Vatican Official urges IMBISA justice and peace coordinators to put human dignity at the heart of advocacy

Sr. Alessandra Smerilli FMA, 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, Smerilli stated that every social injustice involves a person whose life requires protection and recognition.

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 helping religious leaders advocate for socio-political, economic, and environmental issues across the region.

Smerilli identified several key areas for advocacy, including human rights, governance, economic justice, natural resources, xenophobia, human trafficking, and integral ecology. She noted that these topics represent real human experiences, such as families forced from their homes or victims of human trafficking. Smerilli explained that the Church's work in advocacy stems from the call to ensure everyone lives life to its fullness and that the dignity of every person is respected.