«64 years after the institution of the International Human Rights Day [10 December] and of the appeal to “all peoples of the world” launched by the United Nations General Assembly,” we, the members of UNIRedes, wish to make public our constitution on the network, in order to foster authentic partnership relations, and build a more just and fraternal world, in pursuit of total respect for human rights.» These were the opening lines of the “Manifesto” signed on the occasion of the International Day of Human Rights, by over 50 social organisations, initiatives and movements of 12 Latin American and Caribbean countries involved in UNIRedes.

What do they have in common? Commitment to social change through a culture based on brotherhood, as a social expression of Chiara Lubich’s charism of unity. They work on various fronts: the political, social, economic, intergenerational and cultural fields. Their main characteristics are: promotion of cooperation and participation of the various players involved.

The “Manifesto” expressed furthermore, the «Commitment to cultivate and spread in our environments, a culture that respects and protects the dignity, liberty and rights of every human being, and operate continually to stir up in our territory, a firm and convinced awareness of the value of each human being; spreading this vision to as many people as possible, also includes sharing with them experiences, good practices, material for the education and qualification of our members, deficiencies. for reciprocal support without geographic or idiomatic barriers, and grow in the awareness that we are all part of one family.»

In short, UNIRedes wishes to make public its willingness to cooperate and “support all those who want to work together, and therefore make justice and fraternity more visible and concrete, and as the force which can bridge the lack of dignity many people are subjected to.» This is why they are launching «a public appeal to the government institutions and organisations of civil society, and to those individuals who support initiatives and social actions, to merge and share forces, in order to build a world in which the rights of each person are not violated but protected and guaranteed.» Unite therefore, the efforts of people who have been committed for years in the existential outskirts of society in Latin America to construct a more fraternal world.

For further information: www.sumafraternidad.org (http://www.sumafraternidad.org/web/ )

Contacts: info@sumafraternidad.org (AR) / uniredes@focolares.org.br (BR)

Organisations that are members of UNIRedes:

Apadis (Asociación de Padres de Ayuda al Discapacitado) – AR

Asociación Civil Nuevo Sol – AR

Associação de Apoio à Criança e ao Adolescente (AACA) – BR

Associação de Apoio à Família, ao Grupo e à Comunidade do Distrito Federal (Afago-DF) – BR

Associação de Apoio à Família, ao Grupo e à Comunidade de São Paulo (Afago-SP) – BR

Associação Famílias em Solidariedade (Afaso) – BR

Associação Famílias em Solidariedade de Cascavel (Afasovel) – BR

Associação Nacional por uma Economia de Comunhão (Anpecom) – BR

Associação Civitas – BR

Associação Pró-Adoções a Distância (Apadi) – BR

Associação Nossa Senhora Rainha da Paz (Anspaz) – BR

Casa de los Niños – Bolivia

Casa do Menor São Miguel Arcanjo – BR

Centro de Atención Integral Las Águilas – MEX

Centro Social Roger Cunha – BR

Codeso (Comunión para el Desarrollo Social) – UY

Colégio Santa Maria – MEX

Dispensario Medico Igino Giordani – MEX

Editora Cidade Nova – BR

Fazenda da Esperança – BR

Fundación Unisol – BO

Fundación Mundo Mejor – CO

Grupo Pensar – BR

Hacienda de la Esperanza de Guadalajara – MEX

Instituto Mundo Unido – BR

Núcleo de Ação Comunitária (NAC)/Núcleo Educacional Fiore – BR

Núcleo de Ação Voluntária (NAV) – BR

Promoción Integral de la Persona para una Sociedad Fraterna – MEX

Refúgio Urbano – MEX

Saúde, Diálogo e Comunhão – BR

Sociedade Movimento dos Focolari Nordeste/Escola Santa Maria – BR

Sociedade Movimento dos Focolari – BR

Unipar (Unidad y Participación) – PY

UNIRedes operates through social initiatives also in Chile, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala and Venezuela.