The theme for Caritas Internationalis’s celebration of International Women’s Day 2023 is “Embrace Equality, Encounter, Renewal”. This is part of Caritas ongoing commitment to the promotion of women’s leadership and empowerment.
This year, International Women’s Day falls during the UN’s annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which in 2023 will focus on technology and education. A small Caritas Internationalis delegation will be attending the CSW. This event will be hosted from the CI UN Liaison Office in New York.
One of the ways in which Caritas means to embrace equality, encounter and renewal is to engage in and encourage listening and dialogue between Caritas, Church leaders and communities, in order to raise awareness of the realities which women face today in different contexts. Caritas also wants to increase understanding of the Church’s teachings which support women’s leadership in a Catholic context, and inspire action at all levels, to remove barriers and create opportunities.
In this event, representatives from Caritas, the Church, and communities will reflect on equality between men and women, as a form of “social justice and political citizenship” which brings “real warmth” to the domestic hearth of communities and societies (FT 164). This will be a moment of encounter to show the importance of listening and dialogue on the topic of women’s empowerment in a Catholic context, and how and why Caritas, the Church and communities can and should work together to improve women’s access to education and technology, as well as recognise the knowledge and skills of women leaders in communities, and ensure their inclusion in decision making processes at all levels.
In Deus Caritas Est, Pope Benedict XVI indicated that the today’s signs of the times mean that Caritas must broaden its mission to address the multifaceted face of poverty: ‘Now that, through better means of communication, distances between peoples have been almost eliminated, charitable activity can and should embrace all people and all needs.’ (Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, 30a).
Similarly, Pope Francis closes Fratelli Tutti by making an ‘appeal for peace, justice and fraternity … that embraces all human beings, unites them and renders them equal.’ (FT 285). Caritas has a responsibility to hear this appeal and read the signs of the times to see where inequality exists and act to break down barriers, end discrimination and promote equality between men and women.
Data gathered and analysed in the Caritas Confederation during 2022 shows that women are yet to experience equity and equality with men, particularly when it comes to opportunities and access to senior leadership and governance positions, and participation in decision making processes. Caritas experience at the grassroots also shows that all over the world women continue to experience violence, disasters, conflict and social and cultural challenges, in ways which limit them from participating fully in society.
Despite these challenges, events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and other ongoing conflicts have shown us that women play a leading role in the life, health and safety of communities both during emergencies and in daily life. The contrast between the injustices which women experience, and their capacity for leadership and decision-making presents a gap which needs to be closed through active and sustainable change.
Pope Francis’s identification of charity’s capacity to engage in processes of historical change makes Caritas a well-placed agent at grassroots, regional and international levels to advocate for equality between women and men. On the other hand, our network is animating, mobilising and accompanying its members in the mission to improve the lives of the poor, through initiatives promoting equality. Peer learning, awareness of Church leaders and local communities, and sharing of good practices are crucial in Caritas work to empower women. This event, focusing particularly on the topics of women’s access to technology and education, is an opportunity to continue this walk together and make progress on the path towards equality.
International Women’s Day Webinar
Wednesday 8 March 2023
08h-0930h (New York time) / 14h-1530h (Rome time)
Moderators: Stephanie MacGillivray and Brianna Fitzpatrick
Agenda:
- Opening remarks from the Caritas Internationalis General Secretariat
- Introduction: Caritas and women’s leadership – Martha Skretteberg, Chair, CI Women’s Committee (EN/ES)
- Keynote speaker
- Robert Murphy – Holy See Permanent Mission to the UN – The role of the Church at local, national and global levels in achieving equality between men and women (EN)
- Listening and dialogue
- Andrea Sanchez, Theologian and Advisor to the Latin America Women in Church and Society Commission – Dialogue with the Episcopal Conference of Latin America and the Conference of Religious of Latin America (ES)
- The role of technology in women’s empowerment
- Fatima Sesay – Radio Nyapui, Sierra Leone (EN)
- Clarissa Paiva, Adviser to Caritas Brasil – MigraSegura Platform, a digital platform developed by Caritas Brasileira in partnership with Caritas Ecuador and Caritas Peru (EN)
- Women’s education
- Professor Fr Joseph Turay, Vice Chancellor, Catholic University of Makeni, Sierra Leone (EN)
- Caritas good practice
- A Caritas commitment to equality, encounter and renewal – CST booklet
- Moira Monacelli/Stephanie MacGillivray, Caritas Internationalis General Secretariat