Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat (SJES) at the Jesuit headquarters in Rome has as its main task to assist the Superior General of the Society of Jesus and the 105 Jesuit provinces constituting six conferences throughout the world to formulate policy and organize activities in the furtherance of social justice and ecology.
The Society of Jesus in its four General Congregations since 1974 has determined to integrate into all of its works a faith that does justice. It proposes to do this by educating men and women for others in its 500 educational institutions, by maintaining more than 500 organizations aimed primarily at socio-economic development, and by including the component of a universal charity that does justice into its retreat and pastoral work. These efforts are aimed at sustainable human development and a more just and compassionate human community, at both local and global levels.
The Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat is charged with the mission of:
assisting Fr. General and his Council in their efforts to lead the Society in its commitment to promote justice and reconcile with creation;
collaborating with other offices within the Jesuit Curia, in pursuit of these goals;
assisting the six Jesuits conferences of provinces worldwide, and individual provinces, in working toward the vision of the Jesuit congregations in the areas of justice and ecology;
networking with other organizations in pursuit of its goals;
freely disseminating information about relevant Jesuit activities worldwide through its website, including its monthly journal Promotio Justitiae.
The breadth of its concerns is evident from some of the Jesuit-related news reports on its website for March–April 2016:
Justice in the Global Economy, Building Sustainable and Inclusive Communities: This is an issue of Promotio Justitiae produced by SJES in conjunction with the Secretary for Higher Education, drawing on the expertise of Jesuit scholars worldwide, and at the directive of Fr. General sent to all Jesuits to inform them and motivate them to address the global economic and ecological crisis in whatever work they do.
Living together with Muslims: "A number of Jesuits who live together with Muslim communities in various parts of the world describe their experience of sharing life with people of Islamic faith,... the challenges and opportunities presented by dialogue with these communities in everyday life,... what they have learned and how they have been rewarded by these encounters."
Lok Manch, National Platform for food security, launched in New Delhi: From 12 states in India "120 activists representing around 100 organizations... (met at the Jesuit) Indian Social Institute, New Delhi, for the launch of Lok Manch, which is a national platform for ensuring food security,... part of a three-day workshop wherein the participants deliberated on the various entitlements enshrined in the National Food Security Act 2013.... The participants also explored effective strategies to capacitate the grassroots communities enabling them to know and understand the various provisions of the Act."
North America – Meeting of the social apostolate: "Close to 100 Jesuits and lay partners working in the social apostolate coming from Canada, United States, Central America, Mexico, Antilles, and Guyana gathered together on April 5–8 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to discuss about shared social concerns: migration and solidarity with migrants; conflicts caused by extractive activities; violence; growing economic inequality. At the end of the meeting, they came out with some proposals for further development of collaboration in these areas. Most of the Provincials from the involved Provinces also joined the group."
Asia Pacific – Dialogue with Buddhists on ecology and faith: "Jesuits and Buddhist monks and nuns came together in early March to share and dialogue on ecology and religions in a workshop organised by the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific." The 3-day seminar included 14 Jesuits from India, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, the Philippines, and the United States.
USA – Jesuit student government leaders take stand against racial injustice: "Student government presidents at the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities across the United States joined on March 28 to take a stand against racial injustice. They made a commitment to stand in solidarity with the students of color around the country whose lives are threatened."
Africa – Social Centers meet on communication: "Communicators from the social apostolate in Africa and Madagascar gathered in Nairobi from the 14th to the 18th of February 2016 to attend a workshop on communications. The principal aim of the meeting was to strengthen the operational capacity of the Jesuit Social Centers in Africa, so that they can be an effective driving force of social change." The meeting was also used to organize their efforts at the upcoming General Congregation of the Jesuits in Rome.
Europe – Advocating for conflict-free minerals: "The devastating impacts of the trade in minerals linked to conflict and human rights abuses are well documented. The European Union has failed to offer an effective response to the problem. Its position is significantly undermining the leading international framework previously endorsed by the EU: the OECD's Due Diligence Guidance. There is a civil society campaign – endorsed by several Jesuit Social Centers – to support a European regulation that aligns with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance."
Honduras – Berta Cáceres assassinated in her home: "A human rights defender, Berta Cáceres, was assassinated in her home on the 2nd March. She was one of the leading organizers for indigenous land rights in Honduras and a dear friend of Radio Progreso in Honduras, a Jesuit organization. She was involved in a grassroots campaign that successfully pressured the world's largest dam builder to pull out of the Agua Zarca Dam. She was the leader of the Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras. She had recently received the 2015 Goldman Environmental Prize for her commitment (see video)."
Spain – Rejecting the EU-Turkey agreement about refugees: Catholic social organizations working with migrants and refugees in Spain have rejected the agreement that Turkey and the EU came to on Monday 7th, which allows sending back to Turkey refugees arriving to Europe."
Global – International Jesuit prison ministry: "The Jesuit international network on prison ministry has recently launched a newsletter gathering articles on activities held by this apostolate in different parts in the world. In this occasion there are articles coming from Ireland about needs of young adults in prisons; from the US about decisions on juvenile justice; from Australia about education opportunities that imprisoned people may have and shorter news from several other countries."
