International
Solidarity Reflection
School Sisters of Notre Dame

Women and Children

March 2018

Introduction“Deep faith and high courage urged Mother Theresa to risk already meager resources tosatisfy needs wherever she was called. In her spirit, we respond to God’s call expressed in ourtimes. …we exclude no one from our concern, but we are especially sensitive to youth andwomen and are impelled to prefer the poor.” (You Are Sent, C. 24)
As an international congregation, we can take advantage of the International Day of Women,
March 8, to reflect on our efforts to promote the dignity of women and of children. It is also
an apt moment to reflect on the advances that have been accomplished, to request morechanges and to celebrate the courage and determination of women who have stood up andplayed a key role in the history of their countries and communities. (Reference: United Nations
Women’s Day webpage)

Call to Prayer
Merciful and loving God, help us to be attentive to the situation of women and children in ourarea and in the wider environment so that we might take concrete actions to promote thedignity of each person. “For us, education means enabling persons to reach the fullness of
their potential as individuals created in God’s image and assisting them to direct their gifts
toward building the earth.” (YAS, C. 22) May this be our commitment in the name of ourteacher, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Experience
On November 25, 2017, the date on which the International Day for the Elimination ofViolence Against Women is remembered, several groups spoke on social networks about therecent cases in the country of Peru. “Things have not changed.” This is the phrase thatsummarized the call spread on social networks for a new march “Ni Una Menos” (“Not OneLess”) against the aggressions that thousands of women in the country are suffering. In lessthan a week, three cases have impacted the country: the aggressions against the wife, Lorena,
the case of Vanessa who was disfigured at the hands of her ex-husband, and the case ofMicaela who was dragged by her companion down the street to their apartment. Thousands ofpeople attended the march to Plaza San Martín in the center of Lima, raising their voices toreject gender violence in its various expressions. Several religious sisters participated in themarch, including our Sisters Lucy and Lili.
A second example occurred in February 2018, in our same area of San Juan de Lurigancho, inLima, where a girl, Jimena, aged 11, did not return to her home after attending the craft
workshop of the summer vacation program for children at the Canto Rey Police Station. The
next morning, the girl’s burned and violated body appeared in the middle of the publicthoroughfare. The family of the murdered girl called for a march of the people on February 8,
2018, to request security and exemplary punishment in cases of rape of minors. Jimena’sfather said that the mobilization called “March for justice, security and peace for ourchildren” is aimed at the Congress to demand that better laws be created to protect girls andpunish rapists. Our Sister Lucy also participated in this march.

Reflection
Violence against women is any action or behavior that may cause death to women and/or
physical, sexual or psychological harm in the public or private sphere. Violence does notdistinguish ethnic group, income level, culture, education, religion, age or sex.
For the visit of Pope Francis on January 19, 2018, to Puerto Maldonado, in the Peruvian
Amazon rainforest, the local Church warned that the arrival of gold prospectors and themining exploitation of the territory has fostered the scourge of sexual exploitation of girls andwomen. Pope Francis denounced the “trafficking of persons”. “It is painful to see how in thisland, which is under the protection of the Mother of God, so many women are devalued,denigrated and exposed to endless violence. ... Violence against women cannot be treated as“normal”, maintaining a culture of machismo blind to the leading role that women play in ourcommunities. It is not right for us to look the other way and let the dignity of so many
women, especially young women, be trampled upon.” (Pope Francis, Meeting with the Population,
Jorge Basadre Institute, Puerto Maldonado, January 19, 2018)“... there exists another devastating assault on life linked to this environmental contamination
favoured by illegal mining. I am speaking of human trafficking: slave labour and sexualabuse. Violence against adolescents and against women cries out to heaven.” (Pope Francis,Meeting with the Peoples of the Amazon, Madre de Dios Coliseum, Puerto Maldonado, Friday, January 19, 2018)

What is the situation in your country especially regarding women and children? Do they havea decent life and can they develop and educate themselves to be good adults in society?

Action•••Reaffirm the dignity of all people and demand respect for their rights, especially for
those who are in situations of vulnerability.
Be attentive to the real situation of women and children in your country. Pray thatthey are not mistreated or abused. Report known cases.
Connect with a network that works to end human trafficking. Educate yourself about
this universal problem and find out what positive actions you can take. (A resource
could be the Conference of Religious in your country. For example: Kawsay Network-redtrata.peru Facebook; Talitha Kum International Network)

Closing Prayer
The Triune God impels us into the heart of the world to be women of peace, hope and love.
(SSND Directional Statement, October 24, 2017)

May God the Creator, care for all of us and keep us steadfast and faithful in our holyvocation!
May God, the Son, deliver us from all evil of sin; may He be the Way that we walk, the Truth
that we follow, the Life that we lead!
May the Holy Spirit preserve us in his love and grace!
May Mary, the mother of divine grace and mother of our congregation, carry us in her loving
and maternal heart and guide us in life and in death! (Blessing of Mother Teresa, adapted)
Prepared by Sister M. Yvonne Nosal, SSND - ALC, for the International Shalom Office, Rome, Italy
Graphic taken from the Directional Statement, 24th General Chapter. Design: Congregational Communications Office.