December 15, 2019

North American Dominican Justice Promoters Letter to Delegates at COP25

The North American Dominican Justice Promoters would like to share their letter that was sent to the delegates at COP 25 via our Dominican Family members that were there. Read more

December 15, 2019

Third Sunday of Advent: The Human Rights Situation of Women in India

As we remember the Dominican Month for Peace in India in Advent…

We remember:

Women, who comprise nearly half the population of India, suffer social and economic discrimination and lack of social liberty with a dominant life experience of oppression, restrictions, violence and exploitation.
While they play a vital role in managing the family and contributing to the family economy, their contribution goes unrecognized as they are treated as subservient to males. Deprived of education, equal opportunities for productive expression and political decision-making, largely confined indoors and subjugated relentlessly, women continue to face grave violations of rights.

The persistence of patriarchal social norms and inter and intra gender hierarchies leads to women being exposed to a continuum of violence in the home and in society throughout their life cycle.

2016: 338,954 reported incidences of crime against women. These included:

7,628 dowry deaths
225 cases of acid attack
110,434 reported cases of cruelty by a husband or his relatives
1,183 cases of human trafficking
39,068 rape cases
39,953 cases of assault on women
27,422 sexual harassment (National Crime Records Bureau)

Census 2011:

Literacy rate for men = 82.14%; for women = 65.46%

2011-12 National Service Scheme: Participation rate of women in employment was less than half that of men.

Urban: 54.6% men; 14.7% women

Rural: 54.3% men; 24.8% women

2014: Women representation in the Lower House of Parliament was 11.9% and 11.4% in the Upper House.

Human trafficking in India, although illegal under Indian law, remains a significant problem. Women and girls are trafficked within the country for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced marriage, especially in those areas where the sex ratio is highly skewed in favor of men. Men and boys are trafficked for the purposes of labor, and may be sexually exploited by traffickers to serve as gigolos, massage experts, escorts, etc. A significant portion of children are subjected to forced labor as factory workers, domestic servants, beggars, and agriculture workers.

Women in disadvantaged situations are being empowered to challenge gender violence and exploitation and to insist on gender equality and more political participation. This is done through the formation and facilitation of women’s groups, socio- legal training, skills building and assistance in acquiring livelihood opportunities, along with the facilitation of dialogue in families and communities.

For more information on an example of Dominican ministry on women’s rights in India read about the Urja women’s empowerment program: https://icid.org.in/our-programs/manini/

To show solidarity, Dominicans worldwide are urged to act and pray.

Pray each day for the Dominican Family in India and for the people who suffer and those who work to alleviate their pain, especially:

For women and the wisdom, courage, and strength they need to challenge violence and exploitation
For those who have been trafficked in the past that they find healing and new life in the days to come

Learn more:

“Girls Adoption and the Role of Women in Indian Society https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBe6xYJyEYw

“Situation of Women in India” https://www.female-rights.com/india/

Prayer:

Today we hear from the Prophet Isaiah, “Be strong, fear not! Here is your God… comes with vindication; with divine recompense. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared” (Isaiah 35: 4b – 6a)
As we pray in our third Sunday of Advent for the people of India around the world, may we pray for the way of transformation in India for dignity and respect for women.

December 8, 2019

Second Sunday of Advent: A Voice Cries Out in the Desert for Respect for Tribal Peoples in India

As we remember the Dominican Month for Peace in India in Advent….

We remember:

The tribal population of India, per the 2011 Census, is 104.3 million constituting 8.6% of the total population. 97% of them live in rural areas. Some of the major issues faced by tribals are land alienation, displacement, enforced migration, poverty, and exploitation.
In 2015, a total of 6,275 cases of atrocities against tribal peoples were registered in India. In addition, tribals lack access: to quality education in remote regions, to health care centres. Tribal peoples in the Northeast face problems of insurgency, atrocities under cover of Armed Forces Special Power Act and chronic ending tensions between northeastern states and the central government.
The Indian Center for Integrated Development (ICID)has been established to empower the most vulnerable and disadvantaged members of our community to lead a dignified life. ICID is an Initiative of the Indian Dominican Friars. The mission of ICID is to inspire, enable and empower children and young people to become actors, in their development for a just and free society.
One program, Manini, supports increased economic independence among disadvantaged rural women through sustainable livelihood opportunities. The program provides women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds with the opportunity to create sustainable livelihoods. About 200 women from rural communities in Umred Taluka, Nagpur district are engaged in activities that promote self-sustainability.

For more information on the impact of these tribal programs: https://www.dare2dream.org.au/manini-3

Prayer:

Today we hear from the Prophet Isaiah, “A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord’ (Mt 3:3). As we pray in our second Sunday of Advent for the people of India around the world, may we pray for the way of transformation among Indian government leaders and all leaders of the world to honor dignity and respect for tribal peoples.

December 3, 2019

‘Statement of Adrian Dominican Sisters on COP25 Madrid Climate Talks’

December 2, 2019, Adrian, Michigan – The General Council of the Adrian Dominican Sisters issued the following statement on COP25 Madrid Climate Talks, taking place December 2-13, 2019.

As the nations of the world gather in Madrid these next two weeks for the 25^th year of climate talks (COP25), we Adrian Dominican Sisters invite you to join with us in prayer and voice, calling for concrete action by world leaders to safeguard our common home from catastrophic climate chaos. The aim of the COP25 climate talks is to concretize commitments and implement the historic Paris Climate Agreement of 2015.

November 27, 2019

First Sunday of Advent: Dominican Month for Peace in India has begun!

By Fr. Brendan Curran, O.P. (North American Dominican Co-Promoter of Justice, Peace and Care of Creation)

The Annual Dominican Month for Peace in 2019 is focused on India. In 2017, we showed our solidarity with Dominicans promoting the national peace accord in Colombia; and in 2018, we supported our brothers and sisters struggling for democracy and peace through credible elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Now we turn to another region, India and the plight of indigenous peoples, women’s rights, and enslaved children.

Justice and Peace