February 2007

Reminder: Feb 1 event featuring board president, Jean O’Meara, in the New York area. (See below*)

Commission Statements Published:  UNANIMA International in collaboration with other NGOs has submitted  five written statements for the Commission on Social Development and four for the Commission on Status of Women.  Each of the statements relates to the major theme of its respective commission:  Decent Work and Full Employment for All (Social Development) and Elimination of Discrimination and Violence Against Girls (Commission on the Status of Women).  These statements which have been translated into the six official languages of the United Nations are posted on the UNANIMA International website:  www.unanima-international.org

 Commission meetings:  The Commission on Social Development meets from 9 -16 February 2007.  There will be a number of interesting parallel events on the theme of decent work for all.  If you are interested in attending any of these, consult the website

Any of the events listed for the Church Centre are open to the public.

The Commission on the Status of Women will take place from 26 February – 9 March 2007.  UNANIMA International will have more than twenty persons present for this session.  Among them we are sponsoring two delegates from Togo, two from Haiti and two from Peru.  We will provide more information in the March update.

 Visits to Australia and New Zealand: Catherine and the UNANIMA International web mistress, Frances Kendrick, leave for a three week trip to Australia and New Zealand.  While there Catherine will give three presentations on UNANIMA International and its work – particularly the work related to trafficking in human beings.  She will also be visiting with Sisters Anne Phibbs, Louise Cleary and the Brigidine Sisters as well as with Good Samaritan Sister Pauline Coll who collaborated with us on the Australian alternative report for CEDAW last year.

 UPCOMING CEDAW Reports: The following governments will be giving their reports at the 38^th session for the Commission on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) from Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Pakistan, Serbia, Syria and Vanuatu, from 14 May- 1 June 2007.  At the 39^th session, from 23 July – 10 August 2007, Cook Islands, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Estonia, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Liechstenstein, New Zealand, Republic of Korea and Singapore will be presenting their reports.  If your congregation has members in these countries, please consider preparing and presenting an alternative report.  Please contact Catherine at fergcf@earthlink.net for further information.

New Member Application for UNANIMA International:  The Daughters of Jesus, an international congregation founded in France with approximately 1300 Sisters serving in 12 countries has applied for membership. This application will be considered at the next board meeting in mid-March.  For further information about the Daughters of Jesus, consult their website at www.fillesdejesus.org

 Information needed for the NGO Committee on Social Development: In an effort to supply helpful information to the UN Commission on Social Development, the NGO committee has prepared a survey on the situation of decent work throughout the world.  The survey has been translated into four UN languages.  We ask your assistance in distributing the survey to those of your members who can provide answers.  The survey will be posted on the UNANIMA International website and also be sent with these updates.

 *For Members in the New York City area:

Please reserve the evening of 1 February to attend a panel presentation by 5 Holy Child sisters, among them UNANIMA International Board President Jean M. O’Meara.  The panel will focus on how the SHCJ charism of Incarnation is lived in their ministries today. Jean will be talking about UNANIMA-International and our coalition of women religious working together in addressing Trafficking. The panel will take place at 7:00 pm at Connelly Theatre (next to Holy Child Middle School) on East 4th Street. Click here for invitation information.