UN News and Events
United Nations Day 2024
24th October 2024
UNITED NATIONS DAY 2024
24 October marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. With the ratification of this founding document by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the United Nations officially came into being.
“The founding of the UN itself was like one huge world cry for PEACE after two great wars had killed so many people and wreaked such havoc across the globe.” - Jane Blewett, MMS Associate - Intercontinent, March 1993
The United Nations Day, celebrated every year, offers the opportunity to amplify our Common Agenda and reaffirm the purposes and principles of the UN Charter that have guided the Member States for the past 79 years.
Medical Mission Sisters and the UN
This year, Medical Mission Sisters mark the 30th year since our association with the United Nations through the Department of Public Information now Department of Global Communications. In the same year in 1994, we began the process for accreditation for consultative status to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and received the approval in 2000. This was as an important achievement for the whole Society.
“Our growing insights fed our energy to commit ourselves as a Society to participate in shaping a “one world” understanding through our collaboration with others in engaging with the world governance organization of the UN. For us, this new dimension of mission took root and began to grow.
- Eunice Cudzewicz, MMS - Intercontinent Editorial, February 2020
Called to become ONE for the “Healing of the Nations”, Medical Mission Sisters, Associates and Partners in Mission continue to commit in bringing the voices of marginalized people and the vulnerable through the different UN platforms to contribute to its aim and agenda; and influence Member States in making policies and declarations towards systemic change and just implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals at the grassroots level.
Active Hope Now and for the Future
In September 2024, world leaders gathered for the UN Summit of the Future and adopted the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations.
“These milestone agreements will help ensure that the United Nations system adapts, reforms, and rejuvenates, so it is fit for the changes and challenges around us and delivers solutions for all. In today’s troubled world, hope is not enough. Hope requires determined action and multilateral solutions for peace, shared prosperity and a thriving planet. Hope requires all countries working as one. Hope requires the United Nations. On United Nations Day, I call on all countries to keep this beacon for the world, and its ideals, shining.”
- Excerpt from the message of UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, on UN Day 2024
So Let Your Light Shine Through Us!
MMS & Associates participate in 68th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women
From earlier in the year, you might also be interested to watch this short video of how five Associates from Unit North America participated in the 68th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, when member states, civil society organisations and individuals discussed and agreed upon recommendations and actions to advance gender equality globally. In New York, Sister Selen Wilson OP represented the Sisters of St Dominic of Amityville, and was joined by Therese Connolly, Marguerite Sexton, Thomas Sexton and Linda Townsend. Together, they spent a couple of days representing the Medical Mission Sisters along with Sister Jane.
79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and Summit of the Future
What is United Nations General Assembly?
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is the main policy-making body of the United Nations, composed of representatives from each of the 193 UN Member States. It serves as a platform for discussion of specific issues that culminate in the voting on and adoption of resolutions.
The annual session of the UNGA commences in September of each year, welcoming heads of state and government to the UN Headquarters in New York. A central component of High-Level Week is the General Debate, which provides a space for leaders from UN Member States to speak in front of the entire General Assembly.
In addition to the General Debate, this year’s High-Level Week which runs from 22-28 September also features the following events: the Summit of the Future, the SDG Moment, the High-Level Meeting on Sea-Level Rise, the High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance, and the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.
The Summit of the Future on 22-23 September is a high-level event that brings together world leaders to create a new international consensus on how we can improve the present and safeguard the future.
The Summit is composed of plenaries and interactive dialogues focused on five main subjects: peace and security, sustainable development and financing, transforming global governance, youth and future generations, and a digital future for all. It will culminate in the adoption of three agreements:
- The Pact for the Future is an action-oriented document negotiated by UN Member States. It aims include reaffirming the UN Charter, strengthening cooperation between countries, advancing progress on existing commitments (such as the Sustainable Development Goals), agreeing on solutions to rising challenges, and restoring trust.
- The Global Digital Compact will establish a global framework to tackle digital, data, and technology divides. It will outline principles, objectives and actions for advancing an open, free, secure and human-centered digital future for all.
- The Declaration for Future Generations will affirm Member States’ commitment to ensure that the interests of future generations are considered in national and global decision-making, guaranteeing the rights of future generations to thrive.
The Summit of the Future will be preceded by Action Days on 20-21 September, which will bring together stakeholders — from young people to civil society to Heads of State — for an engaging two days of discussion and action.
For more information about the UNGA, Summit of the Future and Side Events, please see the comprehensive guide 79th UNGA (jcor2030.org) produced by Justice Coalition of Religious.
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.
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!
