share lent magazine

ShareLent

Building a World of Justice

2011

development and peace | share lent 2011 | 1development and peace | share lent 2011

Building a world of justice

This is the vision that has sustained Development and Peace for almost 45 years. Fidelity to it has meant walking with partners in the Global South

as they work to overcome poverty and systemic injustice, often in the face of great difficulty.There is a wealth of stories to be told about Development and Peace partners in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, some of them in this magazine. They include the story of Burundi’s Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace, which organized the participation of over 2,000 election monitors for the country’s June 2010 election. There is an account of the work of INSAN, in Iraq, to provide both assistance to those displaced by war and support for post-war social and economic rebuilding. You will find an illustration of the way in which the Miguel Agustin Pro Juárez Human Rights Centre in Mexico carries out its mandate to defend, promote, and improve respect for human rights in Mexico, especially for the most marginalized and vulnerable.

As Caritas Canada, Development and Peace has the capacity to raise funds and to respond immediately with relief assistance to those hit hard by natural disasters. Two of the worst disasters of the last year, the earthquake in Haiti and the floods in Pakistan, evoked much generosity from Canadian Catholics.

Development and Peace received almost $20 million in donations after the Haiti earthquake and is continuing to use those funds to support the efforts of their Haitian partners, including Caritas Haiti, in the long term struggle to recover and to rebuild their communities.

Through Caritas Pakistan, Development and Peace helped to provide food, shelter, clean water and healthcare in the immediate aftermath of the July and August floods in Pakistan. As well, Development and Peace participated in a program with the Canadian International Development Agency to provide emergency agricultural assistance to 6,800 families. This helped to avoid food shortages for those who depend on agriculture for their survival.

Christ set for us the ultimate example of love, charity, compassion and justice. In November 2010, Pope Benedict said that lay people, as “free and responsible citizens”, are invested with “the immediate task of working for a just social order.”

This Lent, I invite you to take to heart the example set by Christ and the words of Pope Benedict by giving generously to Share Lent. You are warmly invited to join the community of Development and Peace members and partners in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East as they strive to build a world of justice, a world where all live in dignity and peace. ❖

Contents

† Msgr Pierre Morissette,President, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

Use social media to participate in the Share Lent campaign!For this Share Lent, Development and Peace introduces an interactive blog. Discover the work of Development and Peace partners in the Global South through the testimonies of members.

Follow this link and visit the blog: http://sharelent.devp.org

n Take a look at the pictures, videos and articles published daily and add your comments.

n Invite other people to learn about our partners in the Global South by circulating the blog address.

n Check for updates on partners from the Global South visiting Canada during Lent. They might visit your town!

each week features a new region of the world!Join our online fundraising effortsThis year, for the first time, join our online fundraising efforts for Share Lent by creating a personal fundraising Web page. Use your personal gifts as a cook, a musician or a gardener to help those in need and invite your friends to donate to Development and Peace in support of your efforts. Go to http://sharelent.devp.org to find out how. You’ll also find great ideas there for activities to raise money during the 40 days of Lent. You can also make a direct online donation.

Development and PeaceConception and coordination: ryan Worms, François GloutnayPhotography: Development and Peace, Panos Pictures, raisa Mirza, Dick MynenDesign: turcotte DesignPrinting: aGl graphique

Our presence in the world 2

agriculture and access to landAgriculture as a lever for development 4Brazil Voice of the landless 5Afghanistan Reclaiming dignity—The courage of Zeinab 6Sierra Leone Essential radio—Producing better, together and forever— Our rights are finally respected 7

accent on Peace Middle East Bishop Grecco speaks of his visit 8 Iraq Opting for peace 9 Israel / Palestine Knowing the other 10Gaza Strip Smiling once more 11Lebanon An academy for peace 11

Promoting and defending rights Madagascar The TARATRA project— The Church defends the rights of miners 12Mexico A partner on the side of the poorest—Interview with the three women 13

Focus on timor-leste The long road to democracy 14New law for a young nation 15Respect for justice grows 15

Women and DevelopmentWomen’s human rights 16Democratic Republic of the Congo Ending sexual violence—“join their struggle” 16-17Benin Women forging new livelihoods 18-19

Citizen Participation Paraguay A new law 20Guatemala Men and women united against domestic violence 20Honduras Shedding light on a coup 20Guinea For peaceful elections 21

Burundi elections Voting for the first time 22Smooth, with some flaws 23Observers in the service of democracy 23

emergency relief A year of emergencies 24-25Haiti We will never give up—Building stronger homes 26Pakistan Fateful day—The July 2010 floods 27

Final pointsInterview with His Eminence Jean-Claude Turcotte, Archbishop of Montreal 28Development and Peace in numbers 29

development and peace | share lent 2011 | 2 development and peace | share lent 2011 | 3

Afghanistan

Pakistan

IraqLebanon

Palestinian Territories

Israel

Bangladesh

Indonesia

Timor-Leste

Sri Lanka

Cambodia

Philippines

South Africa

Madagascar

Zambia

Zimbabwe

NigeriaBenin

Togo

Senegal

Guinea

Sierra Leone

Burundi

RwandaDemocratic Republic of the Congo

Bolivia

Paraguay

El SalvadorGuatemala

Mexico

Honduras

Nicaragua

Haiti

Colombia

Ecuador

Peru

Brazil

Our presence in the World

One human family

In the Caritas Internationalis family, which Development

and Peace is part of, we believe that all social and economic systems should serve the common good, rather than the interests of elite minorities. We maintain that the morality of any society can be judged on the basis of how it treats its most vulnerable members. In our humanitarian work and in our advocacy campaigns, we exercise a preferential option for the poor, prioritising the hungry, the weak,

the marginalised and persecuted.

When we start to see global issues in terms of ‘people’ – in terms of individual lives – we are far more likely to begin to feel real compassion for those affected.

Compassion means “to suffer with” and it therefore goes hand in hand with the core value of solidarity – that sense of responsibility we feel for others by virtue of our interdependence as members of one human family.

When we truly feel the suffering of others, we cannot help but question the reasons for that suffering. It is not enough to merely ease the suffering – we have to challenge its causes and do our best to prevent future suffering.

We view all global issues through the lens of the poor and we seek the transformation of unjust systems that perpetuate poverty, whether they be economic, political or cultural. When you support Development and Peace, you are reaching some of the poorest communities we serve as Caritas around the world and becoming with Caritas a sign and symbol of God’s love for all humanity.

Lesley-Anne KnightSecretary General,Caritas Internationalis


aGriCulture anD aCCess to lanD

Agricultural projects have reclaimed their place in development strategies as a result of the 2008 global financial crisis, which was accompanied by a serious food crisis.

That is why food security has become the Canadian International Development Agency’s third priority theme.

But this renewed interest in food production and agricultural land is not exclusive to international development agencies. Large multinational agro-food businesses, investment funds, and wealthy countries all see a growing market there, a good opportunity to make profits.

The competition for land has begun. It will be fierce and it will make the battle being waged by Development and Peace’s partners to institute just land reform in their countries all the more difficult. The battles for control of agricultural land have already begun. Populations are being displaced and farm leaders are being assassinated. As in Colombia, our partners are risking their lives to protect farmers and enforce their rights.

Although there is enough food to meet the needs of the world’s population, one billion people

B razil is a new world power. The size of the country and its natural resources make it a major player in Latin America. But this is also one of the countries in which inequalities are the greatest, especially in

rural areas. Brazil has the second highest concentration of land

ownership in the world. Two percent of the landowners own 49 percent of the country’s land, two-thirds of which is not cultivated. There are also four million landless families. These families swell the ranks of migrants who end up living in the favelas (urban slums) of the country’s large cities.

When talking about social justice in Brazil, one must address the question of land reform. This is the struggle being carried out by the MST (the Landless Rural Workers Movement), a partner of Development and Peace for the past 25 years.

As a result of MST’s action, hundreds of thousands of families have obtained land to cultivate, received technical training, and have become members of agricultural co-operatives. In this way, they are able to escape poverty. The MST is the voice of the Brazilian peasants, a voice that must not be silenced, lest the country’s authorities turn their backs on their needs. ❖

are still suffering from hunger. Two billion more people are experiencing food shortages. Guaranteeing small farmers, rural workers and landless peasants sustainable access to the use and ownership of land is fundamental. Without that, it will

be impossible for them to earn sufficient income to feed their families and live with dignity.

Hunger and poverty decline when small farmers have access to land and they unite to share their tools and knowledge to ensure better profitability. The work carried out and the results obtained by Development and Peace’s partners in agricultural production have forged the following conviction: when peasant farming is sustainable and equitable, it is a powerful lever for opening the way to development and peace. ❖

Agriculture as a lever for development BRAzIL

Voice of the landless

Small-scale agriculture is a powerful lever for development and peace.

Developing leaders, claiming their rights.

Brazilian landless make themselves heard with

the MST.

In Brazil, four million farm families have

no land to cultivate.

“

”

I believe that agrarian reform is one of the most important needs of today’s world. But a just land reform will impact our agricultural model, our production modes and, finally, the food we eat. We have to have this debate together. We hope the new government can help us by encouraging the creation of forums for dialogue. Society as a whole must participate in the discussions and establishment of genuine agrarian reform.Gilmar Mauro, MST National Coordinator


aGriCulture anD aCCess to lanD

the CouraGe oF ZeinaBAt 15, Zeinab was married to an older man who was a drug addict and unable to meet the basic needs of his wife and their children. Her situation worsened when her husband took a second wife and refused to provide her with any help. Determined, Zeinab actively participated in the self-help groups sponsored by Development and Peace through its local partners in Kushk. She actively participated in training courses in basic farming, weaving techniques and management.

Today, she can sell her products in the market, where farmers and traditional craftsmen have made a place for her. Zeinab and her children are now eating their fill. They have regained their dignity and an acceptable place within the community. Zeinab and her fellow trainees also meet regularly to discuss social issues that concern them. Thanks to this program and their own courage, these women are helping to gradually change the status of women, who are traditionally excluded in the Afghan countryside.

KONO MINING REGION

Our rights are finally respectedA compensation program for people whose property was expropriated by the mine in the Kono region in eastern Sierra Leone was signed after years of tension and mobilization by the public. This victory is a result of the advocacy work carried out by those affected in partnership with NMJD, a DeveLoPmenT

AnD PeACe partner. nearly fifty houses have been built and transferred to the people who suffered expropriation. The company has also paid to build the local market. other compensation has been promised and should be paid soon.

AFGHANISTAN

Reclaiming dignity

“I started out as a sports columnist. My commitment to radio and the training received by the Eastern Community Radio station allowed me to become head of programming. Those training sessions were very important. Thanks to them, the station became more professional and is now recognized for its independence and objectivity. The training has to continue, especially with the upcoming presidential elections in 2012. These elections will be crucial for maintaining peace in Sierra Leone, especially in the east, our broadcast area. The issues will be hot and the reporters, old and new, must be well prepared to play their proper role of providing information and promoting elections that are free and transparent and without violence.”

Ismael, head of programming, Eastern Community Radio

Essential radio

In Afghanistan, Development and Peace is working to promote equality between men and women and peaceful coexistence among the different ethnic and political groups. We are supporting in particular a program that focuses on poor women in rural areas. The program is

designed to stimulate agricultural and economic development in the country’s central and western provinces by creating employment opportunities for women and increasing the family income of the poorest households.

This program originated in India, where it has proven itself by increasing the chances for women’s participation in the economic, social and political life of the community. It consists of forming women’s self-help and financial support groups. The establishment of such a program in Afghanistan has enabled hundreds of women like Zeinab to become more autonomous and more entrepreneurial every day, thus improving their lives. ❖

SIERRA LEONE

Producing better, together and foreverSome 6,000 families in Sierra Leone, connected through farmers’ associations, are eating better and participating in their villages’ development thanks to a program developed in partnership with the Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) and Eastern Community Radio.

In more than 125 villages, cultivated acreage has increased by 50 percent thanks to the seeds, farm tools and support offered by these two long-time partners of Development and Peace. It is a giant step for this country, which has been devastated by more than ten years of war and always posts one of the highest levels of food insecurity in the world.

What makes this initiative unique is the participation of the communities in all stages of the project. Nearly thirty farmers’ associations or co-operatives have been set up. The civic education activities, educational radio broadcasts and adult literacy programs have enabled women, youth and men from these communities to take charge of their own future. Women make up half the members of the farmers’ associations. The most profitable farms are often run by women who have benefited from the support of our partners.

Efforts must now be continued to ensure that these achievements are sustainable. Agricultural education, democratic participation, knowledge and protection of their rights are part of the ongoing program for leaders of the farmers’ associations. The idea is to build capacity to improve the living conditions of farming families in their region.

“Producing better, together and forever.” That’s more than just a slogan chanted by our partners in Sierra Leone. It’s a genuine social project. ❖

Training provides these young women with a fresh start.

Sewing, crafts, agricultural production. The courses offered are varied.

Recording a broadcast at Eastern Community Radio.

African women are often in charge of feeding the family.


“”

Most people put the emphasis on “development,” but the title and mandate of Development and Peace, a member of Caritas Internationalis, is clearly as much about “peace.” My visit to Lebanon and Israel last year gave me the opportunity to see, with great delight and pride, the results of the many peace projects that Development and Peace supports in the Middle East. The commitment of the organization to building peace is found not only in its name but also deep within its actions.

Courageous peace-building

Tens of thousands of Palestinians are confined to refugee camps in Lebanon, where they have been without work for the last two decades. Imagine the potential for frustration, humiliation and rage in these camps. Much of that is acted out among themselves. Development and Peace partner Fadi Abi Allam of the Permanent Peace Movement in Lebanon courageously runs conflict resolution workshops and seminars in the camps.

Such a peace-building initiative may seem small in the sea of human misery found in the camps, but

it is an effective step in the direction of non-violence and human dignity. It is a spark of hope, and hope is what they and the world long for. Fadi hopes to build a Peace Academy in Lebanon to train people to run seminars on conflict resolution.

Dialogue between future leaders

I also saw the work of the Friendship Village, a Palestinian/Israeli centre bringing together young Arab Muslims, Christians and Jews to live together. They use focus groups for discussion. I met Jonatan Peled and a group of about 20 Israeli and Palestinian university students, including a member from each of two Israeli political parties: Likud and Kadima.

I asked these bright young men and women what it was like to meet and talk with one another. One woman immediately responded, “It was good to talk with the Israelis instead of talking about them.” Another young woman said, “Simply speaking my mind makes me feel like a winner.”

It wasn’t all profundities and pleasantries. One young Palestinian man spoke passionately about the humiliation of the wall being constructed through Jerusalem and the ignominy of crossing daily through one of the many checkpoints in one’s own neighbourhood simply to commute to work or to visit family. At the end of our meeting, an Israeli went directly to that young man to say he had not realized the extent of the humiliation.

On a political level, Development and Peace is helping young Palestinian and Israeli university students meet each other and share their ideas and feelings. This is a relatively small effort, but it is the kind of open, direct dialogue that does not seem to be happening today among political leaders. Perhaps these future leaders will have a better chance to lead people towards peaceful co-existence.

A message for Lent

We are called as Christians to bring the peace of God into the world. The Middle East is the place above all where peace needs to be celebrated, because it is the birthplace of Judaism and Christianity and the centre of the Muslim faith. The Middle East is a flash point that could erupt globally.

As I offered Eucharist in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the force of the Prayer for Peace and the Sign of Peace before Holy Communion struck me deeply and emotionally. I thought about Fadi and Jonatan. Development and Peace is about peace-building as much as it is about development, especially in the Middle East. ❖Text by Bishop Richard Grecco

MIDDLE EAST

Bishop Richard Grecco of Charlottetown speaks of his visit

IRAQ

Opting for peace

In Iraq, the situation remains unstable and particularly violent for the inhabitants of certain regions. That is the case in Kirkuk, in the northern part of the country, where

political forces linked to several ethnic and religious communities are competing for the region’s oil wealth.

Development and Peace has worked since 2004 with an organization in Kirkuk called INSAN. Development and Peace supports INSAN’s emergency assistance programs for internally displaced persons and its social and economic reconstruction programs.

INSAN is a well-established organization in today’s Iraq, allowing it to advocate directly for the needs of displaced persons with the political authorities.

The Kirkuk committees of internally displaced persons work with the government on issues such as housing and access to drinking water.

INSAN also advocates for more resources for local authorities so they can meet the population’s needs in high-risk areas.

Meeting the needs of the poorest and determining how best to prevent and resolve conflicts are priorities for INSAN. ❖

“Peace in the Middle East would have a global impact.”

Bishop Grecco, along with Paul Cliche of Development and Peace, visits projects in the region.

aCCent on PeaCe

INSAN is at the service of displaced people.


ISRAEL/PALESTINE

Knowing the other

GAzA STRIP

Smiling once more

Children born in the Palestinian Territories have never known peace. Growing up, they have witnessed constant violence and the destruction of their homes. More recently, they have been the innocent victims of military

intervention in the heart of their city. Such tragedies leave not only physical scars, they leave

psychological ones as well. To respond to the situation of such children, Development and Peace has partnered with Caritas Switzerland and the Youth Enhancement Centre (YEC) to offer a psychological counselling program in the Gaza Strip. Two centres give children the opportunity to express and overcome their trauma through activities such as drawing, theatre and sports.

With the help of skilled workers, these centres will enable some 4,700 children to recover psychological and emotional stability. The workers support the families, identify the children’s disorders and guide the parents so they can participate fully in their children’s healing. ❖

Both sides, the Palestinians and the Israelis, have lived for long time with

the feeling that there is no one on the other side to talk to. I believe that

programs like this one help to turn the impossible daily reality of the two sides into an honest and open dialogue, and

promote the possibility of solutions based on mutual recognition and respect. This achievement can’t be ignored.

As a person who has participated in other identity programs, I declare

that this one was the best. Itay Gomez, Kadima Party ,

youth section, activist

I would like to thank you as a Palestinian participant in this project. I was a prisoner for 25 years and I was active

in the first Intifada. But then I began to think we could achieve our rights through peaceful means and dialogue with the

other side. I found these meetings difficult at first, but in the end, they have been very useful and have achieved more than I thought they could. I feel that I’ve changed, and so has t

he other side, by getting to know one another.Ibrahem Mosalam, member of Fateh council, former prisoner

D evelopment and Peace works with Palestinians and Israelis. Its mandate in the region is to bring together groups that are in conflict to build relationships

based on trust and mutual understanding, and to defend human rights in the Holy Land. In a climate of openness to others, of understanding and recognition of the rights and needs of all, our partners are trying to build solidarity and respect.

The Israeli NGO Friendship Village focuses on education for peace and dialogue, with projects aimed at both Israeli and Palestinian students, teachers and activists from youth organizations.

Development and Peace supports an inter-cultural and inter-political dialogue between young Israelis and Palestinians, aimed at young people aged 20 to 35 years of age from various religious and political backgrounds. A dozen Arab and Palestinian men and women have an exceptional opportunity to meet and interact with an equal number of young Israelis. Together, while freely sharing emotions and realities, they seek solutions that they hope will build lasting peace.

The testimony of participants shows that everyone yearns to recognize the other, to accept their differences and respect their rights. These young people want to find ways to live together in peace. At the end of this program of exchange, dialogue and training, they are ready to make a commitment and contribute personally to the establishment of peace in their respective communities. ❖

Lebanon is a land rich in history, peoples and cultures that have to co-exist. The work of Development and Peace in

this country promotes democracy and a culture of dialogue and respect for human rights. To achieve this, one of our partners, the Permanent Peace Movement (PPM), is endeavouring, with our help, to create a Peace Academy.

The PPM was founded in 1986 at the height of the civil war. The organization has helped resolve conflict through awareness-raising activities, mediation sessions and testimonies from former combatants. It also offers thematic training, notably on gun control, the status of children in armed conflicts (child

soldiers), and the role of women in conflict resolution. The organization also works on reconciling youth and cultures through the arts and solidarity projects that show that people yearn to live in a constructive and non-violent manner.

The Peace Academy is the fruit of a long reflection within the PPM. This region-specific institute is intended for ordinary citizens as well as for members of political parties. It is aimed at providing the region with a place where people can learn how to prevent and resolve conflicts.

Another goal is to provide organizations, political leaders and diplomats with the tools to better manage conflict situations.

A movement to support the Peace Academy was set up last year and Development and Peace is part of that movement. Its help will be aimed at mapping out all the training available on peace-building issues. From that data, the Academy will become a reference for all those working to build peace in the Middle East and North Africa. ❖

LEBANON

An academy for peace

Learning to live in peace is the wish of the people in the region.

aCCent on PeaCe

Through drawing, children free themselves of images that haunt them.

Sitting together at a meal or at a meeting

changes our perception of the other person.

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development and peace | share lent 2011 | 12

A partner on the side of the poorest

MExICO

With the Conference of Bishops of Madagascar, Development and Peace supports the TaraTra project, a network which monitors mining activities in the Diocese of Moramanga. TaraTra focuses particularly on a new nickel mine operated by Canadian interests.

The TaraTra project has facilitated dialogue between local workers, the mining company and the government’s labour inspector. Discussions have centred on weekly rest, the right to time off and travel costs, tasks that are not in compliance with the employment contract, failure to pay overtime, wrongful dismissal, and discrimination between local and foreign employees — including a large wage gap between two people performing the same job.

Bishop Gaetano Di Pierro of Moramanga can easily list the problems that miners face in Madagascar. Fully committed to promoting workers’ rights in the

Ambatovy mines, he rapidly paints a portrait of the situation.

“There is a lack of transparency, and complaints filed by workers are not taken into account. A major unresolved issue for local people is the compensation that the mining company has not yet paid to people who were expropriated from their homes or have lost their farmland and livelihoods.

“We are also very concerned about the impacts on the environment. The primary forest is destroyed, the rivers are polluted. This causes dissatisfaction among villagers, who lack clean water and are seeing the fish and other natural resources disappear from their habitat.”

Promoting dialogue

“We have established, with support from Development and Peace, the TARATRA

The Church defends the rights of miners

MADAGASCAR

The TaraTra project

project. TARATRA stands for transparency for advocacy and good governance. We help empower local authorities and civil society while working with them. We inform and educate the public by making them aware of the country’s Mining Code and support the transparent management of mining resources. We want to expand the meetings for dialogue between the company and the public. We’ve gotten some good results, but the situation is far from satisfactory.”

Call for solidarity

“To you, Christians, and to you, men and women of goodwill in Canada, we thank you and we entrust this project to your commitment and your generosity. We ask for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, protector of Madagascar.

“By working together, we believe that foreign mining companies in our country will conduct their operations with respect for the rights of miners and local populations, and they will limit their impact on the integrity of creation.” ❖

ProMotinG anD DeFenDinG riGhts

Bishop Di Pierro received by Pope Benedict XVI.

What did you learn from this experience? teresa: I learned a lot more about my rights because I experienced the injustice in my flesh. I realize now that there are many injustices in our country. So many innocent people are still in prison. Jacinta: Before, we used to hear about injustice but it didn’t concern us directly. now when I see injustice, I can no longer sit idly by. alberta: This long absence has made me realize the importance of my family. It’s the most important thing we have.

What was the contribution of the Prodh Centre? alberta: In prison, we had no one to help us. The institutions and lawyers didn’t want to handle our case. It was only when the Prodh Centre came to support us that we recovered our hope. teresa: every week, a representative from the Prodh Centre came to visit us. Feeling that someone was there to help us gave us courage. Since the Centre did that for us, I hope it will be able to help many other people. Jacinta: I congratulate the Prodh Centre because it never abandons

the cases it takes. I will always be grateful. not just me, but my entire family is grateful as well.

Interview with the three women

At a press conference, Jacinta stresses the importance of upholding justice.

The Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez Human Rights Centre (Prodh Centre) has obtained the exoneration and release of three indigenous women—Alberta,

Teresa and Jacinta. Imprisoned for more than three years, they had been sentenced to 20-year terms for allegedly having kidnapped six police officers. These wild accusations turned out to be nothing more than retaliation for having resisted the police’s attempts to intimidate and blackmail them.

The Prodh Centre defended the three women. They proved that their fundamental rights had been violated and that there had been several legal irregularities, including false evidence.

This case is an important victory for our partners. It clearly shows the injustice of the Mexican penal system, which victimizes marginalized populations such as women, the poor and indigenous peoples. ❖

To celebrate the release of the three women, a Mass was celebrated in the presence of their families and the entire community.



The long road to democracy

New law for a young nation

“M ore than any other facet of modern life, we in East Timor have felt the absence of the rule of law ... almost any member

of the armed forces could commit a crime against a Timorese with complete impunity ... We are determined to bring about a modern system of law which will place human rights at its centre.”

Bishop Belo

Developing laws is one of the most important challenges a new nation faces. Women’s groups supported by Development and Peace, including the Women’s Caucus, REDE Feto (Women’s Network) and FKSH (Women Have Power When Working Together) were among those who developed a new law to protect women and children from domestic violence.

Such protection is especially important in Timor-Leste because of the many human rights violations women suffered during the Indonesian occupation. “Many older women are widows because of the violence, or saw their children killed or were themselves the victims of sexual violence during the times of occupation,” says Development and Peace programs officer Jess Agustin.

The proposals were widely debated for five years before becoming law. They gained the support of well-known male politicians, including Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão and President José Ramos-Horta, who appeared in ads proclaiming:

“Stop violence against women.”Influenced by the Catholic Church, the law

includes a focus on reuniting families and on preventing violence. “The courts will suspend a case for up to three months when those involved want training,” says Maria Paixao da Costa, Vice-President of Timor-Leste’s Parliament. When this doesn’t work, support for families who lose a breadwinner is available. Most important, domestic violence is now a public crime: anyone who witnesses an incident can report it.

This law is inspiring others in the region. “We have been invited by a Vietnamese peace group to help them develop their domestic violence law,” says Maria Paixao da Costa. ❖

“We, the predominantly Christian people of East Timor, like to think of the road we have taken to freedom as the road that Jesus Christ took toward Easter – toward the Resurrection. It is a Way of the Cross: A Paschal experience in its deepest sense: life through death, consolation through desolation, freedom through oppression, justice through impunity, victory through defeat, hope through despair.”

Bishop Belo, Road to Freedom, 2000

In 2002, after nearly 500 years of colonization and foreign occupation, first by Portugal and then by neighbouring Indonesia, Timor-Leste finally gained its independence. The Timorese

Catholic Church had long been a repository of Timorese culture and an outspoken shield against human rights violations. By the 1990s the Timorese Church, with the support of Catholic allies such as Development and Peace, was also a strong advocate for people-centred development.

Bishop Carlos ximenes Belo, who in 1996 would become the first Catholic Bishop awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, spoke out strongly against human rights abuses. His courage helped make the world aware of the suffering of his people and their struggle for independence.

During the difficult years leading to the 1999 vote on independence, Development and Peace supported the work of Bishop Belo and the Timorese Catholic Church. Development and Peace hosted the 1993 Canadian visit of Bishop Belo, and helped him gain the world’s attention for his people’s suffering under Indonesia’s occupation.

Beginning in 1989 Development and Peace started to work with the Timorese Church on development initiatives within Timor-Leste. Two of those early initiatives, Radio Timor Kmanek and the Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission, are Development and Peace partners today.

More recently, Development and Peace has developed a strong focus on building women’s

organizations in Timor-Leste, motivated by women’s history of oppression and exclusion. In 2010, Bishop Alberto Ricardo da Silva of Dili presented Development and Peace’s first exposure tour to Timor-Leste with a certificate of appreciation for the organization’s solidarity and support.

Timor-Leste, a new and hopeful nation, is at the same time an old society facing many challenges caused by its history of occupation, violence and colonization. The Timorese Catholic Church remains a full partner in creating what Bishop Belo has called “compassionate democracy.” Through the solidarity of Development and Peace with the Timorese Church, Canadian Catholics are fortunate to travel with the Timorese people on their historic “road to Easter—to Resurrection.”

“We have suffered enormous losses on our road to freedom. We must commit ourselves to truth and reconciliation, to justice and peace. We must travel with hope, looking behind the horizon–to a compassionate democracy. It is our road to Easter–to Resurrection.” – Bishop Belo, Road to Freedom ❖

“Now, after all the training we’ve had, I have a job, things are different.” The speaker’s leadership skills are obvious as he tells us of recent changes in his life brought about by participation in a program run by the Diocese of Dili’s Justice and Peace

Commission (JPC). The JPC is one of Development and Peace’s longest Timorese partnerships. “I know better what role I should play in society.” Before his involvement with JPC he exercised his leadership skills in a youth gang involved in violence that rocked the newly independent nation in 2006.

That spring, pre-independence tensions flared up between Timor-Leste’s military and police forces. By April 28, after four days of violence, five people had been killed, more than 100 buildings destroyed, and 21,000 residents had fled Dili. In May, gangs continued to roam the streets of the capital, burning houses and cars. Sixteen different youth gangs were partly responsible for this violence.

The youth of Timor-Leste have grown up without fairly applied laws and few active courts. Under Indonesian occupation, as Bishop Belo noted,

“almost any member of the armed forces could commit a crime against a Timorese with complete impunity.” It remains a struggle to develop respect for the law in this young nation.

JPC documented human rights abuses and advocated for victims of violence during the Indonesian occupation. In 1999, when the country was devastated by armed paramilitaries vengeful after the vote for independence, JPC helped Bishop Belo broker peace between various powerful forces.

This experience proved useful in developing an innovative peace-building program with all 16 youth gangs involved in the 2006 conflict. JPC trained the youth in non-violent conflict resolution as well as life skills. The former gang members now meet regularly with local police to break down barriers that once seemed impenetrable. As a result, their respect for justice is growing. ❖

Bishop Ricardo da Silva of Dili presents an award of thanks for Development and Peace to members of the first Timor-Leste exposure tour.

Former youth gang leader talking about the changes in his life helped by JPC.

FoCus on tiMor-leste

Respect for justice grows


”“

DEMOCRATIC REPuBLIC OF THE CONGO

Ending sexual violence

A t the origin of many tensions that threaten peace are surely the many unjust inequalities still tragically present in our world. Particularly

insidious among these are, on the one hand, inequality in access to essential goods like food, water, shelter, health; on the other hand, there are persistent inequalities between men and women in the exercise of basic human rights. Benedict XVI, Message for Peace 2007

Through its experiences of working with peasants’ groups, co-operatives and trade unions in deve-loping countries, Development and Peace has learned that women are often the first vic-tims of poverty and injustice.

Too often, women are reduced to fighting for their survival, and unequal social relationships exclude them from participation in broader issues. In times of war or conflict, they suffer specific violence related to their gender. Rape and mutilation are increasingly weapons of war.

We cannot talk about real democracy without the equal participation of women. That participation depends upon their human rights being respected. That is why Development and Peace supports groups committed to improving the living conditions of women and increasing their autonomy. In this way women can become less vulnerable to violence and take charge of their own development, that of their family and of their community. ❖

Join their struggle

“Countless atrocities were committed during the wars that took place one after the other in the Congo over the past few years. The worst atrocities have been—and continue to be—the use of sexual violence. Women have been raped in massive numbers. All armed groups in the

Congo have used rape as a weapon of war.“Women are saying that this must neither be hushed up nor should it go unpunished. Justice

must be done. The current struggle of Congolese women is to restore truth and ensure that the perpetrators of these crimes are identified and punished.

“Women are breaking their silence and are launching this urgent appeal for solidarity to have a trial take place on the silent genocide of Congolese women. There has to be a Women’s Parliament, a chamber or forum capable of putting Congolese society on trial.

“Women want to understand why their children were turned into monsters and became the executioners of their own parents. They want to understand why the men—their brothers, their sons and their husbands—were capable of such cruelty. But they also want to proclaim the failure of a society plagued by violence. The Congo that is to be rebuilt must be rid of its old demons of impunity, corruption and violence. It is a question of justice. The women of the Democratic Republic of Congo are taking the initiative. They invite humanity to join their struggle.”

Sister mary Bernard AlimaSecretary General, Justice and Peace Commission

Women are the first victims of poverty and

injustice

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is endowed with fabulous wealth (water, fertile soil, forests, hydroelectricity, gold, diamonds, copper, and metals used in new technologies). But the majority of the population does not benefit from the country’s natural wealth.

As a result, 71% of the population lives on less than a dollar a day, younger generations are less educated than older generations, diseases once under control have reappeared, soldiers who are barely paid steal the crops of farmers, and rural populations lack basic necessities.

Even worse, the various conflicts over control of natural resources result in a rampage of violence against women. Various UN reports and surveys have shown that rape has become a weapon of war. These barbarous crimes are committed not only by rebel groups but also by the Congolese army, even though the army is supposed to protect the country and its citizens.

To overcome this crisis, the impunity of criminals must end. The victims of violence must also be invited to engage in the difficult process of reconciliation.

To that end, Development and Peace is supporting a reconciliation project in South Kivu—a region ravaged by endless conflict—that entails reconstruction and restarting the communities’ production activities. This project is using literacy activities and vocational training to reintegrate into their communities both women victimized by sexual violence and young soldiers. A program to provide microcredit has also been set up, while another program has been created to repair roads. At the same time, Development and Peace is supporting community radio stations that enable local communities to speak out, discuss their problems and seek solutions together. ❖

WoMen anD DeVeloPMent

Women’s human rights


WoMen anD DeVeloPMent

At the end of the 1990s, most of the women in the Self-Help Circle for Sustainable Development (CADD) were illiterate. Many of them subsisted on the scanty incomes brought in by their streetside stalls.

They decided to pool their resources and make their personal savings yield a profit. The co-operative credit union that they built now manages $300,000 in loans every year. The average loan for women’s projects is $200.

Development and Peace has been supporting CADD in Benin for more than ten years. The organization currently has 3,000 women in 68 grassroots groups and 27 credit unions. With its small loans, CADD is contributing directly towards improving the living conditions of 25,000 people.

These women manage their credit themselves. Their core activity remains small trade but they have also created dozens of micro-enterprises. Several have managed to make significant investments by buying small lots, building houses, getting connected to water and electrical services, paying the cost of school

for their children or buying a motorcycle taxi.

The women are now contributing more to their households’ income and expenses, which stabilizes the families’ purchasing power in spite of the relatively low salaries earned by their husbands.

“We don’t wait for our husbands before spending on health or education. Even in the eyes of the children, their mothers have become more independent and can now help find solutions to their problems. It is thanks to CADD that our children go to school. We are sure they will not become delinquents,” said one woman.

“I have improved my husband’s situation and I have become more independent than I used to be. My husband gives me more

recognition now,” said another participant.CADD’s women members and their families have joined a health group

and receive better health care than in the past. They have also established a fund, to which everyone contributes, to support and assist one another during happy or unhappy events such as births, deaths, baptisms, weddings and anniversaries. Today, several children of CADD members attend school thanks to a distribution service for school supplies.

Several CADD members have been elected as municipal councillors. The organization offers workshops on the role of elected officials and movements in implementing development projects for the poor. ❖

I have improved my husband’s situation and I have become more independent than I used to be. My husband gives me more recognition now.

BENIN

Women forging new livelihoods

Ten years of action in Benin have

changed women’s lives.

CADD contributes directly

to improving the lives of 25,000

people.

“

”


PARAGuAy

A new law

In February 2010, the Paraguayan Congress finally adopted Municipal Law 3966, a law long awaited by civil society. The new law replaced an earlier one—dating from the days of the dictatorship—that was no longer suitable for the country’s modern democratic life.

The new municipal law formally recognizes the existence of community and citizen organizations. It provides mechanisms for participation and access to information. Decidamos (Let’s Decide), a partner of Development and Peace, had been lobbying since 2004 to have the elected members of Congress (Chamber of Deputies and Chamber of Senators) pass this bill.

Since its approval, the organization has distributed thousands of copies of the law. Decidamos admits that even it has been surprised by all the requests for training that it has been receiving from political parties, municipal officials, citizens’ committees and social organizations.

It is exciting to witness such a passion for democracy and citizen participation in this country, where the population has been so long deprived of its liberty. ❖

HONDuRAS

Shedding light on a coup

Honduras does not yet seem to have emerged from the crisis caused by the aftermath of the June 2009 coup d’état.

The Honduran government set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, not only to shed light on the coup d’état, but also to investigate the actions of former President Manuel Zelaya. However, this commission is not recognized by civil society. Civil society groups, including partners of Development and Peace, see it as a political strategy to try to legitimize the coup.

Civil society’s Honduras Human Rights Platform therefore decided to create its own Truth Commission, whose work began on June 28, 2010. This commission is made up of 10 international human rights experts, including Elsie Monge, director of the Ecumenical Commission of Human Rights in Ecuador, a Development and Peace partner. Development and Peace has provided support to this commission to help it begin work.

The report that the Platform’s Truth Commission will produce later this year will shed light on this sad chapter in Honduran history. For the country’s 7.8 million inhabitants, knowledge of the facts is essential to ensure the future of their democracy and restore trust in their political institutions. ❖

GuINEA

For peaceful elections

“Let us not kill one another,” said Archbishop Vincent Coulibaly of Conakry, the capital of Guinea.

For a bishop to say something like that means that the situation is serious. In 2010, the country was experiencing its first so-called democratic presidential election since independence in 1958. There were no military candidates. Yet tension was at its highest in this country, which has been damaged by a lengthy political transition that had dragged on for three years.

Ethnic groups were becoming polarized. Each of the country’s two major ethnic groups were lining up behind one of the two competing parties. Civil war seemed imminent. But some voices, including those of certain religious leaders, made themselves heard. “It’s time to pull ourselves together,” the Archbishop insisted, in a prophetic spirit. “Let us recognize in each Guinean, in the diversity of ethnicities, languages, regions and religions, a living stone that is vital to the harmonious construction of Guinea.”

A similar message was sent to adherents of Islam, the country’s predominant religion, and to

Protestants. Bishops, pastors and imams took part in Religious Leaders of Guinea, Together for Peace, an interfaith project financially supported by Development and Peace.

A media campaign, days of prayer and appeals to the faithful were among the means used to soothe and refocus this election period, which had become turbulent

and divisive. The elections were but a first step towards democratization of the country, insisted the religious leaders. “May we understand that democracy does not happen simply by creating new structures, but rather by re-creating the structure of our mentality, of our whole being,” said Archbishop Coulibaly.

The appeals by the defenders of peace and nonviolence were heard in Guinea. The first democratically elected president was able to take office without facing a new—and dreaded—civil war. ❖

Let us recognize in each Guinean a living stone that is vital to the harmonious construction of Guinea.

CitiZen PartiCiPation

In Guatemala, violence against women and girls is probably the most widespread human rights

violation. “It’s a genuine epidemic,” say Guatemalan Development and Peace partners.

The Technical Training and Education Service (SERCATE) believes that it’s impossible to promote development without reducing violence against women. That is why its work in

the country’s southern coastal region is so important. The organization has provided over 1,000 women with training on their rights, their self-esteem and the solutions available to those suffering from domestic violence.

To get the message out, SERCATE has organized radio programs on domestic violence. SERCATE has trained thirty men who go and talk to other men on how to stop domestic violence in their communities. SERCATE has also trained members of municipal committees, teachers and their students on how to stop violence against women and children, as well as on human rights and the legal obligations arising from these rights. ❖

GuATEMALA

Men and women united against domestic violence

“”


The recent Burundi elections were of particular importance for Development and Peace and its partners. They were the first elections since peace agreements were signed in that country, and their smooth running was vital for preserving the peace.

Archbishop Évariste Ngoyagoye and human rights activist Jean-Marie Vianney Kavumbagu appeared before an attentive audience in a large hall in Bujumbura, Burundi’s capital, to present their observations on the progress achieved and the flaws noted in the electoral process in this small African country. The leaders of the Episcopal Justice and Peace Commission (CEJP) and the Civil Society Coalition for the Monitoring of Elections (COSOME) are Development and Peace partners.

Burundi, which has eight million inhabitants, is emerging from a 15-year-long war that left 300,000 dead. Both CEJP and COSOME have always felt that the elections scheduled for the summer of 2010 were particularly important for the country. Both agencies have been preparing for these elections for a long time. Both have repeatedly said that peaceful elections would mark the symbolic end of the war and a refusal to resort to arms whenever the political situation becomes the least bit tense.

The two agencies made sure that observers were present at each of the 6,969 polling stations across the country. Their job: to remain on site and record all

events that could affect the smooth progress of voting.After a long day of voting—the voting offices opened at 6:00

a.m.—and ballot counting, each of the observers had to submit a detailed report. It is no surprise that the reports from CEJP and COSOME, two Development and Peace partners, were eagerly awaited and listened to attentively. Bombs had gone off outside cafes and bars in the capital, some opponents had been arrested, and some political leaders had even urged people not to go out on the day of presidential elections.

But that did not prevent some 2.7 million Burundians— 77 percent of the registered voters—from going to the voting booths. They exercised their right to vote, but they also showed that the country was moving to another stage of development. And that that would not happen without its people. ❖

Voting for the first timeAt the Kamenge Youth Centre, a Development and Peace partner organization, workshops were organised for young people who were going to vote for the first time in their lives.

“We have the right and the opportunity to express ourselves, to choose the candidate or candidates who will manage the country for us in the years to come. You have to lose the idea in your heads that it’s no use voting, there are no honest candidates, these elections will be rigged. Use your right to vote to help choose the paths that Burundi will take in the months and years ahead,” said Claire, a facilitator at the Centre.

The Centre also distributed a small voter’s manual and a primer on politics as a means of explaining the functioning of a fair election, what a ballot looks like and what a polling station looks like. It then made sure that young people acquired the national identity card, an essential document if one wanted to exercise the right to vote. Despite threats, violence and fear, many young Burundians made their voices heard during the summer of 2010.

In this classroom in northern Burundi, people are busy counting the votes from the first presidential election since the end of the war.

Citizens supervised the entire electoral

process.

Smooth, with some flaws

“We consider that, overall, the presidential elections of June 28, 2010 went smoothly,” said Archbishop Évariste ngoyagoye, Archbishop of Bujumbura. He noted, however, that there had been some flaws in the voting. In particular, he denounced cases of “money distributed to encourage people to go vote”, and the presence, in one province, of armed members of the security forces.

BurunDi eleCtions

Observers in the service of democracy


eMerGenCY relieF

No respite. Not a month went by last year without Development and Peace being asked to provide emergency relief assistance somewhere in the world. Certain disasters or conflicts have certainly touched our spirits. Others, less visible in the media, have required just as much mobilization by the Catholic member

organizations of Caritas Internationalis, of which Development and Peace is the Canadian representative.

Faced with human suffering, Development and Peace responds as much as possible. In addition to special appeals, each year the organization reserves 10% of its Share Lent collection for emergencies.

Your solidarity each year saves lives and ensures the rebuilding of shattered communities. Below are just some of the emergency appeals we have responded to.

A Year of Emergencies

In 2009–2010, Development and Peace provided nearly $9 million for emergency relief. This amount includes the 10% Share Lent emergency reserve, in addition to the support received from the Canadian public for specific emergencies. A total of 66 relief and special programs were supported.

AFGhANISTAN Post-drought assistance and preparation for winter$50,000

ChILEReconstruction after the earthquake and tsunami$125,000

hAITI emergency aid after earthquake see next page

INdAFlooding in states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh$50,000

dEMOCRATIqUEREPUBLIC OF ThE CONGO Aid to the victims of violence in South Kivu and orientale Province$700,000

INdONESIAearthquake in Sumatra$150,000

PALESTINIAN TERRITORIESPsychosocial support for children in the Gaza Strip$65,000

PAKISTAN Floods in the country’s northsee next page

PhILIPPINESReconstruction after Typhoon Ketsana$350,000

ZIMBABWEFood aid for vulnerable households$14,539

NIGERAssistance to populations affected by food insecurity$100,000

EL SALVAdORAid to flood victims$50,000

SRI LANKAReturn of internally displaced people affected by the war$300,000Aid to flood victims in may$30,000

EThIOPIADrought and food aid$50,000

SOMALIADrought in Somaliland$50,000

ChAdAssistance to Sudanese refugees and surrounding populations$50,000

SUdANAid in health care and nutrition to people in internally displaced persons camps in Darfur$1,200,000

CAMBOdIARelief to victims of Typhoon Ketsana$50,000

GUATEMALAAssistance to indigenous communities after the Tropical Storm Agatha$50,000


BuilDinG stronGer hoMesCélina Tessier, 75, is proudly camped on a small patch of red earth. The land seems arid, but Célina is already imagining the new house that will soon be built upon it. Célina is one of the hundreds of people from the small isolated village of Ti Boucan who are participating in the pilot house-building project being carried out by ITECA and Development and Peace.

Four models of earthquake-resistant houses made from local materials have been designed by members of the community. With the help of ITECA engineers, participants work in groups of ten and help one other build their new houses. When the pilot project is complete, ITECA hopes to expand this project to the 1,700 members of this community.

Without this program, Célina would probably have been forgotten in the reconstruction of Haiti. It would have been almost impossible for her to build a new house. Thanks to ITECA, she has already begun to find the stones that will be used for her new residence. The mutual assistance in this community is the best guarantee that Célina and hundreds of other women will not stay in the street.

Since the terrible earthquake that devastated Haiti on January 12, 2010, other calamities—including a cholera epidemic and the passage of Hurricane Tomas—have rained down on the population.

“We have to believe that a better future is possible. We cannot be defeatist or pessimistic, otherwise nobody will want to work for a better society, and people will simply give up,” said Ridana Cornet, communications officer and liaison with Caritas Haiti.

The expressions “give up” and “throw in the towel” are not part of the vocabulary of Development and Peace partners in Haiti. Even though many of them also lost loved ones to the earthquake, they were the first to help the victims. As a result of funding from Development and Peace, local organizations such as Caritas Haiti and the Technology and Animation Institute (ITECA) were able to distribute essential goods.

As soon as it was possible, Development and Peace and its partners wanted to start rebuilding. But in Haiti—the poorest country in the Americas—discussions on reconstruction quickly gave way to reflection on the future of the country. Reconstruction represents a good opportunity to promote social change and initiate sustainable development, so that a fairer, more just society can emerge out of the debris.

In Haiti, Development and Peace is working alongside the local population. With partners such as MPP (Papaye Peasants’ Movement), we are distributing seeds to farmers. The latter have been generously hosting displaced families. They have fed the victims by sacrificing their meager reserve of seeds.

The Development and Peace reconstruction program, with a budget of $20 million, will last at least five years. ❖

tWo DeaDlY Disasters

EARTHQuAKE IN HAITI

We will never give up

The July rains in Pakistan were unlike any the country had known in the past 80 years. The water in the Indus River rose very rapidly and overflowed its banks.

Flash floods swept away entire villages, depriving people of all of their possessions.

This event plunged the country into an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. It is estimated that one-fifth of Pakistan’s territory was affected by the floods. It is also estimated that 20 million people were displaced by this disaster and that nearly two million homes were partially or completely destroyed.

Once again, Development and Peace was able to count on the generosity of Canadians to come to the aid of the most vulnerable. A sum of $7 million was quickly collected to help the flood victims. This amount included $2 million from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to support immediate agricultural assistance to 6,800 families (55,000 persons) in Sindh and Balochistan provinces. A sum of $1.26 million provided by the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, to which Development and Peace belongs, enabled 7,142 families in the Malakand district to obtain three months of food supplies.

Development and Peace is working with Caritas Pakistan. Members of Caritas Internationalis have so far provided immediate assistance to 500,000 Pakistanis, distributing basic necessities such as tents, hygiene kits, building materials, food baskets and providing medical care to the victims. ❖

PAKISTAN

The July 2010 floods

FateFul DaYKhursheed Bibi, 60, remembers the fateful day when her life suddenly changed. ”It started to rain very hard. We all stayed home thinking we were safe, but in fact we were not.” Her three-room house collapsed. She and her husband found themselves trapped under the roof and walls that had collapsed.

“I didn’t have any time to get out. Some bricks fell on my arm and broke it. But the most precious thing that I lost was my 14-year-old granddaughter, Shama, who died from a head injury,” said Khursheed.

That very day, she went to the Caritas Pakistan camp to ask for basic foodstuffs. She had lost nearly all her possessions. She received a food parcel containing cooking oil, flour, sugar, beans, powdered milk, tea, red peppers, salt, bottled water, body soap and a large bucket with a lid. This assistance allowed her to use her money to repair her house.

Flood victims were able to find help in the camps set up by Caritas Pakistan.


Interview with his Eminence Jean-Claude Turcotte, Archbishop of Montreal

Q: Your Eminence, poverty is very present here in Canada. In your opinion, is it still relevant to give to people in the Global South?

A: Poverty is a worldwide phenomenon. Of course, we have poor people in our country. Yes, we do run into a lot of local poverty. But that should not deter us from thinking about those who are in the South. Yes, we have to deal with poverty here, but we have to deal with poverty in the South too.

Q: Today we are witnessing a struggle for control of natural resources, water and agricultural land, while a million people in the world do not have enough to eat. How are we to read this situation in light of the Gospel?

A: The Gospel spoke to us about globalization before anybody else. That wasn’t the term used back then. But the way Christ presented it—the way he told us that we were all children of the same Father, that we were brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ—was an invitation to recognize that the resources of the Earth were made available, not just to one particular people, but to all of humanity. The Earth was given to all human beings.

There are inequalities in this world. Climates are different, water is not distributed in the same way, and natural resources are more prevalent in some places than in others. But all of creation must be in service to humanity.

One of the great sins of our world is selfishness. There is the selfishness of nations and of the powerful who want to grab hold of all the wealth. They lead a life of entertainment and luxury while so many people are dying of hunger. This runs counter to the Gospel, which has taught us to give special attention to the poorest, to those left behind, to all those people who have a hard time escaping poverty.

Development and Peace knows that. When the organization was founded in the aftermath of Vatican II, it was understood that peace could not be achieved without development. Development is the sharing among nations of knowledge, skills and wealth.

That is why we must encourage a movement like Development and Peace that seeks to find the best solutions with the people on site; that works with them to solve their problems and not impose our solutions, our technology, or our economic systems on them.

Q: Given these many injustices, what are the duties and responsibilities of the Christian family, especially during this time of Lent?

A: You cannot call yourself a Christian if you do not pay very special attention to the most neglected; to do otherwise denotes a false concept of the religion. Christianity has given us this vision, turned towards God, but at the same time, towards our brothers and sisters as well.

I really like to use the image of the cross, which has two branches: a vertical branch that ascends toward God, and a horizontal branch that goes outward towards our brothers and sisters. You can’t call yourself a Christian if you aren’t concerned about helping those who are in trouble, and it doesn’t matter whether they live near us or are far away.

It’s still amazing and I wonder why the richest countries are often those from the old Christian tradition. Personally, it makes me wonder a lot about our very understanding of evangelical duty.

Lent is a great period of reflection, a time when we must call ourselves into question, recheck our orientations and think about the road we’ve travelled to see whether we’re really going in the right direction. We cannot accomplish this without thinking about helping those who are in need. That is why I have personally always supported and I still encourage more people to participate in the Share Lent campaign. It is a condition, which I feel is essential, for truly living the faith that is ours, for expressing our love for Jesus Christ and witnessing the spirit of the Gospel. ❖

Interview conducted by François Gloutnay and Ryan Worms.

“You can’t call yourself a Christian if you’re not concerned about helping those in trouble”

dISTRIBUTION OF 2009-2010 ExPENdITURES

dISTRIBUTION OF SUPPORT TO OUR PARTNERS IN ThE GLOBAL SOUTh

dISTRIBUTION OF ACTIVITIES SUPPORTEd IN ThE SOUTh


International, bilateral and emergency relief programs 76 %

Latin America 24 %

emergency relief 41 %

Asia 9 %

International1 %

Governance and administration 9 %

emergency relief 34 %

Strengthening of grassroots social movements 20 %

empowerment of women and women’s groups 9 %

environment 2 %

Promotion of alternative development models 11 %

Conflict resolution and peace-building 7 %

Democratization and citizen participation 17 %

Africa 18 %

middle east 7 %

Advancement 5 %

education for international solidarity

10%

Final Points


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