Promoting a culture of encounter in which women’s experiences and expertise are valued and included in the development of just societies; exploring the sociological, ethical obstacles, challenges and opportunities concerning women’s participation in leadership and decision making at all levels; listening to the concrete experiences of Caritas in working with women wherever they suffer, struggle and hope for a better future, in order to shape the principles and best practices that allow for the flourishing of the full face of humanity.
These are the aims of the two-day conference organised by Caritas Internationalis and the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to UNESCO on the 27th – 28th of October, hosted by UNESCO. The event titled, “The Full Face of Humanity: Women in leadership for a just society”, will bring together more than 30 speakers from around the world to discuss these key issues.
Children sit in class in the Caritas-supported Bulakipur Lighthouse school in Dinajpur District, Bangladesh.
The conference will take place at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris and live-streamed on the Vatican News YouTube channels in English, French, and Spanish.
The first day of the conference will be dedicated to key issues affecting women’s participation and leadership as well as to taking stock of concrete situations related to poverty and violence. On the second day, discussions will focus on pathways necessary to create opportunities and also better conditions for women’s full involvement and participation for a just society. Issues such as violence against women and girls, conflict and peacebuilding, education and capacity strengthening, as well as valuing community and grassroots leadership will also be addressed.
The event will be opened with a keynote address by the Secretary of State of the Holy See, HE Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Among the panellists are Sr. Alessandra Smerilli, Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Dr. Tabassum Yousaf, a lawyer at the High Court of the Sindh Province of Pakistan, along with various Caritas representatives, such as Fr Vyacheslav Grynevych, Secretary General of Caritas Spes-Ukraine and Sr Regina Ignatia Aflah, Coordinator for Human Rights and Justice, Caritas Ghana.
Additionally, a number of speakers will provide testimonies of their personal experience, like Hayat Sindi, from Saudi Arabia, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for education, and Mariam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, from Sudan, who was sentenced to death for apostasy in 2014.
The promotion of women’s leadership and participation in decision-making is a key priority for Caritas Internationalis, which is the “charitable arm of the Catholic Church”. The conference hopes to provide a profound and careful reflection, as well as a way forward in undertaking local, regional and global action in order to shape a more just society.