UN News and Events
High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2024
The High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development will be held from Monday, 8 July, to Wednesday, 17 July 2024, at the UN Headquarters in New York.
The following states will carry out Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) or report of their implementation and ambitious actions of the SDG: 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, Namibia, Nepal, Oman, Palau, Peru, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Syrian Arab Republic, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zimbabwe.
Their reports will focus on the following SDGs: (1) No Poverty; (2) Zero Hunger; (13) Climate Action; (16) Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions; and (17) Partnership for the Goals.
For more information about the Event Details, the focused SDGs, Voluntary National Review, Recommended Events and Social Media Advocacy, please click and see the guide to HLPF 2024 in English and Spanish produced by the Justice Coalition of Religious (JCoR).
MMS Participation to the HLPF
Jane Caspillo, MMS-UN Representative, will be in New York from July 6 to 19 to attend the HLPF. Since January this year, Veronica Njeri Njuguna of Unit Kenya, Immaculate Tusingwire of Unit Uganda-Malawi, and Jane have been participating in the JCoR’s Program for Religious NGO Digital Delegates to the HLPF 2024. The goal of this programme is to deepen the understanding of the SDGs and to support Religious NGOs towards participation in the national and global conversation on SDG progress. This programme will end on the 4th week of July with the virtual SDG Lab, where delegates will either present a project of their chosen SDG or give a critique on the report of their respective country. More information is coming on the SDG Lab.
SAVE THE DATE: MMS Co-sponsored Parallel Event
Please join us on July 8, 2024, at 3:00pm (EDT) for an online parallel event focused on Sustainable Development Goal:13 Climate Action during the United Nations High-Level Political Forum 2024. This online event will raise awareness and educate about faith-based tools and responses to climate anxiety in youth. Please see attached flier.
Immaculate Tusingwire will be one of the speakers together with: Dr. Hilda Koster and Dr. Cynthia Cameron, Regis - St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology (Canada), Melodie Ng, Toronto Urban Farmer (Canada); Blair Nelsen, Waterspirit; UN Representative for the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace (United States); and Thomas Gould, Youth Representation, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns (United States).
Register to this Meeting Registration - Zoom to join.
For your questions or comments on HLPF, email: mmsun@medicalmissionsisters.org
68th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women
Our contemplative stance awakens us to the pain of indifference, and we are urgently invited to be proactive in meeting the need for inclusion of all – MMS 15th General Chapter Report
The world is at a crucial crossroad for gender equality. Globally 10.3 per cent of women live in extreme poverty today, and they are poorer than men. Progress towards ending poverty needs to be 26 times faster to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. (UN Women)
Once again, the world looks at the United Nations as around 7,000 participants gather in-person for the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68). The UN’s largest annual gathering on gender equality and women’s empowerment will take place on March 11-22 at UN Headquarters in New York under the priority theme, “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”. Governments, civil society organizations, experts, and activists from across the world will come together through a wide range of meetings, panel discussions, interactive dialogues, ministerial round tables, intergovernmental negotiations to agree on actions and investments that can end women’s poverty and advance gender equality.
For more information about the CSW68 and to learn ways on how to participate, the Justice Coalition of Religious (JCoR) produced a guide available in 4 languages. Click the following to access this guide: English : Spanish : Portuguese : French
NGO Participation
The NGO Committee on the Status of Women (NGOCSW) is a coalition of NGOs, civil society organizations, and individuals concerned with global gender equality and the rights and empowerment of women and girls. During the NGOCSW Forum, the Committee organizes more than 700 virtual and in-person events that inform, engage, and inspire grassroots efforts and advocacy needed to empower women and girls. This is free and open to the public. If you are interested to attend some of these events, register here NGO CSW68 Forum and explore their virtual platform.
MMS at the UN is happy to announce that 5 MMS Associates from Unit North America will join the CSW68 in New York. Sr. Selen Wilson, O.P. will represent the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville. Therese Connolly, Marguerite Sexton, Thomas Sexton, and Linda Townsend will attend a couple of days to represent the Medical Mission Sisters.
We celebrate women’s voices, proclaiming wisdom.
We honor women’s lives, forging new paths.
We remember women’s faith, strong amid challenges.
We anticipate women’s vision, calling us into the future.
Past, present, and future, our lives join with women everywhere.
Prayer at the Meeting of Religious at the UN
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY!
Newsletter MMS at the UN - Feb 2024
62nd Commission on Social Development from 5 to 14 February 2024
The Commission on Social Development (CSocD) is a conference that serves as a platform for United Nations (UN) Member States, civil society, and other stakeholders to come together to discuss recommendations and policies to advance social development at both the national and global levels. It focuses on reducing inequalities among various groups through poverty eradication, social inclusion, and sustainable development for all.
This year, the 62nd session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD62) will focus on: "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".
It will take place from 5 to 14 February 2024, in Conference Room 4 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and will be broadcasted live at: https://webtv.un.org/en. You can visit their website at CSoCD62.
The Justice Coalition of Religious (JCoR) produced a guide that gives basic information and ways to participate in this event. This guide is available in English and Spanish. Click here: English-JCoR Guide to CSoCD62 , Spanish-JCoR Guide to CSoCD.
In the effort to bring the voice of the grassroots to the UN, JCoR submitted a collective statement to the Commission on Social Development, taking from the experience, insights, and recommendations from the members. Thanks to Maigualida Riera of Unit Venezuela for contributing to this statement. You can read the collective statement by clicking this link JCoR Statement to CSoCD62.
Since the first week of January 2024, the NGO Committee on Social Development of which our Society is a member has been meeting with 44 Member States of the Commission on Social Development to share the advocacy priorities from the grassroots, with the hope that it will influence their national position on the urgent need for social, economic, political and environmental justice. Please include us in your prayers that Member States be open to learn from the grassroots and collaborate with civil society in the work for development and justice at the local and global level.
You are invited to support the Civil Society Declaration by signing here: Civil Society Declaration 2024. This declaration calls on the leadership to establish a renewed social contract integrating social, economic, environmental, and political justice at both national and international levels.
Lastly, MMS is co-sponsoring a parallel event during this CSoCD62 with the title: Not Leaving Behind Future Generations: How do we bridge the gap between generations and communities. It will be held on February 8 from 9:45 – 11:00 (EST). Kindly register here to join.
