The nuns of the world gather in Rome to discuss the challenges of the day

Catarina Agorilios – Vatican City

The first ever forum organized by the International Presidents Organization (UISG), UISG Advocacy Forum It will be held from October 23 to 24 in Rome on the theme: “Women Religious: Leadership and Development”, Ordenskvinnor – ledarskap och utveckling.

Women religious from around the world will speak for two days with representatives of governments, intergovernmental programmes, Vatican institutions, religious groups, civil society, organizations in the private sector, the academic world and the press to strengthen advocacy measures and program planning, locally. And internationally, for the well-being of people and planet. This is as a contribution to the synodal process of the Church.

On the front line of humanitarian challenges

“Catholic nuns are on the front line of the world’s most pressing humanitarian and development challenges,” says Sister Patricia Murray, Executive Secretary at UISG. “By supporting marginalized and vulnerable communities for centuries, accompanying their suffering and participating in their struggle for ‘empowerment and justice’, she says: “The Sisters have developed an exceptional model of community engagement, making their grassroots network an important piece of the international development puzzle.”

“UISG believes that these networks should be connected to decision-makers at the global level, in order to channel their potential and promote truly sustainable systemic change: this is the vision that guides UISG’s advocacy work and is the basis for our first-ever advocacy forum,” says Fr. Murray.

600,000 Catholic nuns around the world

UISG is an umbrella organization for leaders of Catholic women’s congregations, which includes 1,903 member groups with headquarters in 97 countries and represents more than 600,000 Catholic nuns worldwide. This event, which is held in collaboration with Global Solidarity Fundwill be held at the Jesuits’ home in Rome, Borgo Santo Spirito.

The Forum is the culmination of a process that began more than three years ago, in July 2020, when the UISG was launched Sisters advocating globally In cooperation with the Global Solidarity Fund.

The initiative aims to create a network of sisters engaged in social and environmental advocacy work, facilitate communication and cooperation with partners, and create a space for reflection on important topics in international development.