From 26 to 28 November, a delegation of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations (WUCWO), composed of the President General, Mónica Santamarina; the Secretary General, Lavinia Rocchi; and the international representatives Adelina Viteri —WUCWO representative to the FAO (Rome) and the Human Rights Council (Geneva)— and Maureen Meatcher, representative to the Council of Europe (Strasbourg), took part in the 6th International Forum of Catholic-Inspired Organisations. This meeting gathers entities committed to promoting human dignity at the international level and, in this edition, was titled: “Pilgrims of Hope: for the promotion of dignity, the common good, and peace”.
Within the framework of the Forum, Lavinia Rocchi participated as a speaker on the panel Human Dignity – Migration and Integration, where she presented the work of WUCWO and the World Women’s Observatory (WWO) through the project Access to Justice for Migrant Women in Mexico. In her address, she emphasised that “migration is one of the defining realities of our time” and recalled that migrant women face “double vulnerability: as migrants and as women”.
The World Women’s Observatory in Mexico
The Secretary General explained that the Observatory, created to “give visibility to the most vulnerable women”, works by listening, researching, training, and building synergies among NGOs, governments, and the Church. Regarding the project in Mexico, she detailed that WUCWO has carried out 234 interviews in 18 shelters, organised training workshops, and collaborates with more than 30 local organisations, also supporting good practices such as Sin Fronteras IAP and Espacio Migrante A.C.
Among the most relevant findings, she highlighted that 65% of the women interviewed reported having suffered violations of their rights, but only 10% filed a complaint—mainly due to fear, lack of information, and economic barriers. “The women themselves propose solutions”, Lavinia noted: “32% call for greater public legal support; 29% for better training of State personnel; 23% for awareness campaigns”. These voices, she affirmed, are guiding WUCWO’s advocacy work.
Finally, she stressed that this project does not end in Mexico: its results are being presented in international forums such as MIGRARED, CSW69, and academic conferences. She concluded with a common invitation to reflection: “How can we strengthen collaboration so that migrant women are not invisible within justice systems?” and recalled that only joint efforts will allow progress toward “real and tangible responses that express our values and our mission as pilgrims of hope”.
Christians at the International Forum – Jubilee Seminar
After several days of exchange, training, and reflection, the third and final day of the Forum took place on 28 November, organised by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life and the Secretariat of State – Section for Relations with States and International Organisations, at the Lateran University. During this working day, participants reflected on the place and role of Catholic-inspired NGOs within international institutions, highlighting the importance of collaboration and active presence in decision-making spaces. The day concluded with the celebration of Holy Mass and the passage through the Holy Door of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, a gesture that underlined the spiritual meaning and hope that inspire this shared journey.
Full seminar here [Italian]:
