Summary of presentation of information

Moderator 1: Sheila Dallas-Katzman, Chair NYC4CEDAW and President of IAWRT-USA

Moderator 2: Valerie Monti Holland, Director at Left Luggage Creative Training and Facilitation. Associate - Oasis School of Human Relations

Panellist: Houry Geudelekian, NGO CSW/NY Chair

• The event was a safe space for exploration, reflection, and a call to action in highlighting institutional racism across the globe.
• A variety of institutional racism cases were noted within the session stressing how important such a topic is within our societies, communities, and organisations.
• The topic stretched farther by capturing the fact that women are also separate victims within racism.
• Institutions are failing to protect women of colour in all sectors of life hence becoming easy targets for racial abuse in most organisations through methods such as racial profiling.
• Change is key within modern institutions, leadership and representation which need to reflect society – reflecting society wholistically will tell the full story that any individual despite your race, gender or ethnicity has a role to play in shaping a peaceful, competent, and sustainable global community.

What information shared in this meeting is of significance to The Salvation Army and why?

The Salvation Army is an international movement with a multi-cultural audience, discussing racism plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the organisation as a church. Addressing the issue of racism should be a priority within the Army because such complex topics foster progressive conversations, positive reflection, and in-depth spiritual insight. Openly discussing these important issues will encourage the church to be more conscious in helping other territories that are still facing such problems hence forth equipping the Army to be better positioned to promote forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace. Racial justice should be centred on Christ, progressively representing everyone to be equal in the Kingdom of God

What is The Salvation Army currently doing to address the UN Sustainable Development Goals addressed in this meeting?

The Salvation Army has a wide array of projects that support SDG 5 – Gender equality. Empowering women has always been an initiative that the Salvation Army supports in different countries across the world for example the Others – Trade for hope project. Others is a Salvation Army initiative mostly for women that uses fair trade principles to achieve job creation, empowerment, and poverty alleviation. This initiative equips women with the right tools they need to have a decent life within their communities.

What opportunities are there for The Salvation Army to create or further develop the work in this area?

Opportunities to further develop such work can be difficult but understanding the plight of racially marginalized communities is a step in the direction of getting the full scope of what racism is and how it affects its victims. Projects and educational initiatives that openly discuss about racial matters need to be supported to shape institutions and society for the better.

Web links for more information

• https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/child-q-black-girls-adultification - Child Q UK Incident
• https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220322-israel-83-of-palestinian-citizens-have-experienced-state-racism/ - State Racism in Israel
• https://www.vox.com/identities/2019/5/3/18526723/caster-semenya-800-gender-race-intersex-athletes - Racism in Sport
• https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/03/1114282 - UNHCR Condemns Racial Treatment on Refugees Fleeing Ukraine