A snapshot of the work done by Sisters of Mercy at the UN comes from Irish-born Sr Áine O’Connor, who recently stepped down after five years as coordinator of Mercy Global Action. She told an Irish Catholic paper that their voice at the UN is credible because sisters work alongside people at the grassroots level and their critique is not motivated by profit or self-interest. Member states know “that we bring to the table an analysis based on justice and human rights.” The rights-based approach is critical, says Áine. “It’s more about justice than charity,” she explains. “We want to reorder systems that have created poverty and
injustice.”