Community Life Communique 6
Barbara Dowding
December 13, 2011

Greetings! Advent invites us to turn our gaze toward the “heavenly Jerusalem,” which is the ultimate end of our earthly pilgrimage. At the same time, it exhorts us to commit ourselves with prayer, conversion and good works, to welcome Jesus in our lives, to construct with him this spiritual building of which each one of us…is a precious stone. (Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus Address 2nd Sunday of Advent, 2006)

Women Centred on Faith & Justice – precious stones indeed! As time is of the essence, first and foremost, I wish all of you an Advent that has time for prayer and contemplation and a Christmas filled with peace, love and friendship. While members’ eyes and hearts are on baking, decorating and shopping just now, energies will again be focussed on the League in January and there are a few things to consider.

Dignity and Rights of Persons: Trafficking, Exploitation, Poverty
Trafficking of persons appears to be increasing, particularly in regard to farm and domestic workers, Aboriginal women and even children. Poverty continues to be the basis for so many other evils, especially with the young, not only globally but at home. Immigration issues are ongoing and complex.
In a recently published report by the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights, The Sexual Exploitation of Children in Canada: the Need for National Action, poverty, homelessness, family violence and racism are listed as contributing and compounding factors around the sexual exploitation of children.

The following is an excerpt from the forward, “The sexual exploitation of children is a deeply-rooted reality in too many Canadian homes, families and communities. It is not at the margins of our society, it is at the centre. It happens to children we know – by men and women we know. It deserves greater public attention and action. …The committee was told that nowhere is the devastation of sexual exploitation more pervasive than among Aboriginal children and youth, who represent over 90% of those being exploited in certain cities.... Poverty, drug usage, homelessness, family violence, and racism are all contributing factors and compound the urgency of finding real solutions. We are failing these children. It is time to take action”.

This is a comprehensive document containing important and up-to-date information on the situation in Aboriginal communities as well as the work being done by the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission and other groups such as Native Women’s Association of Canada. Once again lack of clean water and poverty are very real and serious concerns for First Nations and Aboriginal people.

Encourage members to review this report as it contains information pertinent to other standing committees as well as for community life. It provides background information on the main types of sexual exploitation, including sexual abuse, children exploited through prostitution, trafficking in children for the purposes of sexual exploitation, sex tourism and child pornography.

Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace
The 1% Program can only do as well as donations allow. Let’s encourage one another to take our good fortune seriously and to count all our luxuries before we give.
 The Afghan Women’s Resource Center – works courageously to have the value of women recognized in Afghan society by providing literacy training and start up loans.
 The National Federation of Bolivian Domestic Workers – educates young women about laws and rights in the workplace to ensure their safety and preserve the dignity of domestic workers.
 Development and Exchange Centre – assists women in poverty. More than 60% of the population in the oil rich country of Nigeria live in poverty. The Centre offers literacy courses and educational opportunities.

Annual Reports
It is never too early to start thinking about annual reports! It is when we get to pat ourselves on the back or give others affirmation for the many charitable works of mercy done to alleviate poverty and suffering. Encourage your counterparts to be sure and include any and all activities that members undertook in support of Women Against Poverty (WAP). Activities were shared at the annual national convention in Toronto, but I expect by now there will be many more. Sharing experiences, especially those that percolate up from the grassroots is what the League is all about.

Members are active and very generous with their time, talent and treasure. In fact, annual reports from all levels indicate such a variety of worthy services and activities that it is difficult to know which activity goes go where. Please contact me if you have any questions about a particular activity.

Best wishes for a blessed Christmas!

“Do your work in good time, and in his own time God will give you your reward.” (Sir.51:30)