Chris Herlinger

In such an environment as the colonia of Apopa where gang activity is strong, finding and affirming common humanity is not easy. Joy can seem rare, out of reach. But it is not impossible, thanks to a coalition of sisters and partners trying to bring hope through hard work, a stubborn belief in goodness, and a sense that El Salvador's future holds promise.

More than 40 people have been killed and dozens injured in the wake of street protests in Port-au-Prince and other major cities since September, making the humanitarian situation in Haiti, dire even in normal times, critically worse.

In communities like La Chacra on the outskirts of San Salvador, gang violence is a daily threat. Sisters are conducting ministries that heal the wounds of violence and offer support for communities affected by gang activity.

GSR Today - Last week, I was fortunate to attend an all-day event that affirmed the sense of dignity for those on the margins, affirmation that comes easily to sisters — and, were it more common, would make the world a much better place.

Healing takes time, "as does the journey of justice." Once a symbol of Central America's wars in the 1980s, El Salvador is now a symbol for other challenges: gangs, immigration and a stalled economy.

Sr. Draru Mary Cecilia, a member of the Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Gulu in northern Uganda, is the executive director of the African Sisters Education Collaborative, or ASEC. A cornerstone of ASEC's work is delivering "educational programs that strengthen the capacity of women religious in Africa" and enable them to better minister to those they serve.

 In a world caught up in the noise of other issues, and with the U.N. itself conceding that its members are frustrated by the slow pace of nuclear disarmament, does the issue of nuclear disbarment have any traction?