Bending the Arc

In their May 2024 newsletter, UNANIMA International shares news from the United Nations and around the world and invites all to consider nominating a woman of courage.

Once again, you will be amazed at all the work the small staff of UNANIMA International (UI) has done this quarter. In fact, as I write this, Executive Director, Jean Quinn, DW, and her Executive Assistant Liana Almony have recently returned from Nairobi, Kenya after attending a successful U.N. Civil Society Conference, on to Paris, and a final stop in Madrid to present UI’s 2022 Woman of Courage Award to Helena Maleno Garzón, founder of Caminando Fronteras (Walking Borders).

Each year, UI presents the “Woman of Courage Award,” which honors women from around the world who have exhibited exceptional courage and leadership to make a difference in their communities, especially for the betterment of the lives of women and children. Nominations are submitted by member congregations, such as CSA, and a vote is held by the UI Board of Directors. Nominations are now open for 2025 Women of Courage Award!

Criteria for the award:

• A woman who is not a member of the nominating congregation
• A courageous actor in the face of adversity by the government, popular opinion, or leaders
• Her actions reflect and support the values and principles promoted by the UN
• Her actions related to one of the major areas of concern for UI: women/children; human trafficking; poverty; immigrants/refugees; environment/water
• She is nominated by one or more member congregations of UI
• Her country of origin lends geographic diversity to the list of past participants (find list here).

Please consider nominating a deserving woman today! For further details and to receive a nomination form, please contact tabler@csasisters.org. Tracy represents CSA on the UI Board of Directors. Nominations are due July 1, 2024.

In addition to the MANY speaking engagements, committee work, and collaborations you will read about in their May 2023 newsletter, UI staff have been busy preparing a re-release of their publications, Hidden Faces of Homelessness. Women, children and girls are at the center of UI’s work and these updated publications, which mark the 30th anniversary of the International Year of the Family, can help policymakers and other stakeholders understand the current realities of homeless families around the world in order to develop best practices and set better standards. These re-publications will include updated statistics, expert and lived-experience testimonies, and provide meaning for  how different countries define homelessness.

Among the many incredible updates, each newsletter issue features grassroots stories from member congregations. These stories are key to research and advocating at the U.N. Members are ALWAYS encouraged to submit similar stories. Please contact Tracy if you have a story to share.

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