows it to fail, we will lose momentum and the authority to lead on nuclear non-proliferation.
• Delaying New START will have a damaging impact on our relationship with Russia. This will affect a number of areas, including limiting Iran’s nuclear capabilities and supplying troops in Afghanistan. The Obama administration has worked to “reset” relations with Russia, and New START is a crucial component of that effort.
- Send your Senators an email
- Call your Senators via the Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121
- Organize friends, family, neighbors, and community leaders to make their voices heard.
What is the Catholic Church saying about the treaty?
Click here to read more »
Dream Act in Congress Today: Call Now! December 8th, 2010
The House is set to consider the DREAM Act (HR 6497) today. In the afternoon, the Senate is expected to vote on a cloture motion (to end debate and an anticipated filibuster on the bill) in order to bring it to the floor for a vote.
We urge you to call your congressional representatives NOW to ask for their support of an improved DREAM. Click to get the contact info for your Representative and Senators. They need to hear from you.
As you may know, this legislation – the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act — could provide access to legalization to tens of thousands of undocumented immigrant students.
Click here to read more »
New Protections for Migrant Domestic Workers Adopted at the UN December 6th, 2010
A high-level UN body has approved formal jurisprudence that elaborates the rights and practical recommendations for the protection of migrant domestic workers worldwide. In a vote on December 2, the UN Committee on Migrant Workers adopted the guidance in the form of a “General Comment” that interprets the 1990 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, one of the nine core international human rights treaties.
According to the International Catholic Migrant Commission (ICMC), “Domestic work accounts for as much as 10% of total employment in some countries, yet almost every country of the world excludes domestic work from its national labour laws and protections. Working in private homes, the workers are almost entirely unseen and unprotected. Estimates suggest that well over half of all domestic workers in many countries are migrant. As noted in the General Comment, “migrant domestic workers are at heightened risk of certain forms of exploitation and abuse.” Women, who are the vast majority of domestic workers worldwide, and child domestic workers are exceptionally vulnerable.”
