Congregation of the Mission and Daughters of Charity
BIENVENIDOS WELCOME BIENVENUE
Inspired by the example of its founders, St. Louise de Marillac and St. Vincent de Paul, the Daughters of Charity and the Congregation of the Mission (the Vincentians) are committed to the full, integral development of the human person. Of particular concern are those who are forced to live in situations of extreme poverty, especially women and children.Together with other humanitarian and religious NGOs at the United Nations, we work for the realization of a more just society where people can live lives free from fear and want; and are free to build for themselves sustainable human communities. In this, the Daughters of Charity and the Congregation of the Mission find ourselves in harmony with the peace, human rights and development goals of the United Nations.
Stand–Up Against Poverty: September 17-19, 2010
The United Nation Summit of the General Assembly to review the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will be held on September 20-22, 2010. Its primary objective is to accelerate the progress made toward the MDGS in the five remaining years before 2015. The next 5 years are the final lap of the 15 year journey to meet the Goals. This Summit is a time to refuel and recommit to keeping the promise made in 2000 to achieve the MDGs by 2015.
The MDGs are achievable, but we are falling short in their achievement. The combined effects of the global food, climate, energy and economic crises have slowed the pace of the progress made and have added further challenges. It is imperative to acknowledge our failures, recognize the gaps, overcome the obstacles and commit to a strong action agenda for the next 5 years.
Every year, Stand –Up Against Poverty events are organized for three days, all across the globe to draw attention to the global crisis of Poverty. The MDG Summit Review this year offers citizens around the world a unique opportunity to influence our leaders and impact its proceedings
Stand-Up 2010 will take place on Friday September 17, Saturday, September 18, and Sunday, September 19, the three days immediately preceding the Summit. Anyone, anywhere, who would like to be a part of the mobilization to organize or to participate in an event, can obtain further information at the following websites:
www.endpoverty2015.org/standup www.standagainstpoverty.org/suap
This is an opportunity to make your voice heard in your local community and to send a message to your government about your concerns for the billions of people who are living in poverty in our world today.
The MDGs are achievable, but we are falling short in their achievement. The combined effects of the global food, climate, energy and economic crises have slowed the pace of the progress made and have added further challenges. It is imperative to acknowledge our failures, recognize the gaps, overcome the obstacles and commit to a strong action agenda for the next 5 years.
Every year, Stand –Up Against Poverty events are organized for three days, all across the globe to draw attention to the global crisis of Poverty. The MDG Summit Review this year offers citizens around the world a unique opportunity to influence our leaders and impact its proceedings
Stand-Up 2010 will take place on Friday September 17, Saturday, September 18, and Sunday, September 19, the three days immediately preceding the Summit. Anyone, anywhere, who would like to be a part of the mobilization to organize or to participate in an event, can obtain further information at the following websites:
www.endpoverty2015.org/standup www.standagainstpoverty.org/suap
This is an opportunity to make your voice heard in your local community and to send a message to your government about your concerns for the billions of people who are living in poverty in our world today.
Millenium Development Goals Review
Hearings with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Civil Society and the Private Sector on the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) were held in New York, June 14-15, 2010. These formal, interactive hearings were convened by the President of the General Assembly, H.E. Dr. Al. A. Treki, as part of the preparation for the General Assembly meetings Sept. 20-22, 2010 which will evaluate where the world is in meeting the MDGs and the way forward to achieve them by 2015.
Civil Society and NGOs were invited to participate in an on-line consultation to give their input and to nominate speakers for the June meeting. As a result of the process, four themes were chosen for the meeting:
1. Building a Better Tomorrow: Local action, National strategies and Global structures.
2. Equal and Inclusive Partnerships: Accountability in the Fight Against Poverty
3. Sustaining Development and Withstanding Crises
4. From Voice to Policy: 1660 Days Left until 2015
Civil Society organizations also responded to Secretary General Ban Ki Moon’s report “Keeping the Promise” a forward-looking review calling for an agreed action agenda to achieve the MDGs by 2015. The response to the report brought forth numerous recommendations to bring about a plan to achieve the MDGs. Special emphasis was given to inequality and discrimination, accountability and climate change and the importance of participation by people at all levels of the review and implementation process.
More than 60 Daughters of Charity from all five continents responded to a survey concerning the MDGs in their countries. The valuable information contained in the responses provided concrete date for input into the consultations. The responses will also be the basis for future efforts between the present and 2015 to achieve the MDGs.
www.mdgmonitor.org www.un.org/millenniumgoals/
The Millennium Development Goals are:
Civil Society and NGOs were invited to participate in an on-line consultation to give their input and to nominate speakers for the June meeting. As a result of the process, four themes were chosen for the meeting:
1. Building a Better Tomorrow: Local action, National strategies and Global structures.
2. Equal and Inclusive Partnerships: Accountability in the Fight Against Poverty
3. Sustaining Development and Withstanding Crises
4. From Voice to Policy: 1660 Days Left until 2015
Civil Society organizations also responded to Secretary General Ban Ki Moon’s report “Keeping the Promise” a forward-looking review calling for an agreed action agenda to achieve the MDGs by 2015. The response to the report brought forth numerous recommendations to bring about a plan to achieve the MDGs. Special emphasis was given to inequality and discrimination, accountability and climate change and the importance of participation by people at all levels of the review and implementation process.
More than 60 Daughters of Charity from all five continents responded to a survey concerning the MDGs in their countries. The valuable information contained in the responses provided concrete date for input into the consultations. The responses will also be the basis for future efforts between the present and 2015 to achieve the MDGs.
www.mdgmonitor.org www.un.org/millenniumgoals/
The Millennium Development Goals are:
General Assembly Declares: Access to Clean Water and Sanitation is a Human Right
Safe and clean drinking water and sanitation is a human right essential to the full enjoyment of life and all other human rights, the General Assembly declared on July 28, 2010, voicing deep concern that almost 900 million people worldwide do not have access to clean water. The text of the resolution expresses deep concern that an estimated 884 million people lack access to safe drinking water and a total of more than 2.6 billion people do not have access to basic sanitation. Studies also indicate about 1.5 million children under the age of five die each year and 443 million school days are lost because of water- and sanitation-related diseases.
The 192-member Assembly also called on United Nations Member States and international organizations to offer funding, technology and other resources to help poorer countries scale up their efforts to provide clean, accessible and affordable drinking water and sanitation for everyone. Clean water and Sanitation are universally seen as essential to the achievement of the MDGs that center on health of all persons especially women and children who are deemed to be the most vulnerable.
The Assembly resolution received 122 votes in favor and zero votes against, while 41 countries abstained from voting. Although the decision does not make the right to water legally enforceable, it is symbolically important and places more political obligation on national governments.
Read More: www.unwater.org www.unwater.org/discover.html http://www.siwi.org
The 192-member Assembly also called on United Nations Member States and international organizations to offer funding, technology and other resources to help poorer countries scale up their efforts to provide clean, accessible and affordable drinking water and sanitation for everyone. Clean water and Sanitation are universally seen as essential to the achievement of the MDGs that center on health of all persons especially women and children who are deemed to be the most vulnerable.
The Assembly resolution received 122 votes in favor and zero votes against, while 41 countries abstained from voting. Although the decision does not make the right to water legally enforceable, it is symbolically important and places more political obligation on national governments.
Read More: www.unwater.org www.unwater.org/discover.html http://www.siwi.org
Sixth-third United Nations DPI/NGO Conference:Focus on Health
The United Nations Department of Public Information/Non-Governmental Organization (DPI/NGO) Conference will be held this year in Melbourne, Australia from August 30-September 1, 2010.
The DPI/NGO annual conference is the premier non-governmental organization (NGO) event of the United Nations. Each year the Conference brings together hundreds of NGO representatives from around the world to focus on a topic of interest related to the work of civil society and NGOs in collaboration with the United Nations.
The 2010 Conference will focus on Global Health as it relates to the Millennium Development Goals. Health issues are central to the Millennium Development Goals which have been internationally accepted as a road map for development:
The 2008 Conference took place in Paris, France and focused on Human Rights. Eleven Daughters of Charity from eleven different countries attended that Conference. In 2009, the Conference focused its attention on Disarmament and was held in Mexico City, Mexico. Five Daughters of Charity, four from Mexico and one from the United States, attended that Conference.
This year, two Daughters of Charity from Australia and three co-workers with health care backgrounds will attend the Conference in Melbourne.
Read More: http://www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/conference
The DPI/NGO annual conference is the premier non-governmental organization (NGO) event of the United Nations. Each year the Conference brings together hundreds of NGO representatives from around the world to focus on a topic of interest related to the work of civil society and NGOs in collaboration with the United Nations.
The 2010 Conference will focus on Global Health as it relates to the Millennium Development Goals. Health issues are central to the Millennium Development Goals which have been internationally accepted as a road map for development:
- Goal 4, reducing child mortality;
- Goal 5, improving maternal health;
- Goal 6, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
The 2008 Conference took place in Paris, France and focused on Human Rights. Eleven Daughters of Charity from eleven different countries attended that Conference. In 2009, the Conference focused its attention on Disarmament and was held in Mexico City, Mexico. Five Daughters of Charity, four from Mexico and one from the United States, attended that Conference.
This year, two Daughters of Charity from Australia and three co-workers with health care backgrounds will attend the Conference in Melbourne.
Read More: http://www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/conference
New UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
The United Nations General Assembly unanimously approved the establishment of UN WOMEN, the new UN entity for gender equality and women’s empowerment on July 2, 2010. UN WOMEN combines the mandates and work of four previous UN offices and funds in order to give one streamlined, powerful voice to the UN efforts to advance the status and lives of women around the world.
“UN WOMEN will significantly boost UN efforts to promote gender equality, expand opportunity, and tackle discrimination around the globe.”— UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Read More: www.unwomen.org/ www.un.org/womenwatch
The websites contain facts and figures about the situation of women around the world and describes the tasks of the new entity incorporated from the preexisting four entities.
“UN WOMEN will significantly boost UN efforts to promote gender equality, expand opportunity, and tackle discrimination around the globe.”— UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Read More: www.unwomen.org/ www.un.org/womenwatch
The websites contain facts and figures about the situation of women around the world and describes the tasks of the new entity incorporated from the preexisting four entities.
Haiti: Responses Continue
New baby brings joy and hope.
UN response to the crisis in Haiti is on-going. The call for donors brought a promise of over $10 billion for the rebuilding of Haiti. The amount was 3 times what had been anticipated. The UN is committing itself to be a partner with the Haitian government and its people in determining what will be the shape of the rebuilding and recovery of Haiti. One leader expressed both a hope and a vision, "We're here to help. We don't want to build the Haiti of yesterday."
The Daughter of Charity Province in Port au Prince is responding to both the emergency needs and the on-going needs of the people with whom they are living and working. The Daughters of CharityInternational community and its supporters are assisting the Sisters through a rotation of Sisters from around the world to help out and through sharing various types of aid. Read more
The Vincentian Family has developed a micro-financing resource for Haitians to become, over time, economically self-sustaining. Click for more information on how to participate in this effort called "Zafen."
The Daughter of Charity Province in Port au Prince is responding to both the emergency needs and the on-going needs of the people with whom they are living and working. The Daughters of CharityInternational community and its supporters are assisting the Sisters through a rotation of Sisters from around the world to help out and through sharing various types of aid. Read more
The Vincentian Family has developed a micro-financing resource for Haitians to become, over time, economically self-sustaining. Click for more information on how to participate in this effort called "Zafen."
International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding
In an effort to harness the energy, imagination and initiative of the world’s youth in overcoming the challenges facing humankind, the United Nations proclaimed an International Year of Youth starting 12 August 2010.
The General Assembly called on governments, civil society, individuals and communities worldwide to support activities at all levels to mark the event. The theme for the year ‘Dialogue and Mutual Understanding,’ encourages dialogue and understanding across generations.
It encourages young people to dedicate themselves to fostering progress in attaining the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which seek to slash a host of social ills, ranging from extreme poverty and hunger to maternal and infant mortality to lack of access to education and health care, all by 2015.
http://social.un.org/youthyear/
The General Assembly called on governments, civil society, individuals and communities worldwide to support activities at all levels to mark the event. The theme for the year ‘Dialogue and Mutual Understanding,’ encourages dialogue and understanding across generations.
It encourages young people to dedicate themselves to fostering progress in attaining the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which seek to slash a host of social ills, ranging from extreme poverty and hunger to maternal and infant mortality to lack of access to education and health care, all by 2015.
http://social.un.org/youthyear/
Conferences, Meetings and Events
United Nations observances are established by the General Assembly or some designated UN agency. They are used (1) to help achieveme the purposes of the UN Charter and (2) to promote awareness of and action upon, important political, social, cultural, humanitarian or human rights issues. They provide a useful means for the promotion of international and national action and stimulate interest in United Nations activities and programmes.
The complete calendar of United Nations observances is available here. Individual days will be highlighted in the month in which they occur. For a detailed UN Calendar Meetings and Conferences, click here.
The complete calendar of United Nations observances is available here. Individual days will be highlighted in the month in which they occur. For a detailed UN Calendar Meetings and Conferences, click here.