Office For Global Concerns

On March 21, in coordination with Ecumenical Advocacy Days, tens of thousands of people will gather on the West Lawn of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. at 2 pm to send a powerful message to President Obama and to Congress: The time to fix our broken immigration system is now.

People of faith and others who support immigrants and their families will join in the March for America: Change Takes Courage and Faith. The moral urgency of repairing the broken immigration system can only be seen in a dramatic display of unity among supporters of immigration reform as gather in D.C. from all across the United States.

Throughout 2009, people of faith hosted prayer vigils and potluck suppers, met with members of Congress in their home districts, created networks with other faith groups, labor groups, and businesses, building the historic movement for just and humane immigration reform. People of faith have been building this movement in order to meet the fierce urgency of this moment with bold, faithful action. We stand on the edge of making history and now is not the time to step back, give up, or let down. Now is the time to move ahead stronger than we ever have.

The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns joins many of our colleagues and invites you to come to Washington, D.C. on March 21. Now is the time to make history, to make our voices heard in the White House and on Capitol Hill, and to see just and humane immigration reform finally enacted.

Please help us bring tens of thousands of people to Washington to advocate for immigration reform. Click here to register and tell your friends!

And please let us know if you will be attending. Thank you!

In commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the historic Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing 15 years ago, when the nations of the world agreed to a Platform for Action for Equality, Development and Peace, we invite you to read over the Beijing Platform for Action. 

This year, on March 2, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) adopted a Declaration on the occasion of this 15th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women. The CSW, meeting during these weeks in New York, is undertaking a major review of member states' implementation of the commitments made in Beijing.

Our colleagues at the Latin America Working Group sent out a moving message in honor of their partners in countries like Colombia, Mexico, and Guatemala who are struggling mightily for equal rights and an end to violence against women in Latin America.

In Colombia, LAWG celebrates Martha Giraldo and the women leaders of MOVICE, the movement of the victims of state crimes, who are pursuing justice for the murders of their loved ones even though it endangers their lives. As Witness for Peace reported, Martha was recently driven off the road and told at gunpoint to stop speaking out or she would be killed. But she will not be silenced and neither will the many other women pushing for accountability for the murderers of their sons, daughters, fathers, nephews, and uncles. Take a couple moments to watch Martha's video of her story, then click here to send a message of solidarity to Martha and wish her a happy International Women's Day.

In Mexico, LAWG remembers Esther Chávez Cano, a powerful champion for women's rights who struggled to eradicate gender-based violence and whose efforts raised worldwide attention to the ever-growing toll of unresolved murders of women and girls in Ciudad Juárez. Among her many accomplishments, Esther founded Casa Amiga, the first rape crisis center in the region, a place of refuge for the many women who survive rape and domestic abuse and a center of advocacy for the cases of women who have lost their lives to violence. Click here to read more about Esther’s inspiring life and the current situation in Cuidad Juárez.

Meanwhile, in Guatemala, the Guatemala Human Rights Commission USA (GHRC) are marching with Norma Cruz, the director of the Survivor’s Foundation, to show their support for her efforts to end femicide and attain justice for victims of violence against women in Guatemala.  With over 4,700 women brutally murdered since 2000 and domestic violence at an unacceptably high rate, Guatemala is a dangerous place for women. Click here to read Norma’s words about their ongoing struggle for rights.

Please join in standing with these courageous women and the many others across Latin America who work every day to create a world in which there is justice and rights for all.

For several years, advocates have promoted the Gender Equality Architecture Reform (GEAR) campaign at the United Nations, which would create a stronger, consolidated, higher status women’s entity and an effective presence on behalf of women to be led by a newly created Under Secretary General position.