Association Life
International Council 2018
From February 6 to 8, 2018, the ACISJF International Council met at the Ephrem House at the gateway to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre in Paris.
During three intensive days, ACISJF Representatives from four regions (North America, Latin America, Africa and Europe) discussed successes and difficulties encountered on the ground in the countries where we are active.
After highlighting the latest developments and guidelines advocated by the Geneva International Office (including protection of mothers who are minors and the Tarija Charter on the Accompaniment of Migrants), the ACISJF President indicated that she participated, whenever she could, in meetings of our national committees (Colombia, Portugal, France ...) and she discussed ACISJF participation in meetings of other NGOs sharing our objectives (WUCWO, Forum of Christian-inspired associations in Rome, and others).
Participants highlighted successful activities including results achieved in Africa to assist in the prevention of early pregnancies (a program to train the trainers), innovative initiatives in Latin America (fighting against forced adoptions, work to maintain the family bond, partnerships with other associations), and Italy where challenges posed by migration are particularly encountered in large cities (the "Ampliacasa" project to fight against prostitution of minors).
ACISJF is also active in several international institutions (Council of Europe, UNESCO, Human Rights Council) where we contribute to advocacy and awareness raising, relay our actions on the ground (fighting poverty which generates exclusion and violence against women and children, the importance of intercultural dialogue, migratory phenomena, global warming, perspectives of science with regard to respect for the human person, etc).
The new ACISJF website, operational for several months, was presented highlighting its interactive nature (separate spaces for each country and for international work, the ability to insert photos and articles with links).
We discussed the important investment made by each individual Representative working both to strengthen the links between our various associations, and to increase the visibility of ACISJF.
The next International General Assembly will meet in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on 8-9 October 2019, preceded by a two-day seminar on the theme of media and violence (a group is responsible for defining the title and content organized around "loneliness, media, education").