Advancing Justice, Peace and Care for Our Common Home.
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On Saturday, 18 April, the AMRI Justice hosted its conference, Advancing Justice, Peace and Care for Our Common Home. This gathering brought together members of the Association of Missionary Religious Leaders in Ireland and built on the foundation of the inaugural symposium held the previous year.
The conference featured a keynote address, a moderated panel discussion, interactive workshops, and a plenary session. Together, these elements were designed to reflect on progress to date and to identify practical next steps, enabling participants to move forward collectively with renewed purpose and commitments.
AMRI Conference 2026 poster.pdfPoster - AMRI Justice Conference A1.pdf
The programme for the day, which began at 10 o'clock can be seen below.
👤 Keynote speaker and context
The address was delivered by the CEO of Trócaire, speaking at the AMRI conference. His central message was continuity: today’s humanitarian and development work builds directly on the legacy of earlier missionaries reminding us that the Catholic Church is the second largest deliverer of humanitarian aid in the world and that “needs to be celebrated”.
He pointed to...
🌍 1. Global Poverty, Aid, and Conflict
The shift in global priorities
Since April 2025, there have been major cuts in U.S. foreign aid.
Wealth concentration and political decisions are reshaping priorities away from poverty reduction.
Europe is also redirecting budgets toward defence and migration, reducing development aid.
The case of Sudan
Sudan was highlighted as a stark example:
More money is now funding conflict than resolving it.
External funding from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates is fuelling the war.
Aid workers are adapting to new realities like drone warfare.
Cuts and policy changes
The U.S. has cut tens of billions in aid.
The UK reduced its global development role significantly, especially after the dismantling of Department for International Development under Boris Johnson.
Even under Labour Party leadership, cuts have continued.
A crucial point: Aid does work
The speaker rejected the idea that aid is wasted.
Historically, extreme poverty has been significantly reduced through sustained global effort.
However, progress is now threatened by:
Conflict
Climate change
Political withdrawal from commitments
⚖️ 2. Human Rights and Justice Under Pressure
Breakdown of global systems
The multilateral system is weakening.
Human rights gains are being rolled back at speed.
Global politics is becoming more transactional—“might is right.”
The West Bank example
In the West Bank:
Bedouin communities are being displaced.
Reports include:
Destruction of homes and infrastructure
Burning of mosques
Poisoning of wells
Forced movement through fear and violence
Similar patterns of displacement are occurring in South Lebanon.
Wider implications
There is a growing sense of:
Powerlessness
Hopelessness
Mass displacement globally
The concern: human rights protections are no longer being enforced effectively.
🇮🇪 3. Ireland’s Role
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Irish Aid were praised.
Ireland is increasing contributions even as others cut back.
Strong emphasis on:
Advocacy for overseas development aid (ODA)
Maintaining leadership in humanitarian response
🧠 4. Moral Challenge and Responsibility
The speaker stressed:
People in wealthier countries are not neutral—they are part of global systems that sustain inequality.
Action is needed through:
Awareness
Advocacy
Financial support
Civic engagement
He also highlighted the horror of:
Child soldiers being abducted, brainwashed, and forced to attack their own communities to ensure that they could never return home.
🌱 5. Message of Hope
The closing message was grounded in lived experience, referencing Mother Teresa:
Small actions may feel insignificant, like pouring a glass of water into the ocean. But collectively, they can transform it. Eventually if enough water is poured into the ocean by enough people over a consistent period then the ocean can be changed.
Hope lies in collective action.
Even in a worsening global situation, individual and shared efforts still matter.
🧭 Bottom line
This wasn’t just a critique—it was a warning and a call to action:
Global systems are shifting away from solidarity toward self-interest (David Donoghue also referred to this in the fact that he was doubtful that there would be agreement (193 countries) again as there had been for the SDGs.)
Progress on poverty and human rights is at real risk of reversal
But:
Aid works
Advocacy matters
Collective action can still shape outcomes
In the image, the panel brings together voices from faith, development, and economic transformation:
Kevin Hargaden
Director of the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice, contributing a perspective rooted in theology, ethics, and public discourse. (Kevin's Slides can be seen directly beneath)Lara Kelly
From the Dominican Justice Office, bringing a strong focus on justice, advocacy, and grassroots engagement.Seán Farrell
Leading Trócaire, offering global insight into humanitarian work, poverty, and international development.Róisín Markham
Representing the Doughnut Economics Action Lab, focusing on sustainable and regenerative economic models.
David Donohoe
🌍 Architect of the SDGs
Donohue is widely regarded as a central figure—often called the “father”—of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He played a leading role in:
Negotiating the final framework
Building consensus across 193 countries
His work was grounded in a simple but powerful principle:
“Leave no one behind”
Interestingly:
The phrase initially had to be softened to “endeavour to leave no one behind”
Over time, the stronger wording prevailed—showing how language itself is political and contested
🎯 From Principle to Practice
The idea evolved further into:
“Reach the furthest behind first”
This reframes development priorities:
Focus not on averages or majorities
But on those most marginalised:
Children
Elderly
People with disabilities
Migrants and refugees
Indigenous communities
🗣️ The Power of Advocacy
Donohue emphasised that advocacy works.
He shared a story of a religious sister (Sister Elson):
Reviewing draft SDG texts late at night
Spotting a crucial omission
Successfully influencing the final outcome
👉 Message:
Even small, persistent interventions can shape global agreements.
He encouraged continued engagement through UN mechanisms such as:
Universal Periodic Review
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Social and economic rights reporting frameworks
📅 2015 — An Annus Mirabilis
He described 2015 as a remarkable, almost unique year of global cooperation:
SDGs adopted (September)
Laudato Si' (June)
Paris Agreement (COP21)
Addis Ababa Action Agenda
Together, these formed a coherent global vision:
Development
Climate
Finance
Ethics
🔄 MDGs vs SDGs
He drew an important distinction:
Millennium Development Goals
Designed largely by UN officials
Applied mainly to poorer countries
Less negotiated
SDGs
Co-created by all 193 countries
Universal (apply to everyone)
More complex (17 goals, 169 targets)
People-centred, not just development-focused
👉 This inclusivity required compromise:
Example: SDG 8 (economic growth)
Not ideal in pure sustainability terms
But necessary to keep countries engaged
⚖️ Human Rights at the Core
Human rights are central to Agenda 2030
The SDGs are not just:
Economic
Political
But fundamentally a moral agenda
📉 Where Are We Now?
His assessment was realistic, not naïve:
Progress:
Around 70% of targets were on track (pre-pandemic trajectory)
Setbacks:
COVID-19 disrupted momentum significantly
Political challenges:
Rising resistance to multilateralism
Weakening consensus
Notably:
Most countries participate in SDG reviews
But exceptions include:
United States
Haiti
Sudan
The U.S., in particular:
Has the capacity
But has chosen not to engage fully in reporting
He also noted opposition from figures like Donald Trump.
🔮 The Future of the SDGs
Looking ahead:
2030 targets are approaching fast
Possibilities include:
Extending the timeline to 2050
Integrating new technologies
Risks:
Declining global cooperation
Weakening human rights commitments
Less emphasis on “leave no one behind”
🧭 Core Message
Donohue’s contribution sits at the intersection of realism and hope:
The SDGs represent an unprecedented global agreement
But:
That level of consensus may be hard to achieve again
Still:
Advocacy matters
Multilateralism still has value
A future framework will emerge
🌱 Final Takeaway
At its heart, his message was this:
Global change is messy, negotiated, and imperfect
Progress requires:
Compromise
Persistence
Participation
And most importantly:
People must remain at the centre of global policy
From Kevin Hargaden JCFJ
Larcombe’s central framework comes from Doughnut Economics, developed by Kate Raworth.
It imagines a “safe and just space” for humanity:
The inner ring = social foundation (basic human needs like food, health, education)
The outer ring = planetary boundaries (climate, biodiversity, resources)
The space in between = where humanity should thrive
👉 Her key point:
We must meet everyone’s needs without exceeding Earth’s limits.
🌍 From Growth to Regeneration
Larcombe challenged the dominant economic obsession with growth:
“What is the only thing that keeps growing?” → Cancer
Therefore, endless growth is not a healthy model for society
Instead, she pointed toward:
Regenerative economics (restoring systems, not extracting from them)
Designing economies that:
Circulate resources
Value care and community
Work within ecological limits
This reframes economics as something that should serve life, not just profit.
🇮🇪 Ireland at a Turning Point
She argued Ireland is at a moment requiring:
Radical transformation:
Social
Moral
Cultural
We are living through a major rupture:
Climate crisis
Inequality
Systemic instability
Development education, in her words, is:
An invitation to rethink how we live and organise society
⚖️ Justice Across Generations
A major proposal was the need for:
A Future Generations Commissioner, like in Wales
(via the Well-being of Future Generations Act)
Purpose:
Ensure decisions today protect those not yet born
Shift politics from short-term gains → long-term stewardship
🧭 Making the Local Global (and Vice Versa)
Larcombe emphasised:
The interconnectedness of local and global systems
The need to:
Act locally (communities, habits, economies)
While understanding global impacts (supply chains, climate, inequality)
This is where Doughnut Economics becomes practical:
It’s not just theory—it can be applied to cities, communities, and personal choices
🛠️ Practical Actions She Encouraged
Her talk wasn’t abstract—she pointed toward concrete steps:
Move money:
Shift investments toward ethical/sustainable options
Change public goals:
Advocate for wellbeing over GDP
Consume differently:
Repair, reuse, reduce waste
Practice care:
Build systems rooted in human and ecological wellbeing
🤝 Workshop & Application
Later sessions (with Lara Kelly and others) brought this into practice:
Participants explored:
Where society falls short (social foundation)
Where it overshoots (planetary limits)
The goal:
Reflect on how our own lives and institutions fit within the “doughnut”
🌱 Core Takeaway
Larcombe’s message reframes the entire economic question:
Not: How do we grow the economy?
But:
How do we design an economy that allows all people to thrive within the limits of the planet?
And crucially:
This is not optional anymore
It is urgent, ethical, and necessary for survival
Róisin referenced the Future Generations Commissioner and his role in Wales. Coalition 2030 in Ireland have been calling for a Future Generations Commissioner in their fulsome support of Marc O Cathasaigh's Bill. The Commission for Future Generations Bill 2023 introduced by Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh TD would have, if passed, establish an independent commission for future generations to consider and report within 12 months on how best to set up an office of ombudsman for future generations in Ireland. The proposed commission for future generations would also have made recommendations on a number of areas, including the measurement of progress of the overall well-being of our society; how best to ensure best practice among public bodies and Government Departments, while adhering to the principle of sustainable development; and the potential role of a joint Oireachtas committee on future generations. This bill reached the 2nd stage before the government dissolved leaving this important work unfulfilled.
This article was published in the Tablet following the weekend conference.
Summary of Attending Organisations and NGOs at the AMRI Justice Conference
Summary of Attending Organisations and NGOs at the AMRI Justice Conference
Father Seamus O'Neill
RSpoke of Catholic Impact Investing, with support from Vita Impact Investing, highlighting faith-based financial initiatives for social good and he also reference VITA investments.Schools of Sanctuary & Presentation Brother Kevin Mascarhenas
Spoke about inclusion, welcoming communities, and migrant support through Belonging Without Borders.Jane Mellett
Representing Trócaire, she addressed the issue of Luadato Si Animators linking it to global justice and Laudato Si’ values.Tony Pike
Shared updates on the upcoming Safe Birth for All conference, at Marino Institute of Education.Sister Denise O'Brien
Spoke about Act to PreventTrafficking in Ireland (APT Ireland), outlining ongoing efforts and inviting new members.Brian O'Toole
Highlighted the work of the Africa-Europe Faith and Justice Network (Irish antenna), including an upcoming webinar: “Mind Our Earth, Our Mined Earth.”Eco-Congregation Ireland
Presented their environmental advocacy and community engagement work inviting those attending to consider applying to host the Eco Congregation Candle in their parish.Social Justice Ireland
John McGeady, CEO of Social Justice Ireland spoke of the nature of his work in holding the government to account in all areas referencing in particular their SDG Progress Report - Measuring Ireland's Progress.
🤝 Overall Message
🤝 Overall Message
Across all speakers and organisations, there was a strong, shared emphasis on:
Encouraging new membership and participation
Promoting active engagement
Directing attendees to explore websites and resources.
Building a broader, collaborative movement around justice, sustainability, and inclusion
Eco Congregation Ireland
Vita Impact Investing
Catholic Impact Investing
Schools of Sanctuary
Laudato Si Animators
Social Justice Ireland
Belonging Without Borders
Safe Birth for All
Act to Prevent Trafficking in Ireland
Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network - Irish Antenna.
Article on the detail of the conference HERE and below
10a Beyond Apathy - A Christian Response to Global Crisis.pdfPage updated
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