Human Dignity & Rights

Justice and Peace Europe has a new co-presidency

The General Assembly of Justice and Peace Europe elected for the first time in its history a co- presidency on Monday, 13 November in Malta. Archbishop Antoine Hérouard of Dijon and Maria Hammershoy from Copenhagen were elected for a period of three years by the approximately 50 delegates representing 20 European Justice and Peace commissions. On 10 November Sr. Alessandra Smerilli, secretary of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development was the key-note speaker in the opening ceremony of an International Workshop on “the changing world of work” which preceded the General Assembly… Read more »

Restart by focusing on the ‘discarded workers’ – Sr Alessandra Smerilli

Keynote speech by Dr Alessandra Smerilli during the opening night of the conference “The changing world of work – a transversal justice issue”

Work is such an important dimension of being human that not being able to express ourselves through the work of our hands makes us feel that we do not belong in the society in which we live. Work is indeed a means to acquire the necessities of life, but it is at the same time so much more… Read more »

The changing world of work – a transversal justice issue

On the 10th and 11th of November, the Justice and Peace Commission is organising an international workshop on the theme of The changing world of work – a transversal justice issue. This workshop will seek to analyse the different ways in which the world of work is changing in Europe and explore the social and economic consequences of these rapid changes. The plenary meetings and small group workshops planned over these two days will help shed light on the risk to workers’ rights which are being magnified by the evolving nature of work, whilst also giving space to examples of work practices which are respectful of the dignity and rights of workers… Read more »

In the image of a loving and merciful God

In the last days much has been written about comments made on the national station with regards to disabilities as fruit of original sin. I, myself have struggled with this Biblical narrative for several years. However, the Church’s teaching shows us that such an approach provides a shallow reading of what is meant by ‘perfection/imperfection’ in the creation story.

When we view people with disabilities as “unperfect” or inferior, we risk embracing a utilitarian view of humanity… Read more »

Not just life, but life in abundance

Fl-evanġelju ta’ San Ġwann, Gesu jesprimi b’mod ċar l-għan tal-missjoni tiegħu li jkollna l-ħajja u l-ħajja bil-kotra. Għaldaqstant, biex tkun taqbel mal-pjan u l-ħolma ta’ Alla, l-ħajja ta’ kull bniedem għandha tmur lil hinn mis-sempliċi sopravivenza. F’dan l-aspett it-Tagħlim Soċjali tal-Knisja joffri viżjoni koerenti u konsistenti: Ir-rispett lejn il-persuna u d-difiża tal-ħajja ma jiddependux mill-età, l-ħila, l-abiltà jew il-kontribut finanzjarju tagħha. Il-pedament ta’ etika konsistenti favur il-ħajja huwa d-dinjità tal-bniedem, li l-ebda ċirkostanza u l-ebda liġi umana ma jistgħu qatt idgħajfu… Read more »

A concert of sacred music

On the 25th July 2023, at 8 pm, a concert will be held at the Jesuits’ Church in Valletta, to celebrate the donation of a painting of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla to be venerated at the Jesuits’ Church in Valletta.

During this concert, there will be a world Premier of ‘A Prayer of Saint Gianna’ by UK Composer Mathew Ward, written in honour of his wife Dr… Read more »

We cannot give up

Fid-dawl tal-vot li ttieħed il-bieraħ fil-parlament dwar il-bżonn ta’ inkjesta pubblika li titfa’ dawl fuq il-mewta traġika ta’ Jean Paul Sofia, il-Kummissjoni Ġustizzja u Paċi tappella lill-awtoritajiet biex jisimgħu il-karba ta’ omm u tal-poplu għall-ġustizzja. Huwa ta’ diżappunt kbir li kwistjoni daqshekk sensittiva, għal darb’oħra, qed tispiċċa ballun politiku.

Quddiem din ir-reżistenza għall-inkjesta pubblika li diffiċli tifhimha, tispjegaha u tiġġustifikaha, niftakru f’dawk l-għexieren ta’ ħaddiema li fl-aħħar snin tilfu ħajjithom fuq is-siti ta’ kostruzzjoni… Read more »

It is high time to drop the charges

We demand that the Attorney General, Dr Victoria Buttiġieġ, immediately dismiss the unjust charges against Abdalla, Amara, and Kader, known as the El Hiblu 3.

Abdalla, Amara and Kader arrived in Malta more than four years ago. Acting as mediators and translators on the El Hiblu 1, they helped to prevent the unlawful pushback of over 100 people to Libya and to diffuse a tense situation at sea… Read more »

A space of dialogue

Based on Pope Francis’ visit to Malta in 2022 and supported by the Vicariate for Evangelisation and Justice & Peace – Malta, rethink.mt began as a podcast with various people active in Maltese society, to discuss the kind of society we are hoping to build together.

To wrap up the first season of the project, a public dialogue was held on the 1st of June at Suq tal-Belt… Read more »

Turning the page on unfair fast fashion

On the 1st of June, the European Parliament voted on a resolution about the European Sustainable Textile Strategy that addresses among others matters of due diligence in the textile sector, the promotion of slow fashion, the reduction of textile waste.

To understand the implications of this resolution and discuss the way forward, the European Laudato Si’ Alliance is organising a webinar on the 6th of June at 18:00… Read more »