Sr. Alessandra Smerilli, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, told justice and peace coordinators in Southern Africa to center their advocacy on human dignity. In a video address to participants at a five-day workshop, she stated that every social injustice involves a person whose life requires recognition and protection.
The workshop brings together coordinators from the six episcopal conferences within the Inter-Regional Meeting of the Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA). The event focuses on empowering religious leaders to advocate for socio-political, economic, and environmental issues across the region.
Sr. Smerilli identified several key areas for advocacy, including economic justice, governance, human rights, human trafficking, xenophobia, natural resources, and integral ecology. She noted that these topics represent real human experiences, such as families forced from their homes or victims of human trafficking. She explained that the Church advocates for these issues because of the call to ensure everyone enjoys life in its fullness and that the dignity of every person is respected.
