Using a unique web-based decision making platform, thousands of people from over 100 countries added their voice to the writing of the Charter. In a six week period, thousands of submissions were entered which were then read and commented upon by the sites over 150,000 visitors. These contributions were then sorted through by the Council of Conscience in crafting the final document.)  See the Charter below.

Fr Frank Brennan SJ gave the keynote address.  As always Fr Brennan was articulate and passionate about his work.  He began by giving some insights into his experiences of working with refugees as well as lobbying those involved in making decisions.  Frank suggested that in every situation we must, in a metaphorical sense, “eyeball” both the human face of a situation and those who are involved in the policy, namely those involved in the government.

Fr Brennan then went on to give a brief overview of his work as the Chair of the Human Rights Consultation.  An overwhelming response (81%) in all aspects of the consultation (written submissions, focus groups, public hearings) was that people are calling for greater education around the issue of human rights. 

Throughout his address Frank intertwined personal stories with his experience of the law and community building.  It was challenging and heartening!  At one point Frank was speaking about the expressed need for people to have greater education about human rights and challenged the participants with the following question/anecdote:  In Australia it is generally felt we do human rights well but what are the rights and liberties that are agreed to in a citizenship ceremony?  Can we actually name what people are signing on to when they become citizens of Australia?

Sr Trish Madigan OP and Mrs Jamila Hussain also addressed the participants on the topic of Religion, Gender and Human Rights.  Trish began by giving some rather overwhelming statistics: Half of the world’s population is living on less than US$2 per day.  Women make up 70% of the world’s poor.  2/3 of the world’s illiterate are women.
Trish spoke of the work of Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum who advocate a Capabilities Approach to community development.  The focus is on flourishing and capacity which is directly related to the quality of life and to substantive freedoms.  It is about what a person is able to do and able to be.  This session was finished by Trish suggesting that women’s empowerment is essential for ensuring the full development of the world’s peoples.

On Sunday Sr Ruth Durick osu and Sr Sue Flood osu offered a presentation on Water – a basic human right.  As a member of the International Justice, Peace, Integrity of Creation Commission Ruth gave an overview of the work of this body.  The Commission takes a three pronged approach – awareness raising, involvement and lobbying.  Ruth presented a number of stories from other Ursuline sisters living throughout the world.  The diversity was evident; from a sister in Senegal speaking of water as a most significant symbol of hospitality to a sister from Venezuela explaining that it costs more for a small bottle of water than to fill your car with petrol!
In raising awareness of the issues regarding water Sue and Ruth presented participants with a quiz on water!  What a challenge!  See how you go with the quiz which follows.  (answers will be published next week!)

Click here to download the Water Quiz

Last week I mentioned Kathy McEvoy’s leadership mantra – Moments of Grace, Moments of infinite promise and Moments of farce.  The opportunity of being part of the Ursuline Conference was without doubt a moment of grace but more than that it demonstrated the infinite promise that is before us in relation to human rights, gender and the impact and implications of access to safe water for most of the world’s population.  I am most grateful to the Ursuline Sisters for the invitation to be part of this gathering.  The keynote speakers, participants and processes employed during the conference really made this a fabulous gathering.  Congratulations to the organisers and all involved!

Best wishes for a great week,
Kim Davis