I hope that you will find this an interesting way to keep updated on Good Shepherd International Justice Peace Office activities in New York. I trust that this tool will facilitate information sharing on NGO and other activities at the United Nations.
April 22 is International Mother Earth Day as proclaimed by the United Nations Resolution in 2009. Mother Earth is urging a call to action – a need to shift to a more sustainable economy that works for both people and the planet. Protecting the planet is everyone’s responsibility. Earth Day had it origins back in the 60’s and was first celebrated in 1970. It was Ambassador Pablo Solón Romero of Bolivia who spearheaded the International Mother Earth Day Resolution in the General Assembly together with Harmony with Nature, and the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. One of his approaches was to collaborate with the NGO Community. I was part of that advocacy group leading up to the Resolution in 2009.
Amid Mother Earth Day celebrations, the United Nations is abuzz with meetings, forums and conferences, many taking place concurrently. NGO’s are just returning from the Spring Meetings in Washington with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to engage with the Annual Financing for Development Forum from April 22 to 25. Read an overview of the issues from the perspective of the Civil Society Finance for Development Mechanism. Among the issues raised is the need to ensure fiscal space, and scale up international cooperation for decent jobs creation and universal social protection in line with SDGs and ILO standards. (see No 9). This links directly with the GSIJP Office’s position on Universal Social Protection. Other issues include addressing unsustainable and illegitimate debt, including through extensive debt cancellation and agreeing on a UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation to comprehensively address tax havens, tax abuse by multinational corporations, and other illicit financial flows.
This Forum is embarking on the path towards the 4th International Conference for Financing for Development which will be held in 2025. See and FfD Home Page
The GSIJP Office is co-sponsoring a side event on Social Protection on Monday 22.
The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues opened on Monday, April 15th and continues for two weeks. Read about the opening At the end of the short overview you will read that coverage of events is affected by the liquidity crisis at the United Nations. This is a daily reality impacting all support services to the United Nations including secretariates. You can view the opening ceremony on UN Web TV
Two other Summit with global implications for People and Planet are (I) Summit of the Future which will take place in NY in September 2024. The document – the Pact for the Future – is currently being negotiated. See the GSIJP Office contribution HERE or directly to the document HERE. the GSIJP Office also collaborated in The Working Group on Girls submission and Kimberly Happich Moloche follows the process. The Civil Society Conference ahead of the Summit will take place in Nairobi on May 9 -10. See
Another Summit, the 2025 Social Summit will take place 30 years after the historic first World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen, during which Heads of State and Government defined an ambitious shared vision for social development aimed at social justice, solidarity, harmony and equality within and between countries. Read more This is a significant summit for the Congregation as we have been committed to implementing the Copenhagen Declaration and Platform for Action since obtaining ECOSOC Status 1996 with it’s three pillars – eradicating poverty, full employment and decent work and social integration. Another site with information. In the diagram presented in the link above you will notice that all the process are interconnected. Forums, conferences and summits are no longer solo ventures but rather opportunities to reflect on the global issues using a different lens to respond holistically.
Much of the current effort is towards accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals – the annual High Level Political Forum – which will take place July 8 – 17, 2024 under the theme of “Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions” with a specific eye on SDGs 1, 2, 13, 16 and 17.
The following states have expressed interest in carrying out voluntary national reviews (VNRs) of their implementation of the 2030 Agenda at the 2024 HLPF: Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belize, Brazil, Chad, Colombia, Congo (Republic of the), Costa Rica, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Georgia, Guinea, Honduras, Kenya, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of.) Namibia, Nepal, Oman, Palau, Peru, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Syrian Arab Republic, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zimbabwe
Good Shepherd projects are present in many countries presenting. This is a real opportunity to engage with your government and within your region to advocate for full implementation of the SDGs. The 2024 Political Declaration will seek to further implement the commitments of the Political Declaration in 2023
Sustainability Week at the UN took place from April 15 to 19, 2024 See
Winifred Doherty of the GSIJP Office was a panelist at an event to mark Sustainability Week 2025 hosted by UNANIMA International entitled ‘Holistic Approaches for a Sustainable Future: Centering Individual, Collective and Planetary Well-Being’. Flyer, Concept Note, and the Recording below.
The 17th Session of CSW68 was suspended on Friday, March 22 with the adoption of the CSW68 Agreed Conclusion and resumed on March 27 to hear statements after the adoption, to close the 68th Session, followed by the opening CSW69 which will be a review of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action on its 30th Anniversary.
Chris Herlinger of Global Sister Report has reported on the Commission.
The advanced unedited edition of the CSW68 Agreed Conclusions can be had here on the theme of “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective” More Information is available here.
Get ready not for CSW69 – one process is to review the guidance note issued by UN Women to help Member States in their reporting. Retrieve the Guidance note: Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
Alongside the Guidance Note, have a copy of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action English, Spanish, French, Russian, Arabic, Chinese
Also, refer to our position paper on the Girl Child –
Our advocacy point at CSW 68
The Commission on the Status of Women 68th Session (CSW68) officially opens on March 11, takes place over two weeks, ending on March 22nd. As in past years, CSW68 is a pivotal moment when girls and women from every corner of the planet, come to be present at the United Nations in New York in person or join a global community of girls and women online, all seeking the fulfillment of their human rights according to international law (CEDAW), the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and the Sustainable Development Goals. This year’s priority theme is focused mainly on finances towards gender equality. Five main headings in the ‘Zero Draft Agreed Conclusion’ are (i) Integrate a gender perspective into financing for development commitments (a-f); (ii) Expand a fiscal space for investments to end poverty for women and girls (g – r); (iii) Implement gender-responsive economic and social policies and strengthen public institutions (s – gg); (iv) Engage and finance women’s organizations and collectives (hh – ll); (v) Enhance multidimensional poverty data and statistics (mm – xx).
The proposed Organization of Work for CSW68 can be found in the link and the various sessions can be seen on UN WebTV Information about Side Events ( Member State Led events) has not been posted yet.
Alongside the UN-led CSW68 processes, the NGO community has parallel events, that are all facilitated by NGOCSW. To access you need to REGISTER.
Once registered it is easy to log in – using your e-mail address, and you have access to over 700 events taking place – some in your region which you may wish to join. The details of each event are listed and the link is provided if it is a virtual event. There are 98 events on March 14th alone! You can only see the list of events by registering! It is an opportunity to engage with groups in your country or region, to start networking and learning more.
In registering you will be able to see our Handbook Ad. Do visit and leave your card.
Good Shepherd this year has been more focused on girls’ voices at CSW68 working virtually while preparing to host girls in person who will be present at CSW68 in New York. Unfortunately, Good Shepherd does not have any in-person girl advocates, but this is more than compensated for by our online engagement in WGG preparation and UN Women’s engagement with youth and adolescents in preparation for CSW68. The Girls Caucus debates and discusses the zero-draft agreed conclusions, and elaborates their recommendations by girls for girls. Six Good Shepherd Girl Advocates from Latin America and a girl from India participated in the Girls Caucus. The WGG Recommendations are below in English, Spanish, and French.
UN Women is facilitating a few events for youth and adolescents. Good Shepherd Girl Advocates from India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Latin America, and Madagascar are engaging in these events. The CSW 68 Virtual Youth Forum took place on March 1 and 2. Two of the girls from India were active members of the planning group.
Sugandha and Jasmine engaged in multiple meetings in preparation for the event and each had a specific role at the closing of each day. Read their texts at the closing at the end of Day 1 and Day 2.
Immediately following the CSW68 Virtual Youth Forum, Sugandha was invited to ask a question of the newly appointed Deputy Executive Director of UN Women Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda at an informal virtual discussion ahead of CSW 68 on Monday morning, March 4. Having introduced herself, Sugandha asked the following question “How can UN Women support girls’ human rights while at the same time accelerating the implementation of quality education for every girl, everywhere keeping in mind the radical impact of feminization of poverty, and holding those in power accountable for all the distress and damage that girls’ experience by the lack of access to this basic fundamental right?”
The CSW68 Global Adolescent Girl Leadership Town Hall is on Thursday, March 7, on Zoom, hosted by UN Women, to facilitate exchanges with other adolescent leaders and decision-makers ahead of CSW68. Good Shepherd has five girls participating – representatives from Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Madagascar. The Sri Lankan Girl Advocate is one of the moderators.
Advocacy with the various Member States with Mission at the UN is another way that Girl Advocates seek to influence decision-makers before and during the CSW 68. Good Shepherd Girl Advocates (one from Bolivia and one from Ecuador) were part of a girl’s team that met virtually with the Mission of Peru to the UN on March 1 at 9.30 am. The two other organizations represented were Global Girls Glow, and Girls Learn International. They met with a representative from Peru who will be the point person during the CSW68 negotiations for their country. During the visit, the Girl Advocates from Latin America were encouraged to participate in the regional consultations for Latin America that happened in Santiago in the fall. Also, the Mission of Ireland to the UN has scheduled to meet girl advocates who are attending CSW 68 on Thursday, March 14th.
The GSIJP Office is proud of the engagement and enthusiasm of our Girl Advocates from around the world. We recognize that these girls do so much behind-the-scenes work with their mentors at national and regional levels and then follow through with Kimberly Happich Moloche and other WGG leaders enriching the multiple girl spaces with girls’ experiences, showing casing that empowered girls are already knowledgable and leaders, not just of today but for tomorrow.
JCOR -Justice Coalition of Religious at the UN has once again provided a PowerPoint with an excellent overview of CSW.
Click HERE for the Spanish, Portuguese, and French versions.
If you wish to know more about Advocacy at CSW68 check out the Advocacy Tool Kit prepared by NGOCSW
We are in the final week before CSW 68. NGOs start a day earlier on Sunday, 10 March. Winifred will attend the Teen Orientation – speaking with the girls in a keynote address and facilitating some orientation for the girl chaperones. Kimberly will attend the NGOCSW68 Virtual Orientation from 10 – 12 noon EST Hear from speakers and experts from the UN, governments, and civil society. The highlight will be a conversation on “2024: What’s at stake?” Interpretation will be provided in Spanish and French. REGISTRATION LINK
Happy CSW68! Our main advocacy point is “Finance Social Protection Now“
The Commission for Social Development got off to a good start on Monday morning February 5 in Conference Room 4 at the United Nations in New York. It was preceded on Sunday morning by an orientation session hosted by the NGO Committee for Social Development. A full recording of the session is available – Winifred Doherty at marker 59.38 approx
The days have been filled with a rich tapestry of views and recommendations as presented by the many experts, UN Official and Civil Society. The Civil Society Declaration was presented on the opening morning. Webcast UNTV Opening of the 62nd Session of the Commission The Chair of the Commission was H.E. Ms. Ruchira Kamboj from India. The list of dignitaries included the President of the General Assembly, His Excellency Mr. Dennis Frances.
There is consensus all around that social development is at the heart of this commission’s work and acknowledgment that the world is off track experiencing a tsunami of crises – increased poverty, inequality, mass migration, and climate change disasters which are predicted to increase and multiple conflicts. The world is not on track to achieve the SDGs in 2030.
Good Shepherd joined with UNANIMA in an oral statement to the Commission delivered on Monday, February 12. “The representative of UNANIMA International, also speaking for several other organizations, called for a new approach that tackles not just the individual injustices of extreme poverty but also the broader systems that promote and profit from the unequal status quo in the Global North and the Global South. Highlighting her organization’s experience on the front lines, working with the world’s most socially excluded people, she said its research at the grassroots level shows that women and children experiencing extreme poverty are often marginalized further through social and cultural prejudice. A more nuanced understanding of their experiences in these contexts is necessary to inform effective policymaking and foster equitable social development. Homelessness and displacement should not be seen as personal failings but rather as the structural failures they are, she stressed. Social justice for all requires a paradigm shift that decommodifies people, places, and the planet, she said. (From UN Meeting Coverage and Press Releases) See UN Webcast marker 1:30:29
The Resolution on the priority theme was adopted on Wednesday, February 14th available in 6 languages of the UN. The resolution that received the most attention is titled “Promoting care and support systems for social development” (document E/CN.5/2024/L.5). This resolution supports the creation of enabling environments for promoting care and support systems for social development. It urges us all to recognize and redistribute care work among individuals, as well as families, communities, the private sector and States, and to contribute to the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.
Throughout the Commission, the NGO Community had advocated for a Second World Summit on Social Development on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the first summit held in Copenhagen in 1995. On Tuesday, February 6th the NGO Committee for Social Development hosted a high-level event to review the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration. View Here Video starts about marker 30
High-Level Event Reviewing Implementation of the Copenhagen – Summary can be read here.
A new publication from the NGO Committee for Social Development Bridging Vision to Action: from the Copenhagan Declaration of 1995 to the Sustainable Development Goals.
On Monday February 26 the General Assembly adopted a Resolution – UN to Hold “Second World Summit for Social Development” in 2025 | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD) which give the go ahead but the process can only begin after co-facilitatos have been appointed to guide the process and modalities for the Summit have been approved. You can read a copy of the doucment HERE also in Spanish and French.
As the New Year of 2024 dawns so does the Agenda of the United Nations continue in its 78th session of the General Assembly. Amid almost insurmountable obstacles – wars and rumours of war, the contentious fossil fuel debate, alarming climate change, (COP 28 in Dubai) gross inequality, mass movements of peoples, and increasing poverty levels – the United Nations holds hope that a more inclusive world is possible, one based on dignity and human rights for all, gender equality and a sustainable planet. Annually, the United Nations through its annual commissions gathers the nations of the world to keep alive this hope, review, and determine implementable ways, leaving no one behind and reaching the furthest behind first.
The overarching theme this year is poverty eradication. This is within the 78th Session of the General Assembly’s theme “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all.” The High Level Political Forum in July of 2024 with focus specifically on SDG 1 No Poverty; SDG 2 Zero Hunger; SDG 13 Climate Change; SDG 16 Peaceful Societies and SDG 17 Partnership. Girls and women are impacted by poverty, hunger, climate change, and war. So solutions must bring girls and women to the table.
The first of the UN ECOSOC Functional Commission is the Commission for Social Development 62nd Session from February 5 – 14, 2024 The theme is “Fostering social development and social justice through social policies to accelerate progress on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to achieve the overarching goal of poverty eradication”. The emerging issue “The Influence of Digital Transformation on Inclusive Growth and Development: A Path to Achieving Social Justice.” These themes are juxtaposed – the reality of much of the world in poverty and excluded, the huge advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital technologies with the potential to deliver inclusive growth and development for all, if not usurped by the few, and favouring the elites.
The NGO Committee for Social Development has prepared an excellent civil society declaration in English, Spanish, and French. It contains four overarching calls, concluding with eight implementable action points – Include people; provide services; establish national floors of social protection, priortize people and planet, deliver debt relief, mainstream gender, recognize the care economy, and advance Indigenous Peoples’ rights. We are encouraging individuals and organizations to support the declaration which will be delivered on the opening day of the Commission. Add your support by SIGNING HERE
The declaration promotes four types of justice – social justice, economic justice, environmental justice, and political justice.
Ensuring the wellness of people and the planet demands a holistic approach to social policy formulation and implementation. Join us in our advocacy by supporting the declaration. Make connections between your ministry and what advocacy work is about. The change will not happen at the United Nations. Change happens at the national and local levels to the extent that what is discussed is implemented and lived at the community level. We are obliged to engage in the processes for a more equitable world but it does not stop there. Local action must follow with advocacy and action. The goal this year is to accelerate progress on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to achieve the overarching goal of poverty eradication through social policy.
Terms like a ‘new social contract’ or ‘eco-social contract’ are emerging and have been in use. Read this UN RISD brief to understand something of the origins of the idea. The seven points showing the difference between the social contract of previous times and the proposed new eco-social contract for today provide a holistic picture – human rights for all, a progressive fiscal contract, transforming economies and societies, a contract with nature, addressing historical injustices, a contract for gender justice and new forms of solidarity.
There are two parts to the Civil Society Forum – an orientation on Sunday, February 4 from 10.00 – 11.30 EST and a full day on February 9. Register HERE for the Zoom link for the Orientation on Sunday and to attend the full day in person on Friday 9th. If you are unable to attend in person the session will be livestreamed on UN Web TV.
The Commission will formally open on February 5 and continue until February 14th. See the schedule All will be livestremed on UN Web TV and you can select your language of preference. This year the Commission celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the Year of the Family. More information is available at the Website. Some good background reading on the theme of the Commission can be accessed HERE following the Expert Group Meeting in August 2023. See NGO Statements to the Commission under NGO Written Statements
We (Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd) are co-sponsoring a side event (in person only) on February 7th February from 1.15 – 2.30 EST entitled ‘Decommodifying People & Planet: Transformative Policies Towards Unconditional Inclusion and Belonging (UNANIMA International, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, ATD Fourth World) (Conference Room A, UNHQ, New York) Winifred Doherty will be among the panelists. CLICK for more details.
The Justice Coalition of Religious (JCOR) has prepared a comprehensive guild to help you engage with the Commission, It will be available in four languages. English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. Check HERE for links.
Some of the NGO groups at the UN have started their travel to Dubai, UAE for COP 28 which starts on November 30th.
VIVAT International and UNANIMA International are among them. VIVAT had prepared recommendations and sent to the COP28 Presidency and the countries’ Focal Points:
* COP28 UAE Presidency: Sultan Mohamed Al Jabar (President), Iman Ustadi (Deputy Chief Negotiator), and Hana Al Hashimi (Chief Climate Negotiator) * Pacific Countries: Vanuatu, Fiji, Cook Islands, Marshall Islands
* Asian Countries: Indonesia, the Philippines, Timor Leste, Maldives * Latin America and the Caribbean: Ecuador, Barbados, Costa Rica * African Countries: DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya. Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, South Sudan, Tunisia.
We have signed on this statement.
UNANIMA have prepared a position paper that reviews the key focuses of COP28 as outlined by the COP Presidency, and makes recommendations given our research and advocacy. The Policy Statement, on the other hand, focuses more specifically on the needs and experiences of women, children, and girls in relation to climate change and the need for a just transition to a more sustainable future.
UNANIMA delegation will be attending the first week of COP28 in Dubai from November 30th-December 8th. UNANIMA International is sponsoring a side event titled “A Global Catholic Letter on Climate Change to the COP28 Presidency” (along with Vivat International and other Catholic organizations) on Tuesday, December 5th, from 6:30-8:00pm (UAE time) which Jean will be moderating and Liana will be presenting at.
UNANIMA will provide updates on COP28, including a live stream to the side event once that’s available, and we hope that you’ll join us virtually on social media and other platforms. When published I will also insert the link for you to access.
The Laudato Si Movement offers opportunities for engagment with COP 28 in mind a) On line petition b) Virtual prayer service c) Panel event
Please join us for these three upcoming online events, held in the hope of authentic faith, praying and acting for COP 28:
Nov. 29, 2023 at 7pm – 8pm ET. Offered by the Boston Chapter of the Global Catholic Climate Movement and the NH Care for Creation Committee – a Laudato Si’ Circle
Join us in a spiritual wave of prayer for meaningful decisions and urgent action. We pray that all who gather for this COP will feel they are on holy ground and act accordingly, for the sake of all creation–God’s great gift of love. All are welcome. Register 
here!
Nov 30, 2023 at 12pm ET
Catholic Climate Covenant and Laudato Si’ Movement warmly invite you to an online conversation with renowned climate scientist, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe and Fordham professor of theology, Dr. Christiana Zenner about COP 28 and the invitation of Catholics in this gathering, both in Dubai and at home. Register here!
UN Women kicks off a UN-wide annual campaign on 25 November, the International Day to End Violence against Women.
Over the following 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, we are asking governments, institutions, and citizens to show us how much the world cares about ending violence against women and girls under the theme “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls“.
Led by civil society groups around the world, the campaign is supported by the United Nations through the Secretary General’s initiative, UNITE by 2030 to End Violence against Women.
For more information visit English: UN Women Website; X: @un_women Facebook: @unwomen Instagram: @unwomen LinkedIn: @un -women
TikTok: @unwomen ESPAÑOL. X: @onumujeres Facebook: @onumujeres Instagram: @onumujeres LinkedIn: @onumujeres FRANÇAIS X: @onufemmes Facebook: @onufemmes Instagram: @onufemmes
The GSIJP Office has 16 templates prepared to raise awareness of the different types of violence that is occuring across the ‘Good Shepherd World.’ Our 16 days campaign is a conbination of calling for an end to all violence against girls and women, while standing with and demaning change to facilitate the ending of violence. Watch out for for social media posts on X (Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. The global theme of this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence is “Invest to prevent violence against women and girls.” Let us UNITE in demanding an end to all forms of violence against girls and women! #16DaysOfActivism #NoExcuse
“WE MUST MOVE BEYOND THE MENTALITY OF APPEARING TO BE CONCERNED BUT NOT HAVING THE
COURAGE NEEDED TO PRODUCE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES.” Pope Francis in Laudate Deum
Justice Coalition of Religious at the UN (JCOR) has prepared and made available an informative guide to COP 28 in four Languages: English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. It is 13 slides with all your questions answered as to what is COP 28 and what is happening there.
What are the advocacy priorities? a) Transitioning to clean energy (end fossil fuel usage); b) deliver climate finance (money to fund climate action); (c) put nature, people, lives, and livelihoods at the heart of climate action; (d) mobilize an inclusive COP 28 (Ensuring that Indigenous People, youth and climate vulnerable communities are at the policy-making table generating and sharing implementable solutions. Read more HERE
Read the lastest editions of the Journal in English, French, or Spanish
Photo from the website
Check out the Faith Leaders Summit Website for a summary of the Summit which took place recently in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, the host country for COP 28 later in the month. Jeffrey Sachs delivered one of the presentation. A copy of his address is HERE Opening with an overview of the global situation he asks why do the politicians of powerful nations do what they do? He proposes a four point answer – in summary – arrognace, greed, corruption and hersey. ‘We must heed Isaiah, to beat swords into ploughshares. With today’s technologies, our modern ploughshares and pruning hooks are powerful enough to end hunger worldwide, to feed all of humanity, and to protect the environment.‘
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