International Role

We are a member organisation of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations (WUCWO) and work together with an estimated 5 million women in more than 60 countries to promote the presence, promote the presence, participation and co-responsibility of Catholic women in society and the Church, in order to enable them to fulfil their mission of evangelisation and to work for human development. Over the next four years, along with other Member Organisations around the world, we will be focussing our efforts on stopping infanticide; influencing legislative and administrative bodies at all levels of government in order to preserve the dignity of the human person; advocating against forced marriages of young girls; preventing the sexualisation and exploitation of children; fighting poverty and social exclusion; promoting and supporting initiatives to protect migrants and their families as well as defending their human rights; promoting ecumenical dialogue; and affirming the family and its crucial role in society.

The Catholic Women’s League of Australia also has consultative (Roster) status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (UN).   We are represented by our National International Secretary (NIS) at the Commission on the Status of Women Sessions held at UN Headquarters in New York each year.

Article 71 of the UN Charter requires the UN to maintain close relations with NGOs in order to remain true to its goals. We are in touch with the realities of life and are an invaluable link between the UN and society. To have our voice heard in international decision-making processes, we need to continue our presence and participation at the UN.

Based on our experience, the most authentic information about the UN comes from three sources:

Statements made by the Apostolic Nuncio, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN, His Excellency Archbishop Francis Chullikatt, Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations at www.holyseemission.org.

Due to the need for expanded humanitarian and conciliatory activities which go beyond the strictly diplomatic parameters of the Holy See Mission to the United Nations, the Path to Peace Foundation was established in 1991, by Archbishop Renato R. Martino, the then Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations. The Foundation, independent from, but in collaboration with the Holy See Mission, directs its activities primarily to the international stage of the United Nations. Its principal purpose is the spreading of the message of peace by which the Catholic Church, through the words and activities of the Pope and of the Holy See, strives to "guide our steps into the path of peace" (Luke 1:79). To find out more about the many programs, projects and service of the Path to Peace Foundation, please go to: www.thepathtopeacefoundation.org.

The weekly Friday Fax from C-FAM President, Austin Ruse, at www.c-fam.org.

Lastly, from the valuable reference by the Pontifical Council for the Family: ‘Lexicon’ Ambiguous and debatable terms regarding family life and ethical questions’.