Women Global South peacebuilders to visit Montreal, 2-3 October 2023
KAIROS’ Women, Peace and Security global partners will speak to empowering impacts of Canadian funded program, part of cross-country tour
(Montreal – St Lawrence Iroquois, Kanien’kehá:ka, Mohawk & Huron-Wendat Territory) – Congregation of Notre Dame will host peacebuilders from women-led grassroots organizations from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of South Sudan on October 2 and 3. Montreal is a key stop in the Climate, Conflict, Gender: KAIROS Canada’s Women of Courage Visit 2023, which runs September 25 to October 6.
The partners are part of KAIROS Canada’s Women of Courage: Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Program, a six-year program funded by the Government of Canada and Canadian donors. This financial assistance has helped local partners increase their capacity to assist more women, who are impacted by war and gender-based violence, to empower themselves to become effective peacebuilders and land stewards and defenders.
The partners who are visiting Montreal are:
- Gérard Kwigwasa Nakahuga, Executive Secretary, Héritiers de la Justice (Heirs of Justice), Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Fr. James Oyet Latansio, Catholic priest and General Secretary, South Sudan Council of Churches
- Proscovia Mungasa James, National Women’s Program Coordinator, South Sudan Council of Churches
DETAILS OF THE LOCAL VISIT:
The teams from the DRC and South Sudan will be hosted by the Congregation of Notre Dame , which will present a public event on October 2 at 19:00hrs at the Notre Dame Congregation, 2330 Sherbrooke West, Montreal.
KAIROS Steering Committee member, Sister Maura McGrath, Congregation of Notre Dame (CND), says she is looking forward to welcoming the Global South partners to share their experiences on their efforts in creating an enabling environment for sustainable, just and equitable peace and to address the nexus between conflict, climate and gender inequities in their region.
The Development and Peace, Caritas Canada team, represented by Philippe Lafortune, is also looking forward to having a meaningful engagement with the visiting partners towards an enhanced and continued advocacy and investment in their critical work.
In addition to Montreal, partners will travel to Kelowna, Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Sydney, where they will be hosted by the KAIROS local networks and share experiences and insights with the Canadian public and Canadian parliamentarians. Prior to that, they will visit Toronto, September 25 to 30. The Global South partners will also advocate for continued financial support for their critical work that lays the foundation for a just and lasting peace, equity, and climate justice.
KAIROS’ WPS Program began in 2018 and wraps up in 2024. The funding is made possible by Global Affairs Canada, which has contributed $4.5 million over six years to the program, and matching funds from KAIROS member churches and agencies, religious communities, individual donors, labour unions and other supporters.
This financial support has helped KAIROS’ WPS partners empower and equip thousands of women and male allies to build conditions for sustainable, just and equitable peace and to address the growing connection between conflict, climate and gender inequities.
For more, visit:
Press Release: Women Global South peacebuilders to visit Canadians this fall
Climate, Conflict, Gender: KAIROS Canada’s Women of Courage Visit 2023
About KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives:
KAIROS is a social justice organization that includes ten Canadian churches and religious organizations. We are Indigenous, settlers and newcomers in Canada working with people of faith or conscience all over the world for ecological justice and human rights. We deliberate on issues of common concern, advocate for social change and join with people of faith and goodwill in action for social transformation. Learn more: KAIROS Canada website.
Media Contact:
Rick Garland, Administrative Associate, KAIROS Canada: rgarland [at] kairoscanada [dot] org
Cheryl McNamara, Media Coordinator, KAIROS Canada: cmcnamara [at] kairoscanada [dot] org
