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Dear Sisters and Friends,
Welcome to the February issue of Justice Desk Updates. As always, we simply invite you to share whatever catches your attention, and please feel free to pass this on to others who may find it of interest.
In this issue, I begin with some brief reflections on how we can become Refugee Advocates.
You are warmly invited to “Shining a Light on Racism in England”, a National Justice & Peace Network webinar taking place on February 5th at 7.30pm. This will be a live conversation of faith, witness, and action. You can register HERE. (I will be moderating this webinar.)
I have also been invited to speak at the Friends of Nano Speaker Series in April on Catholic Social Teaching, Justice, and Nano Nagle as they are relevant today. Further details are below, and you can register your intention to attend by clicking HERE
Included is a short interview with Br. Brian Bond of Edmund Rice International, with whom I am currently working to prepare a submission to the Irish UPR process this coming November. We previously submitted in 2021(HERE) and will do so again this year. While the IPA is making the official Presentation submission, I am preparing a separate submission on behalf of Act to Prevent Trafficking in Ireland.
The Hope and Courage Collective offer practical and thoughtful guidance on how to engage in difficult conversations with those speaking from a far-right position. I found this resource particularly helpful and grounded.
The Global Sisters Report has published an article (HERE) on Act to Prevent Trafficking in Ireland as the organisation marks its 20th anniversary. I was privileged to be interviewed for this piece.
You can also read our Presentation Submission to the Irish Government (HERE) in response to the call for submissions for the Third National Implementation Plan to implement the SDGs at home and abroad.
We are sharing a reflection forwarded to us by Catherine Tompkin, a Presentation English Associate. We would love to hear from you too, if you have something you would like to share.
A book recommendation from Ann Farr in England: The Franciscan That Failed — a short book with a big heart. Well worth a look.Click review HERE.
There is a short piece explaining the Mercosur Deal and why Ireland has voted against it.
We also note the appointment of Sr. Mary T. Barron (OLA) by Pope Leo as a top Vatican adviser. She has expressed her delight that the American pontiff is strengthening Pope Francis’s inclusion of women. More details are included below.
You can catch up on news from RENATE by clicking HERE to access the Winter Newsletter, or by scrolling through the report below. I am pleased to have an article included in this edition.
We were referred to a local article, Modern Slavery Is Hidden in Plain Sight, from The Clare Champion. It is encouraging to see local media raising awareness about human trafficking.
Included also are prayers and reflections for February 8th, the Feast Day of Saint Josephine Bakhita.
The Immigrant Council of Ireland has published its 2024 Impact Report, highlighting the organisation’s achievements and its work to support and empower migrants living in Ireland.
Finally, The Cost of Courage reflects on the words:
“Truth has stumbled in the public square, and honesty cannot enter.” (Isaiah 59:14)
This article was shared with us by Sr. Maureen O’Connell, Tralee, Co. Kerry.
Thank you, as always, for your continued engagement and support.
Please feel free to make contact at any stage.
With every good wish,
Brian
I am in the process of organising this conference with AMRI but we are asking you to save the date. This is an in-person event with registration details to follow!
Are you a refugee advocate?
Here are some New Year's resolutions to become one! I thought these were excellent and well worth sharing!
Shining A Light on Racism in England - NJPN Webinar on February 5th at 7.30pm: A live webinar and conversation of faith, witness, and action. You can Register HERE.
Nano Nagle: Insights into her Persona and World:
I have been invited to speak at the Friends of Nano Speaker Series in April on the issue of 'Catholic Social Teaching, Justice and Nano Nagle as it is relevant today'. Details below. You can register you intention to attend these presentations when you click HERE
Brian Bond of Edmund Rice International being interviewed as a Changer & Maker by Diaspora TV in Switzerland.
The 'Hope and Courage Collective' show us how to have the difficult conversations with those who are speaking from a 'far right' position. I found this very helpful. The advice was practical and on point.
We all know the feeling when a conversation starts about a recent Facebook post that's been seen that you know is outright misinformation spread by those who want to divide, scare and confuse our loved ones. It can be so tempting to move the conversation along quickly, change the subject to the weather, or even attack the person spreading the harmful lies head on. But we have to remember that people are being targeted and manipulated by social media algorithms and deliberate far right lies, in order to make them more closed minded, afraid and angry. If we truly want to create a space that is more open, inclusive and capable of critical thinking, it is so important that those of us who believe in equality learn how to navigate these conversations in a way that actually moves people to see the ways they are being manipulated, and to understand that we have to work together for a shared future.
Read more Here: https://lnkd.in/gJnUXMQW or you can check out the graphics below. They do help!
Global Sisters Report publish an article on Act to Prevent Trafficking in Ireland as they turn 20 years of age. I was privileged to be interviewed for this article.
"Trafficking is not a national crime, it is an international crime," said Brian O'Toole, a member of the steering committee of Act to Prevent Trafficking. "It crosses borders in ways that crime is not supposed to."
That is why O'Toole strongly advocates that anti-trafficking groups embrace international networking in their work. Act to Prevent Trafficking members were involved in establishing RENATE, the European network of religious sisters fighting human trafficking across 31 countries through 139 anti-trafficking groups, and Talitha Kum, a global network of over 6,000 sisters founded in 2009 by the International Union of Superiors General to combat human trafficking.
Click HERE or below to read the full article:
Presentation Submission to the Irish Government answering their call for submissions to the 3rd National Implementation Plan to implement the SDGs.
The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment is responsible for the delivery of policies and programmes in a number of areas and is charged also with the responsibility for the implementation of the National SDG Implementation Plan. There are just over 4 years remaining in the Agenda 2030 and we have been asked to submit on what we think should be in this the third and final implementation plan that will bring us to 2030. It will be the responsibility of this current government to deliver and we are indeed very far behind. It was important for us make a submission from the faith-based viewpoint and this can be read below and HERE
Submission to the Public Consultation on Ireland’s Third SDGs National Implementation Plan.pdf
This book was referred to us by Ann Farr of Pax Christi with whom I work in the UK
What is Mercosur and how it might effect Ireland HERE. Thankfully Ireland broke it's word!
In a statement, Tánaiste Simon Harris said the government’s position “has always been clear” and that while additional measures were negotiated at EU level, “they are not sufficient to satisfy our citizens”.
This is a hugely important appointment and is a testament to the immense contribution women religious have made and continue to make in all areas of society.
You can catch up with the news at RENATE when I have an artilcle included when you click HERE into the Winter Newsletter or you can scroll through this report below.
RENATE Winter Newsletter 2025.pdfOur attention was drawn to this recently published article in the Clare Champion.
The Immigrant Council of Ireland publishes its Impact Report for 2024
The Immigrant Council of Ireland publishes its Impact Report for 2024
The Immigrant Council of Ireland has published its Impact Report for 2024, highlighting the organisation’s achievements and the work carried out to support and empower migrants living in Ireland.
In 2024, the Immigrant Council provided support to migrants and their families through our Helpline. Our staff answered over 4,000 calls from people seeking answers on their or their family members’ rights as migrants. This number only reflects a small proportion of the total calls received, highlighting the importance of the service and the strain on staff to respond. The top queries throughout the year focused on citizenship, family reunification, registration/renewal, and rights of EU citizens.
While citizenship has always been a main issue for callers, 2024 saw a marked increase on previous years, due to the introduction of the online portal by the Department of Justice, which created huge challenges for people trying to register or renew their permits.
Our Law Centre also assisted 17 victims of trafficking in 2024, and we continue to prioritise supporting other organisations in recognising the indicators of human trafficking. We also saw 117 cases of unaccompanied minors referred to our services through our Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) Ireland project, representing an 89% increase in demand for support.
With 2024 being an exceptionally busy year in Irish politics, our integration team sought to empower migrants around the country, through education about voting rights and supporting migrant candidates in the Local Elections. We also saw the continued growth and interest in our Migrant Leadership Academy, with 16 participants from 9 countries, our Migrant-TD programme, and our National Integration Conference which brought together over 200 national and international experts, activists, and allies.
Our anti-racism and intercultural awareness programmes also continued to grow in 2024. Show Racism the Red Card, which entered its 4th year under the direction of the Immigrant Council, reached over 500 children through workshops across Ireland focused on combating racism and celebrating diversity.
Elsewhere, we provided over 70 Intercultural Awareness trainings and 10 Anti-Trafficking/gender-based violence Trainings, helping to support others in building a safer and more inclusive Ireland.
Commenting on the report, CEO Teresa Buczkowska said: “In recent years, it seems that our attitude towards migration has become increasingly tainted by fear. Yet despite the actions and words of a few intended to instil a fear of newcomers within Irish society, we can see daily a commitment by the majority of people in Ireland to address that fear by fostering understanding, collaboration, and inclusion. In 2024, we at the Immigrant Council supported migrants and their families in achieving their rights and ensuring they can be part of the solution to the challenges we all face.”
Teresa also highlighted the human stories behind the statistics, saying: “Beyond the headlines, there are people with stories of migration that began with hope but ended in hardship, leaving them in fear for their future. Our Impact Report for 2024 is a window into the work that goes into ensuring the stories of migration are not stripped of hope. We at the Immigrant Council will continue our work to create an Ireland free from fear, where everyone, including migrants, has the opportunity to fulfil their potential to the benefit of all.”
The 2024 Impact Report can be read in full here.
We were sent this thought provoking article by Sr. Maureen O' Connell in Traleee.
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