International Human Rights Day

Today is International Human Rights day and the 61st anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. If you have never actually read the Declaration of Human Rights I would strongly encourage you today to read it: http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/
It also marks the end of the 16 day campaign to end violence against women which started on November 25, International Day to End Violence Against Women. http://www.cwgl.rutgers.edu/16days/home.html
The Good Shepherd sisters, whose charism and work focuses on women and children, participated in the 16 day campaign. They set up a banner and table with information outside of their center/house called Centro Amar downtown. I have really enjoyed getting to know these sisters and participate in some of their work, so I was happy to participate in this campaign which is near and dear to my heart in my work to end violence and oppression against women. On December 1st, I sat outside and handed out pamphlets to those passing by and engaged in conversation with both men and women regarding the reality of violence against women here in Chimbote. December 1st also happend to be World AIDS day in the fight against AIDS, so we also had information about HIV/AIDS which affects many people here in Chimbote as it does throughout Latin America and most underdeveloped countries. Some of the different pamphlets we handed out talked about recognizing violence against women, which in many cases can just be seen as the norm in a machista culture. We also had information on self-esteem, communication (so you don't have to resort to violence) and the negative affects of alcohol and alcoholism which leads many men to act violently against the women in thier lives.

There is still a lot of work to do in the struggle to end violence and to ensure all the human rights outlined in the UN document, and there is no easy answer or single solution. In many ways the systems and structures we live in/under are inherently violent and oppressive and until the larger structure changes the global reality won't change. Meditating on this global reality can be incredibly overwhemling and depressing with the thought, there is so much to do and I am so small. But at the same time I am grateful for the micro-view of the situation and the continual reminder in my work with the good shepherd sisters that one person is worth more than the world (una persona vale mas que un mundo). One person does contain the whole world, and so if it takes changing the world by changing the world of one person at a time then that is the work we are called to do with patience and love.

Today, as we remember the rights inherent in all human beings simply by virtue of being, I invite you all to read and reflect on the rights you currently enjoy, those you are currently denied, and those that many others around the world are currently denied. Everyone has the right to love and be loved, to explore this complicated mystery called life, to question, dream, live and learn. But these take a backseat in the face of a reality where people don't have food, water, adequate shelter, education, or health. All of these are necessary, and it is our collective responsibility as a human family to meet the basic needs/rights of our brothers and sisters so that we can all fully participate in the divine life for which we were/are created.

paz y amor