JCoR Workshop for Religious in Gujarat, India (November 2024)

The Justice Coalition of Religious (JCoR), the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), and the Gujarat Religious Sisters Forum invite all Catholic Sisters, Brothers, Priests, and their Associates and Ministry Partners in Gujarat, India to join this free, three-day, in-person workshop titled “Rights-Based Advocacy as Religious Ministry in India & at the United Nations.”

Overview

Participants: 26 Catholic Women Religious

The workshop aimed to equip Catholic Women Religious in Gujarat with a deeper understanding of rights-based advocacy frameworks, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and their intersection with social justice missions. It provided a platform to discuss challenges and chart actionable steps for integrating SDGs into their work.

During the workshop, the participants decided to focus on SDG Goal 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) for the upcoming year, with a specific emphasis on education, capacity building, and advocacy on constitutional rights. To achieve this objective, a six-member core team was formed to spearhead the initiatives and ensure sustained progress.

Day 1 Highlights

Inaugural Session:

• Introduction to JCoR:
  Participants were introduced to the organizing institutions and the objectives of the workshop, emphasizing the critical role of rights-based advocacy in addressing social exclusion and marginalization.
• Understanding Social Exclusion and Marginalization (Session by Brinelle D’Souza):
  Explored systemic inequities, including caste-based discrimination, gender biases, and economic inequalities. Discussed conceptual frameworks for understanding marginalization in Gujarat’s socio-political context.
• The Rights-Based Framework (Session by Azima Girach):
  Highlighted principles of human rights-based advocacy, focusing on participation, accountability, and non-discrimination. Examined how these principles can be applied to social justice initiatives targeting Gujarat’s minority communities.

Eucharistic Celebration:
This celebration integrated themes of SDGs 1-6 (poverty, hunger, health, education, gender equality, and clean water) with faith-based missions, encouraging reflection on social justice goals.

Cultural Evening:
Performances by Buniyaad celebrated local cultural narratives and were followed by a conversation with Ayesha Khan. Discussions focused on Gujarat’s political evolution, the challenges faced by minorities, and fostering inclusivity through dialogue.

Day 2 Highlights

Sessions:

• Majoritarian Nationalism (Session by Ranu Jain):
  This session analysed the rise of majoritarian ideologies, their impact on Christian and Muslim communities, and strategies for protecting human rights within democratic structures.
• Empowering Communities: The Role of Catholic Religious in Social Justice (Session by Prasad Chacko):
  This session examined the Catholic Religious’ role in combating systemic injustices, fostering community resilience, and advocating for marginalised groups.
• Advocacy and Documentation for Advocacy (Session by Shweta Damle):
  This session focused on the role of advocacy and strategies for effective advocacy in promoting social justice. It also introduced key documentation techniques, including data collection and narrative framing, to strengthen advocacy efforts. Shweta emphasized the importance of using these tools to engage with media and community networks effectively.

Eucharistic Celebration:
This celebration integrated themes of SDGs 7-12, reflecting on themes such as clean energy, decent work, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities, and responsible consumption.

Day 3 Highlights

Sessions:

• Citizenship Rights (Session by Prof. Hemal Shah):
  This session delved into the constitutional framework for citizenship rights, issues of disenfranchisement, and the role of civil society in promoting inclusive governance.
• Mainstreaming the SDGs in Mission (Session by Fr. Thomas Pallinatham):
  This session discussed aligning faith-based missions with SDGs through resource optimisation, community mobilisation, and collaboration with secular organizations.
• Learning About UN Advocacy Processes (Session by Fr. Thomas Pallinatham):
  This session provided an overview of United-Nations advocacy mechanisms, emphasizing how religious groups can contribute to global discussions on justice and sustainability.

Action Planning:
Led by  Brinelle D’Souza and Fr. Thomas Pallithanam, SDB, this session facilitated the development of actionable steps to integrate workshop lessons into participants’ missions. It culminated in the decision to focus on SDG 16 for the next year, forming a six-member core team to lead initiatives on education, capacity building, and advocacy around constitutional rights.

Eucharistic Celebration:
This celebration integrated themes of SDGs 13-17, addressing climate action, peace and justice, and partnerships for the goals.

Key Outcomes

1. Awareness and Understanding: Participants developed insights into Gujarat’s socio-political challenges and the broader implications for rights-based advocacy.
2. Skills Development: The sessions enhanced participants’ capacities in advocacy strategies, documentation techniques, and strategic planning to address systemic inequalities.
3. Action-Oriented Plans: Tailored action plans were developed to integrate SDGs into faith-based missions effectively, with a particular focus on SDG Goal 16.

Conclusion

This workshop successfully bridged faith-based perspectives with the Sustainable Development Goals, empowering Catholic Women Religious in Gujarat to act as advocates for justice and sustainability. The decision to focus on SDG 16 in the coming year, led by a dedicated core team, reflects the participants’ commitment to promoting peace, justice, and strong institutions through education, capacity building, and advocacy. The diverse sessions addressed critical challenges, fostering a collaborative and action-oriented approach to social transformation.