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Recent News:
*Reminder: If you
have not already done it, please sign the petition for the Social
Protection Floor
We are hoping to present at least 1 million signatures in support of this to the UN Commission on Social Development next February. Please send this information to all your networks, schools parishes, or ministries. The petition is available in 4 languages: English: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/signature-campaign-social-protection-floor.html Spanish: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/en-apoyo-del-piso-de-protecci%C3%B3n-social.html French: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/appuyer-le-socle-de-protection-sociale.html Portuguese: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/patamar-de-prote%C3%A7%C3%A3o-social-para-todos-e-todas.html UNICEF publishes “The State of the World’s Children 2012: Children in an Urban World” The State of the World’s Children, the annual flagship report of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is this year dedicated to “Children 
in an Urban World,” drawing attention to the fact that over a billion
children are living in a more and more urbanized world. “Already, half
of all people live in urban areas. By mid-century, over two thirds of
the global population will call these places home,” the report explains.
Cities are often perceived as a synonym for economic growth, development
and employment. However, in reality, not all children are benefitting
form urban growth. In this regard, the report draws attention to the
fact that many children living in cities still lack access to education,
health and sanitation. Featuring five chapters, as well as different
graphs and statistical tables, the UNICEF report aims to show the
reality in which children in an urban world live; the challenges they
face; and the main urban problems that affect their lives. The report
also presents a number of examples of initiatives that try to improve
the quality of life of these children; and it identifies policies that
are needed to address urban disparities. For more information, see a
video or download the report GO TO
http://www.unicef.org/sowc2012/
 2012 Commission on Social Development, 1-10 February This was a “policy session” year for the Commission on the theme of Poverty Eradication. Marianists International as a member of the NGO Committee on Social Development helped organize a number of opportunities for NGOs to engage with the process. The Committee again organized a Civil Society Forum the day before the start of the Commission with the focus on the Social Protection Floor Initiative. We held two “working breakfast” advocacy meetings with selected governments to discuss aspects of the Commission outcome resolution. NGOs also held a number of “Side-Events” during the lunch period. For more general information on the Commission and download the resolutions and session summaries GO TO http://social.un.org/index/CommissionforSocialDevelopment/Sessions/2012.aspx. To see more detail about the NGO engagement GO TO the NGO Committee website http://www.ngosocdev.net 2012 Meeting of UN Economic & Social Council with International Monetary Fund, World Bank, World Trade Organization and UN Conference on Trade and Development  Marianists International was one of several Civil Society speakers at this year's ECOSOC-BWI meeting held on March 12-13. Bro. Steve O'Neil spoke on the topics of sovereign debt and trade in the session on “Promoting sustained, inclusive and equitable economic growth, job creation, productive investment and trade.” GO TO http://www.un.org/esa/ffd/ecosoc/springmeetings/2012/index.htm to access the full program, background documents, government statements and more. If you would like to see the video of the session when Bro. Steve spoke GO TO http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/2012/03/part-2-thematic-debate-on-theme-1-promoting-sustained-inclusive-and-equitable-economic-growth-job-creation-productive-investment-and-traded-economic-and-social-council.html and move time slider to about 1 hour 22 minutes into the session. For More Go To The Reports PageCLICK HERE to send an Email about joining our list for regular Email ReportsCLICK HERE to DOWNLOAD Marianists International brochure Contact Information
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