World Union of Catholic Women's Associations
The World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations ( English World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations (WUCWO), Italian Unione Mondiale delle Organizzazioni Femminili Cattoliche ) is incorporated in 1910 spiritual community of lay people , based in Rome .
It originated in the Christian women's movement and was recognized by the Pontifical Council for the Laity as an association of believers and included in the register of international lay communities kept by the Council . The non-governmental organization has advisory status with the Economic and Social Council of the UN , the World Food Organization , the International Labor Organization (ILO), UNESCO , UNICEF and the Council of Europe . The World Union represents 90 member organizations in 59 countries.
history
In 1910, Vicomtesse suggested Marthe de Vélard (1859-1949), the president of the Patriotic League of French Women ("Ligue patriotique des Françaises", LPDF) and the status of women within Catholic Action ("Action Catholique Générale Féminine", ACGF ), in collaboration with the “ Association Catholique Internationale de Services pour la Jeunesse Féminine ” (ACISJF) to found an association of Catholic women for the whole world.
The years of foundation
The first meeting took place in Brussels , the initiative committee consisted of representatives of women’s associations from Germany , England , Austria , Belgium , Brazil , Spain , France , Portugal , Switzerland and Uruguay as well as some delegates from the ACISJF. With the support of the Archbishops of Mechelen-Brussels ( Désiré-Joseph Mercier ) and Paris ( Léon-Adolphe Amette ), the committee was able to adopt the founding statutes.
The next international consultative meeting was held in Madrid in 1911 . The topics discussed were the “threat posed by the Freemasons ”, the “work and wage conditions of women” and the “moral position of women”. Women's organizations from Argentina , Canada , the USA , Hungary , Luxembourg and Poland joined as further associations .
The 3rd International Assembly was held in Vienna in 1912 , and the subjects discussed were “Ethics and Morals”, “Religious Education” and “Women in the Working World”. A committee was set up to draw up statutes.
In 1913, at the 4th session in London, the statute was passed, which was approved by Pope Pius X. (1903-1914). According to the resolution, the meeting took on the name "International Association of the Catholic Women's League". The association now includes 27 women's organizations from 17 countries, Countess Wodzicka (Poland) was elected as the first international president and confirmed by the Holy See . No activities took place during the First World War and in the post-war period until 1921. However, the executive committee kept the connection to the Vatican and individual women's associations.
New beginning
In 1921 the executive board of the International Women's League met in Krakow and prepared the fifth international world meeting, which was to take place in Rome . The 5th International Congress then took place in 1922 under the motto “Preservation and Spreading of Faith”. The Dutchwoman Steenberghe-Engeringh was elected as the new president. She stayed for 30 years in various committees and functions in the women's organization and is considered one of the historic women in the history of the world organization.
The 6th Annual General Meeting took place again in Rome in 1925, with the theme "Dangers threaten the family and through them all of society". The President Steenberghe-Engeringh was confirmed in office.
In 1926 a permanent secretariat was set up in Ghent , an advisory chaplain was appointed by the Holy See, and the Belgian Christine de Hemptinne (1895–1984) was elected as the new president and confirmed by Rome.
The 7th council meeting was held in 1928 in The Hague , at the same time it was decided to set up study weeks. The annual meetings were to be prepared for these weeks; the next date was set in 1930.
A new phase began with the 8th International Assembly in Rome, which was under the guideline “The Reconstruction of the Moral Family”. The discussion topics for future World Council meetings were from now on worked out in previous studies; the first week of study took place in Lucerne in 1932. A delegate was sent to the ILO who was represented in the Commission for Women's Issues, and the intervals between the international general assemblies were set at four years.
The 9th General Assembly took place in 1934 with the main theme "Principles of Education Pervade Family and Society". 512 delegates, representing 46 adult and 13 youth organizations, attended this meeting, including many priests .
In 1937 the motto of the 10th Assembly was "Catholic Women and the Restoration of Christianity in Society Today". The theme of Youth Day was “The Apostolate of Conversion”. The World Union now had 55 member organizations from 32 countries and represented almost 25 million women through the Women's Union.
The Second World War again forced work to be restricted, some offices in Europe were closed by the National Socialist regime , leaders were arrested and in some cases persecuted.
Reconstruction after 1945
At the end of 1945 the first contacts to the national women's organizations could be activated again. After another preparatory week of study, the 11th International Congress took place in 1947 with the main theme "Christian Women - Contribution to Human Community". The World Union of Catholic Women was appointed as an advisory body in other world organizations of the UN and international women's and youth associations.
In 1950, the advisory study week for the 12th International Assembly began in 1951; it was held in Freiburg , Switzerland, under the motto “International Life”. A landmark statement was issued by this gathering, highlighting the importance of Catholic women in a new international society. A new statute was presented, which was submitted to the Vatican State Secretariat for approval in 1952 . The then Deputy Secretary of State Giovanni Battista Montini and later Pope Paul VI. (1963–1978) commented on the draft statutes and incorporated changes that were not adopted by the Presidium. From now on, the praesidium elected a president who was not appointed by the Holy See from three proposals. The World Union established the General Assembly as the highest governing body. At the 13th General Assembly in Rome, which was under the motto “Peace in the World and the Contribution of Catholic Women”, the new statutes were adopted in 1952 and a new presidium was elected. From now on, the organization bore the official name “World Union of Catholic Women's Organization” and was abbreviated to “WUCWO” (after the English name). The General Assembly elected its first freely elected President, not appointed by the Holy See. With Marie du Rostu a French woman stood at the head of the World Union, which now numbered 166 organizations from 66 countries to its portfolio.
In 1954, the General Assembly decided on further organizational changes to the statutes and adapted the implementation provisions to international circumstances. In 1957, the series of world assemblies was continued with the 14th General Assembly, the World Union recorded continuous growth and became an important advisory body in the context of world development and questions of women. Reconstruction reached its peak in 1961 with the celebration of the 50th birthday in Rome. The Spanish Pilar Bellosillo was elected as the new president , she was sent to the Second Vatican Council as an observer and took part in the opening of the Council on behalf of around 36 million women.
continuity
In 1967 it was recognized and accepted as an international Catholic organization by the Pontifical Council for the Laity. 1970 was the 15th General Assembly in Torhut (Belgium) with the focus on "Education of Women". In 1974 the 16th General Assembly was held in Dar es-Salaam ( Tanzania ). Elizabeth Lovatt-Dolan from Ireland was elected President. The 17th general assembly was held in 1979 in Bangalore (India) with the theme "Women, Justice, Evangelization", Elizabeth Lovatt-Dolan was confirmed as president. 1983 followed the 18th general assembly in Antigonish (Canada), she stood under the Topic "Woman: Identity - Development - New Communities". Eleanor E. Aitken (Canada) was elected President. In 1985 WUCWO celebrated its 75th birthday in Cologne. At the 19th General Assembly in Roehampton ( England ) in 1987 , which has the motto “Advancement of Women - Enrichment for All”, several technical commissions and working groups were set up. Marie-Thérèse van Heteren-Hogenhuis (Netherlands) was elected President. In 1991 the 20th General Assembly took place in Guadalajara (Mexico) , its central theme was “Women and Life: Vision - Reality - Action”. Marie-Thérèse van Heteren-Hogenhuis was re-elected to office. The 21st General Assembly was held in Canberra (Australia) in 1996 with 700 participants. It was under the focus "I make everything new ( Rev 21,5 EU ): Women, reconciliation and hope" and included the topics "Elimination of violence against women", "Women and health", "Women and decision-making". Maria Eugenia Díaz de Pfennich (Mexico) was elected President. In 2001 the 22nd General Assembly in Rome marked the beginning of the new millennium. Maria Eugenia Díaz de Pfennich (Mexico) was re-elected. The theme of the following 23rd General Assembly in Arlington (Virginia) (USA) in 2006 was “Blessed are the peacemakers” ( Mt 5.9 EU ). The 24th general assembly took place in Jerusalem in 2010, the 25th anniversary assembly in October 2014 in Fátima (Portugal). The World Union is currently headed by Maria Giovanna Ruggieri (Italy).
Self-image
As part of the Christian women's movement, WUCWO is committed to equal rights for women. Her field of work is women in society with a focus on life in the church . It promotes evangelization and supports the work of women's organizations for human development. To this end, she accompanies educational programs and pursues the goal of empowering women to cope with today's times. In this context, the WUCWO works on an international level with state, supranational and church organizations and associations and accompanies the ecumenical and interreligious dialogue .
Organization and dissemination
The highest management body is the general assembly, which takes place every four to five years. The highest executive body is the "Council", it consists of the Executive Committee and elected delegates. The Executive Committee consists of the President, the Deputy President, the Secretary General, the Treasurer and the Ecclesiastical Assistant. Further members are the Vice-Presidents responsible for Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean and North America; it meets every year. In addition, a standing committee and various commissions and working groups have been set up. The WUCWO regularly publishes newsletters and publishes the biannual magazine "Voix de Femmes". Internationally, the World Union (as of 2006) represents 90 member organizations in 59 countries (Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America). The Union has its headquarters in Paris . Germany has been represented in the World Union as a founding member since 1910 by the Catholic German Women's Association (KDFB).
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ https://www.wucwo.org/index.php/en/home-4/informacion-general
- ↑ Magali Della Sudda: Une activité politique féminine conservatrice avant le droit de suffrage en France et en Italie. Socio histoire de la politisation des femmes catholiques au sein de la Ligue patriotique des Françaises (1902–1933) et de l'Unione fra le donne cattoliche d'Italia (1909–1919) . Diss., École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales , Paris 2007, p. 546.
- ^ Charles Chauvin: Marie du Rostu. Une figure du féminisme catholique . Editions de l'ACGF, Paris 2001.
- ↑ Biography of Pilar Bellosollo (Spanish), accessed on July 8, 2015.