1. Girl Child Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd Position Paper
Excerpts from:
Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd
Position Paper
Girl Child
United with St. John Eudes’ acute awareness of God’s compassionate love and inspired by the creative audacity
of St. Mary Euphrasia, we seek to give prophetic and radical responses to needs of our time.
Excerpts from 
Good Shepherd Position Papers
“We see a world permeated by God’s love,
where justice and human rights support
the dignity of every girl, woman and child.
We advocate to change policies that exclude
and systems that dehumanize.”

2. Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd Position Papers – Introduction
Migration / Economic Justice / Girl-child / Trafficking / Prostitution / Integral Ecology
Our Position Papers (PPs) have their source in the spirituality, vision, mission, and heritage of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd (OLCGS). The congregation and all affiliated with its mission have a history of service commitment that draws on 400 years of compassionate outreach to, primarily, girls, women, and children in the face of social conditions that cry out for mercy and reconciliation. 
This updated articulation renews a common direction for action in our global ministries; we seek to deepen the understanding of God’s mercy expressed in current situations. Our vision of God’s love is expressed in direct service projects characterized by compassionate welcome and relevant program development; it includes vibrant policy and advocacy activities that call for justice in systems and structures of programs, governments, church, and social entities. This 2018 update provides an expression of values and orientation for all who support our work.

3. We should devote ourselves to Divine Mercy St John Eudes, (adapted)
Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd Position Papers – Introduction
Migration / Economic Justice / Girl-child / Trafficking / Prostitution / Integral Ecology
These papers have included input from our practitioners across the world and have the affirmation of the Congregational Leadership Team.
We offer these papers as helpful guides that can:
Provide a base for local mission and ministry practice, advocacy, and policy.
Guide initial and continuing formation for all involved in mission and ministry.
Inform province priorities and good practices.
Focus strategic planning for ministry projects.
Motivate social, political, and economic analysis.
Serve as a basis for regular evaluation.
We should devote ourselves to Divine Mercy St John Eudes, (adapted)

4. The Girl Child In addressing global issues of today,
is among the most pressing issues of concern.
from the Congregational Chapter, 2015
Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd
Good Shepherd Position on the Trafficking of Women and Girls
GS Direction, stated at the 29th Congregational Chapter, July 2009, excerpt:
We commit ourselves... to respond to the anguish of the world calling us to the margins… by taking courageous steps to use our international resources effectively, to network and to… Work zealously with women and children, especially those who are trafficked…

5. 1.
across the world, children suffer severe violations of their human rights in unconscionable numbers.
Throughout human history, the girl child has been subject to disproportionate discrimination and abuse.
Good Shepherd has always been attentive to the social disadvantage of women and girls, while sharing concern for their family and boy siblings.
Migration
In a globalized world, people cross borders, temporarily or permanently, for many reasons. Where populations are mired in conditions of poverty, where environmental conditions are not sustainable, or where conflict immerses civilian population in
constant violence or virtual dictatorship, people move for both freedom and survival, seeking better social and economic opportunities.
A migrant is one engaged in activity for payment in a State of which he or she is not a national.
Movement across borders is a perilous journey for those who must separate from families, who cannot acquire legal documents, have documents taken from them, cannot communicate in a new language, or lack education and employment skills. Migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless persons are often categorized or labelled, making the regularization of their situation bureaucratically impossible.
Their situation leaves them vulnerable to being exploited by traffickers and smugglers, even by legally recognized recruiters. Women are increasingly among the vulnerable populations of people migrating. Where the male head of household migrates, the women and children left behind are often bereft of any protection or income.
GS is part of a Judea-Christian tradition whose spiritual covenant rests on a commitment to “welcome the stranger.” The Social Teaching of our church has a rich heritage of welcome and concern for immigrants, migrants, and refugees. We embrace this tradition and support Human Rights for all immigrants, migrants, and refugees.
There exist barriers to the free movements of peoples that contradict human rights.
There is an apprehension of “mass migration” resulting in many restrictive laws.
The right of the free movement of the human person has been subordinated to national sovereignty and the dominant rights of the movement of goods and money in this globalized era. While conventions and treaties exist, implementation lags to the disadvantage of those who are most vulnerable in their home society, desperate to seek personal and family security
GS’s first response to migrants and refugees is to welcome them as one would welcome the Divine among us. We honor the culture and heritage they bring, help them in resettlement or regularization, and celebrate the positive contributions migrants make to the economic, social and cultural lives of a new locality.
The service needs of migrants are complex and extensive – from language skills to health care to social supports, to healing from trauma, to need for employment skills to legal help.
We seek to listen to their experiences, accompany them, and develop programs to serve their multiple and varied needs.
We continually update migration issues – patterns, legal requirements, and status so as to advocate for change in systems and structures. We work so that the most vulnerable migrant will receive protection, welcome, and opportunity that every human person ought to be accorded.

6. 2.
The exclusion of girl children and girl adolescents is rooted in
-Systemic injustice
-Structural gender inequality
-Targeted gender violence
-Dominant systems of patriarchal power.
Humanity suffers when societies deny girls the opportunity to grow into valued, productive and equal persons.

7. HIV/AIDS Specific forms of violence beset the Girl Child2.
lack of social protections for families
DENIAL OF NUTRITION
lack of access to adequate health care and education
disregard for birth registration
SEXUAL ABUSE
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
infanticide
Migration heightens vulnerability for girls
Girls in indigenous communities
are particularly vulnerable
Lack of maternal
prenatal care
child labor
deliberate targets of
systematic rape,
abduction and murder in combat
violations within accepted cultural,
religious, and/or traditional norms
denial of education
forced marriage and too early child bearing
forced into combat
2 Specific forms of violence best the Girl Child
deprivation of childhood
In refugee camps girls face
sexual exploitation
HIV/AIDS
ENVIRONMENTAL DEPLETION
forced and early marriage
genital mutilation (FGM)
HUMAN TRAFFICKING

8. We recognize that every girl -is born with dignity 3.
We recognize that every girl
-is born with dignity
-possesses the inherent rights of all humans
-ought to be assured the unique rights of childhood
to enable them to reach their potential as individuals, as women, and as members of society.
When the value of girls is recognized, when their needs are met, and their voices amplified, girls contribute to positive change in their families, local communities, nations, and the world.

9. 4.
Our first response to the girl child is to accept and cherish her, affirming her immeasurable worth as a human person.
We develop, with participation of girls and their families, social service programs to empower the girl-child, to support her resiliency, to educate her about her rights, to promote safety and protection both within her home and within social institutions such as schools.

10. 4.
We support universal education for all children, knowing it to be the most effective avenue to realize individual capacity while being the surest path out of cyclical poverty.
We develop enrichment programs for self-esteem, pride in culture, play, and expression of each girl’s highest potential.
We support social benefits for parents and support all forms of extended families that care for children.

11. Support girls’ participation in defining needs and shaping responses.
5-a. In responding to the Girl Child it is critical to:
Develop social programs that welcome and value each girl, respecting her spiritual, human, and child rights.
Support girls’ participation in defining needs and shaping responses.
Locate programs in a girl’s home community as far as possible and include family integration.
Ensure programs are rich with social supports and social interaction.

12. All forms of sexual exploitation Armed conflict, etc.
5-b. In responding to the Girl Child it is critical to:
Develop specialized gender sensitive responses
for children who have suffered
Trauma related to abuse
Deprivation
Family loss
All forms of sexual exploitation
Armed conflict, etc.
Such programs will provide
gender-sensitive,
community-based reintegration,
sensitive to each child’s
readiness.
Each girl will participate in defining her goals.

13. that promotes positive development and
5-c. In responding to the Girl Child it is critical to:
Ensure that every program has a clear, detailed, and operative CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
that promotes positive development and
protects from abuse of any kind.

14. in programs that ensure the human rights of all.
5-d. In responding to the Girl Child it is critical to:
Include
Families,
Boys, and
Men
in programs that ensure the human rights of all.

15. Promote community observance of
5-e. In responding to the Gils Child, it is critical to:
Participate in, and lead networks, campaigns, and public activities for child rights’ advocacy to ensure political visibility and voice for girls and all children.
Promote community observance of
October 11, the International Day of the Girl Child.
Empowerment and education about human rights for girls
are essential strategies.

16. Build organizational capacity to Know, Analyze and Use
5-f. In responding to the girl child theme , it is critical to:
Build organizational capacity to
Know,
Analyze and
Use
gender-sensitive research.
Ensure high standards and good practices in
child welfare,
appropriate to
local context and culture.

17. -Reproductive health , and -Mental health.
5-g. In responding to the Girl Child, it is critical to:
Support gender-responsive budgeting to allocate monies for -Girls’ education & training
-Physical health
-Reproductive health , and
-Mental health.
Support the development of programs seeking to
end all forms of
violence against girls.

18. Support the strategic objectives
5-h. In responding to the Girl Child, it is critical to:
Support the strategic objectives
of Section L of the Beijing Platform for Action (UN, 1995)
Educate
girls and communities
on the principles of
Beijing, Section L
on the Girl Child.

19. UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
5-i. In responding to the Girl Child it is critical to:
PROMOTE
UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
with awareness of SDG 5
incorporate awareness
of how each of the 17 SDGs
has implications
for the welfare of girls.

20. are to be a basis for regular reporting.
5-j. In responding to the Girl Child, it is critical to:
ADVOCATE NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child with its Optional Protocols and
the UN CEDAW
are to be a basis for regular reporting.
Use the GS NGO office in Geneva.
Work for national legislation
that incorporates the (Palermo) Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children.

21. This power point was prepared November 2012

22. Mission Development Process
A diagram for Implementation of OLCGS Position Papers
Mission Development Process –
a diagram for Implementation of OLCGS Position Papers

23. Good Shepherd has Representation at the ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council) of the UN
in New York and in Geneva.
These offices can support your advocacy and policy efforts
Good Shepherd has regional UN NGO designates who can support regional, awareness, trends and efforts.
Find contact information on the GS international website.
Winifred Doherty NGO Representative –
Economic & Social Council, New York

24. Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd Position Paper
Girl Child
This PowerPoint was prepared for the congregation, at request of the CLT, by the Good Shepherd international Peace Office (GSIJPO), 2018.
It has taken excerpts from the full text of the 2018 updated OLCGS Position Papers. It has added some resource material after the text.
Its purpose is to aid training and formation
for mission and practice.
You are free to adapt this - graphics and images - in order to include and express local realties and culture.
This PowerPoint was prepared by the Good Shepherd international Peace office (GSIJPO), 2018.
It has taken excerpts from the full text of the 2018 updated OLCGS Position Papers.
Its purpose is to aid training and formation in Good Shepherd mission and practice.
You are free to adapt graphics and images in order
to include and express local realties and culture.

25. Further International Resources
Please insert your own Regional, National,
& Local Links to collaborative organizations,
relevant laws, advocacy groups, church and interfaith
resources, national commemorations, etc …
Further Resources:

27. Achieve gender equality / Empower all women and girls
TARGETS
5.1 End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
5.2 Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. 
5.3 Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation. 
5.4 Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate.
5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. 

28. Achieve gender equality / Empower all women and girls
5.6 Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences. 
5.a Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance with national laws. 
5.b Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women. 
5.c Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.

29. Links: - The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women, CEDAW
The Convention on the Rights of the Child, CRC

31. Networks and Campaigns of Child Rights’ advocates

32.
Section L: Beijing PLATFORM FOR ACTION / Actions to be taken.
  L-1 Eliminate all forms of discrimination against the girl-child.
 L-2 Eliminate negative cultural attitudes and practices against girls. L-3 Promote and protect the rights of the girl-child and increase
awareness of her needs and potential.
L-4 Eliminate discrimination against girls in education, skills
development and training.
L-5 Eliminate discrimination against girls in health and nutrition. L-6 Eliminate the economic exploitation of child labor and
protect young girls at work.. L-7 Eradicate violence against the girl-child.
L-8 Promote the girl-child's awareness of and participation
in social, economic and political life.
L-9 Strengthen the role of the family in improving
the status of the girl-child..

33. Trauma Healing Resources:
(Search for others in your own region)
The Sanctuary Model
The Sanctuary Institute:
Trauma Healing Resoureces
The Little book of Trauma Healing
by Carolyn Yoder

34. https://www.unicef.org/ The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF,
can be an appropriate
resource to draw from and
possible partnership to develop locally.