April 2006

February 28- March 10 –Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)- The NGO committee on HIV/AIDS chaired by Catherine, together with the NGO committee on Indigenous Peoples, co-sponsored a side event in which an indigenous woman having AIDS shared her personal experience of dealing with doctors’ rejection, social stigma, and lack of access to proper treatment.  She also witnessed about her commitment to devote the rest of her life to improve the condition of AIDS patients and work for its prevention among her people. 

 In line with the Beijing Platform of Action which contains article #6 dedicated to “Girls”, the Working Group on Girls worked hard during the commission to ensure that the term “Girls” would be included in the final agreed conclusions document.  At least on the theme “Equal participation of women and men in decision-making process at all levels” there was success.  While the first draft  spoke only about women in general, the approved statement used the term “girls” eight times, mainly in reference to adequate education, training, removing stereotypes and avoiding violence against them. 

 March 10-11 - UNANIMA International Board Meeting.  Thanks to the invitation of Cabrini board member, Veronica Piccone, all board members gathered for the meeting at the newly opened Cabrini Apartments, 220 E. 19^th Street, New York, N.Y.   for two full days. As guests we had  Maria Vigna, NDS, presenting the application of the Congregation of Sisters of Sion, and Maureen Foltz, CCV, liaison of the Carmelites of Charity Vedruna who will replace Ana as  Board member in June.

 At this meeting The 14^th congregation, Notre Dame de Sion (NDS), joined UI.  Their motto “Never Again” referring to the holocaust led them to request joining UI in order to be more connected to world-wide efforts against genocide.  Through them, we are extending our UI presence to Israel and Eastern Europe, among others.  A main part of the meeting was devoted to advance the planning of a ‘campaign on the demand’ for trafficked victims which we started working on during the last Board meeting.

 Human Rights Council  Approved -15 March 2006-  After six long months of negotiations, we have finally a Human Rights Council at the UN. The Council will be responsible for promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind and in a fair and equal manner( General Assembly resolution).  It will replace the Human Rights Commission.  It will retain the positive aspects of the later, especially (and this is of great interest to all NGOs) the openness to NGO contributions.  There will be some improvements in the manner members to the Council will be elected (by the general Assembly with a minimum vote of 96 countries) and the requirements to be a candidate (a good record in Human Rights).  There will be more meetings (3 times a year, a total of 10 weeks); and a new system of universal periodical  review for all countries, starting for those who will become members of the Council. For more information about the new Council, see the the UN web site:  www.un.org, in the Human Rights site.

 Catherine in Africa.  Right after the UI Board meeting, on 12 March Catherine left the USA to meet UI members in the African countries of Lesotho, Nigeria and Cameroon. She will be back in the USA for Easter Sunday.  In the May UPDATES  she will share her experiences.  Meanwhile, she writes that she has had very fruitful visits with the Holy Names Sisters in Lesotho and with the Religious of Jesus and Mary and the Society of the Holy Child Jesus in Nigeria.