NGO NEWS BY TERESA KOTTURAN MARCH 2016 at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women March 14 Women s Empowerment and its Link to Sustainable Development Commitment to the advancement of women at the United Nations began with the signing of the United Nations Charter in 1945. The Preamble declared faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small In June 1946 the Commission on the Status of Women was established with a mandate to prepare recommendations on promoting women s rights in political, economic, civil, social and educational fields. The Commission met for the first time in 1947 at Lake Success, New York. From mid-1960s, the Commission began to address women s role in economic and social development. The Commission on the Status of Women is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It is a global policy-making body dedicated exclusively to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women. It is also responsible for monitoring, reviewing and appraising progress achieved and problems encountered in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action 1995. Each year, the Commission provides an opportunity to review progress made on gender equality and the empowerment of women, identity challenges, set global standards and norms and formulate policies to promote gender equality and women s empowerment across the globe. During the Commission meet, the Member States will negotiate for agreed conclusions on the priority theme and make action oriented recommendations for all States and other relevant bodies for implementation. It will also adopt a small number of resolutions on different topics. Various stakeholders member states, NGOs and other UN entities will be holding side events to draw attention to critical aspects of the work on gender equality. This hyperlink will lead one directly to the theme- Women and Sustainable Development Goals. Clicking on each Goal will highlight how women are affected by each of the 17 goals, as well as how women and girls can and will be key to achieving them. On March 8, 2016, you are invited to join the UN Observance of International Women s Day 2016 on the theme: Planet 50-50 By 2030: Step it up for Gender Equality in the Trusteeship Council Room, from 10:00 am to 12:45 pm. You can watch it live by clicking here. Sisters of Charity Federation at the United Nations 1
The 54th Session of the Commission on Social Development Vincentian Family Participation: Seated from left: Margaret O Dwyer, DC; Teresa Kotturan, SCN; Nirmala Mulackal, SCN; Natalie Boone, SCUSA; and Faith Colligan, DC. Standing: Catherine Prendergast, DC; Carol De Angelo, SCNY; Katie Hamm, SC; Marion Sheridan, CSM; Regina Murphy, SCNY; and Mary Donagher, SC. The Commission began on February 3 and concluded on February 12, 2016 with the theme Rethinking and Strengthening Social Development in the Contemporary World. The NGO Community had gathered at the Civil Society Forum on February 1 and 2 and called on the Commission to close the gap between our determination to ensure a life of dignity for all on the one hand, and the reality of persisting poverty and deepening inequality, on the other. It also reminded the governments the tools they have to address inequality: the commitment to leave one one behind and to reach the furthest behind first; long term planning and goal setting; education, with special attention to the education of girls; gender equality in decision making and leadership; social protection floors; participatory economics and financial transaction taxes to create an inclusive society. Poverty continues to be the greatest global challenge of our time, said the Commission Chair Ion Jinga in his concluding remarks. Too many people lack access to employment, education, gender equality and climate mitigation services, he continued. The session has called for integrated economic and social policies and the engagement of a broad range of stakeholders to give life to a shared vision. In his address, Secretary General Ban Ki Moon stated, economies must be put at the service of people, through integrated social policies there are too many people who continue to face exclusion and are unable to realize their full potential. The Commission s work is crucial to the implementation of Agenda 2030, to ensure no one is left behind. The Commission approved a draft on Social dimensions of the New Partnership for Africa s Development to remove unacceptable levels of poverty, inequality and social exclusion in most African Countries. The approved draft resolution on the priority theme, stated that each country bore the primary responsibility for its own economic and social development and that significant additional domestic public resources, supplemented by international assistance would be crucial for that regard. The Commission also approved the priority theme: Strategies for the eradication of poverty to achieve sustainable development for all for the 2017-2018 review and policy cycle. This is an issue close to the heart of all Federation membership. Our commitment to implement systemic change in all our ministries can and will help to lift people out of poverty. Sisters of Charity Federation at the United Nations 2
Internships & Orientations at the UN: Maria Tardieu - a Student Intern from Mount Saint Vincent University Nirmala Mulackal, SCN Commission on Social Development Deena Vazhaparambil, SCN February 24 March 23 Gertie Jock SC and Bernice Vetter, SCH April 6-8, 2016 for UN Orientation Pictured here: Maria Tadieu, student intern from Mount Saint Vincent University A new perspective: The 54th Session of the Commission on Social Development Written by: Nirmala Mulackal, SCN Having an experience at the UN was a long cherished dream for me. It became a reality when I was offered the opportunity to attend the Commission on Social Development from February 1 to 12. Right from the Civil Society Forum, organized by the NGO Committee on Social Development preceding the Commission, my time at the UN was a great learning experience. The various sessions in the main hall and the side events brought home the depth and the urgency of issues that are part of social development extreme poverty, social and economic exclusion and growing inequalities, human rights and the commitment needed to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. I was impressed with the achievements and challenges of the member states faced to implement the MDGs and their commitment to eradicate poverty in all its forms. The side events highlighted the immense contributions from the NGOs at the grassroots to lift people out of poverty and reduce inequality. Other sessions, like the high level event on Human Trafficking, International Day of Women and Girls in Science, and the opportunity to interact with people from different parts of the world were some of the other highlights of my experience. The common cry I heard throughout the meetings was the call to involve the people from the grass roots level to have greater representation for them at the Commission to make their voices heard. Emphasis given to involve youth people at all levels was commendable - they are the key players in advancing the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development. The High Level event on trafficking brought home the enormity of human trafficking globally and the importance of networking and collaboration to this modern day slavery was another great learning for me and I go home back to India with a deep desire to strengthen the SCN commitment and mission to eradicate/eliminate human trafficking. I was amazed by the number of Religious working as NGO Representatives at the UN and the impact their advocacy in the name of the people at the grassroots has made in the policies and decisions taken at the UN. I strongly feel standing together we will ensure no one will be left behind. I go back with a deep conviction that each of us can be an advocate, an ambassador and a catalyst of change and can do our share to implement the Sustainable Development Goals at our local and national levels - through our schools, health centers and social action ministries. I hope to keep myself abreast with the Social Development issues through UN webcasts and share information with various SCN ministry groups and connect with NGOs and government groups wherever possible. Sisters of Charity Federation at the United Nations 3
Written by: Faith Colligan, DC Advocating Nationally for our Brothers and Sisters Around the Globe Linking the National with the International The President of the United States released his FY 17 Federal Budget Proposal which includes funding for programs that affect our sisters and brothers living in developing countries. In their statement, Economic Justice for All (1996), the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops called for A Catholic Framework for Economic Life: The economy exists for the person, not the person for the economy. All economic life should be shaped by moral principles. Economic choices and institutions must be judged by how they protect or undermine the life and dignity of the human person, support the family and serve the common good. A fundamental moral measure of any economy is how the poor and vulnerable are faring. In January, the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering in Washington, DC reiterated this moral imperative as it prepared those gathered for visits to Members of Congress. We were/are encouraged to Make Poor Persons a Federal Budget Priority; in so doing, we influence the United States monetary contribution to assist in reducing international poverty through development and humanitarian programs. These programs (target very specific areas but generalized here) fund health, nutrition, disaster assistance, migration and refugee aid, the Millennium Challenge Account, peacekeeping operations, and the Green Climate Fund. To keep our advocacy simple, and yet on point, we are asking that, the budget for povertyreducing international develop and humanitarian programs that save lives and reduce crushing poverty be strengthened. Some funding is included in : Foreign Assistance. Foreign Assistance Funding has traditionally been just under 1% of the total US Federal Budget. (More information: www.usccb.org/ globalpoverty/ and www.foreignassistanc.gov) Two very effective international nutrition assistance programs funded under different budget lines include the McGovern-Dole Bill which provides school lunches and take home food rations and Food for Peace (Title II) which is a source for meeting emergency food assistance needs. Opportunities to advocate for these international budget areas are often provided by: Bread for the World, Coalition on Human Needs, Network, and other, via email ready opportunities. Help Alleviate WORLD HUNGER by donating food internationally: www.freerice.com Sisters of Charity Federation at the United Nations 4
World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul One Humanity: Shared Responsibility The World Humanitarian Summit will be held in Istanbul May 23-24, 2016 on the theme One Humanity: Shared Responsibility. It is to strengthen the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nation, including special economic assistance, especially emergency humanitarian assistance. The Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, in his report has put forward an Agenda for Humanity and calls upon the Community of we the peoples governments, local communities, private sector, international organizations and aid providers, and the thousands of committed and compassionate individuals to make the Summit a turning point in the way we address the challenges facing our common humanity. It is hoped the summit will lead to genuine change in the way we deliver assistance to prevent and alleviate human suffering, to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human person, to uphold the human rights of the people. The Secretary General calls upon all Members States and other organizations and stakeholders to accept the five core responsibilities he has outlined in the Agenda for Humanity (seen to Right). We are confronting some of the greatest challenges of our time: Ban Ki-Moon s Agenda for Humanity: 1. Political leadership to prevent and end conflicts 2. Uphold the norms that safeguard humanity 3. Leave no one behind 4. Change people s lives 5. Invest in Humanity 125 million people need humanitarian assistance 60 million people are forced from their homes 37 countries are affected $20 Billion needed - UPCOMING - EVENTS & NEWS International Women s Day: March 8 Commission on the Status of Women CSW 60: March 14 24 March 21: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination March 22: World Water Day ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development Follow-up: April 18 22 Signing of COP 21 Agreement at the UN, New York: April 22 World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul: May 23-24 DPI/NGO Conference 2016 in Gyeongju, S. Korea: May 30 June 1 Sisters of Charity Federation NGO Liaisons: June 14 16 High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development - HLPF: July 11-20 at the United Nations NGO Office located at: 747 Third Avenue, Second Floor # 213 New York, NY 10017 scfederationunngo@gmail.com facebook.com/ngoscfederation @ngoscfederation sistersofcharityfederation.org/ngo Sisters of Charity Federation at the United Nations 5