April 14, 2009
St. John’s University
students and faculty joined 250 ambassadors, state and
non-governmental organizations on March 11, 2009, at the United
Nations Secretariat for a panel discussion titled: “The Human
Dignity of Women in Contemporary Society: Caregiving within the
Family.” The fourth in a series, this topic coincided with
the priority theme of the 53rd session of the Commission for the
Status of Women held from March 2-13 at the UN in New York.
His Excellency Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Apostolic Nuncio and
Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, presided
at the event, which was coordinated by Sr. Margaret John Kelly
D.C., Executive Director of theVincentian
Center for Church and Society at St. John’s University.
Attendees examined concepts of human dignity, vulnerability,
dependence and caregiving as well as policies and programs that
assist and hinder family caregiving. In addition, best
practices developed by the Catholic Church in Africa to assist
families who are afflicted with HIV/AIDS were also presented during
this dynamic, thought-provoking discussion.
“This side event offered a wealth of information and successful
service models to a very diverse group of participants,” says Sr.
Kelly. “Through their scholarship, our faculty members are making a
significant contribution to furthering the cause of women around
the world and investing in the future of the family as well.”
The panel discussions examined caregiving within the family, from a
Catholic Social Thought perspective and explored methods to support
families both from a policy perspective as well as examining
services for families dealing with the HIV/AIDS pandemic in
Africa.
Panelists included: Marilyn A. Martone Ph.D., Associate Professor
in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies in St. John’s
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Linda M. Sama Ph.D.,
Associate Dean for Global Initiatives and Professor of Management
at The Peter J. Tobin College of Business; and Sr. Marie- Bernard
Alima Mbalula, S.J.A.E. , the Executive Secretary of the Congolese
Bishops Justice and Peace Commission. Mary Ann Dantuono,
J.D., Associate Director of the Vincentian Center for Church and
Society, moderated the panel.
Dr. Linda M. Sama of The Tobin College of Business gave a
talk which focused on macro level environmental factors that
combine to effect female empowerment and that contribute to
preserving the dignity of women care-givers in contemporary
society, as well as the actions needed to achieve transformative
change. Her analysis
acknowledges that while the ends are universal, the means to these
ends derive from models that differ between developed and
developing nations.
“The UN is a forum for the member states to examine the ‘signs of
the times’ and engage in problem solving,” says Ms. Dantuono. “Side
events offer the opportunity to add to the formal debates and
dialogue and to explicate the general discussion of topics with
reflections on values and moral principles.”
The event was co-sponsored by the Path to Peace
Foundation, Franciscans
International and the Vincentian Center. The Holy See side
event exemplifies St. John’s commitment to its Vincentian mission
of service to the Church in collaborative endeavors to support
education and services to assist the poor and vulnerable.