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8
March 2008 :
International Women's Day
 46th
Session Commission on Social Development,
6 to 15 February 2008, New York -
Priority Theme:
"Promoting Full Employment And Decent Work For All"
This was the first "policy year" of the
Commission's two year thematic cycle. Debate over the type of
outcome document and how the Commission could hold governments
accountable to agreed provisions of the theme of employment went
past the normal time allotted for the Commission. Final agreement
was reached on 22 February and the final text (E/CN.5/2008/L.8)
can be downloaded at the
Commission website,
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/csd/csocd2008/resolutions.htm as
well as resolutions on African development,
follow-up to the Madrid Plan of Action on Aging, and mainstreaming
disability into the development
agenda. Marianist intern, Cynthia Sias, helped provide simultaneous
translation from Spanish/English and English/Spanish in a number of
the sessions with NGOs.
Marianists International Participates
in Consultation on the UN's 2nd Decade on Poverty Eradication
As part of the Marianists participation in the
NGO Sub-Committee we would like to ask all members of the Marianist
Family to reflect on these three questions:
Questions for
Consultation with People Living in Poverty
-
What specific
opportunities would you like for yourself and/or your children
in the areas of: --health? --education? --employment? Which
of these opportunities would make the most difference?
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Which public programs or
processes have helped in your community?
-
What would
you like global policy makers at the UN and others to know about
you and your life experience?
Please include:
Source of
Information—Country and City
Contact
Person and e-mail address,
Does the input come from those
living in poverty?
All responses can be sent to Sr.
Doryne Kirby (ibvmdtk@rogers.com)
before March 28.
 Review
Sessions on the Chapters of Monterrey
Consensus: Preparation for Doha Conference,
November 2008
The General Assembly and the UN
Office on Financing for Development have begun a series of review
sessions on the thematic chapters of the 2002 Monterrey Consensus.
The sessions on the first two chapters were held in New York on
14-15 February, 2008. To view the statements by various
stakeholders, governments and civil society, CLICK
the links below: Chapter 1 on Mobilizing Domestic Resources for
Development,
http://www.un.org/esa/ffd/doha/chapter1/index.htm,
Chapter 2 on Mobilizing International Resources for Development,
http://www.un.org/esa/ffd/doha/chapter2/index.htm. The
next session is scheduled for 10 March and will discuss the chapter
on External Debt. To see the entire "Roadmap" of preparations for
the Doha Review Conference GO TO:
http://www.un.org/esa/ffd/doha/roadmap.htm
Marianists International Included in Youth Retreat on
Marianist Social Justice
Bro. Steve was
recently asked to provide some background on the work of the
Marianist NGO at the UN for a group of young people on retreat at
Cape May Point, New Jersey. The retreat was entitled: "Heart of
Winter" and gave an overview of how Marianists understand social
justice to include both direct service and actions toward systemic
change. After hearing about the work of the NGO, the young people
put on a puppet show for younger kids at a nearby church/community
center.
UNICEF's 2008 State of the World's Children: Child Survival
UNICEF’s flagship
report The State of the World’s Children 2008, which was released 22
January in Geneva, says the health needs of women, mothers and
newborn children must be a priority if the MDGs are to be met. The
new information in The State of the World’s Children 2008 is drawn
from household survey data as well as material from key partners,
including the World Health Organization and the World Bank. UNICEF
believes that the political leaders of the G8 industrialized nations
must address child health as not just a moral imperative but also a
development priority. And experience has shown that the benefits of
community health spread far beyond just children. GO TO
http://www.unicef.org/childsurvival/index_42503.html to see the
UNICEF website on the new report and view videos
or access whole document in PDF.
Three Items from
the UN Millennium Campaign:
1. Jubilee,
Micah Challenge and others deliver letter to President Bush.
Leaders from several US
faith-based organizations including Micah Challenge, Bread for the
World, and World Relief urged President Bush to show leadership with
the Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt
Cancellation.
2. Education for All
Act. Worldwide, 77 million children lack access to
even basic education. The Education for All Act is a bipartisan
bicameral bill that will pledge the US government to scale up its
investment in basic education to ensure every child goes to school
worldwide. To take action GO TO,
http://one.org/takeaction/education_for_all_act.html
3. Student
Writing Competition. Concern is holding their annual
writing competition invites students to write about global issues.
This year's theme is: "A World Without Hunger". GO TO
http://concernusa.org/Public/GCP/News.aspx?Id=655 to learn more.
 Spanish
Marianists on Journey of Lenten Discovery: 40 Days - 40 Poorest
Countries
(Cuaresma 40 Dias con los 40
Últimos)
In Spanish Only
Bro. José
Eizaguirre, SM is the current Assistant for Temporalities in the
Madrid Province. For the past 4 years he has helped the
Marianists in Spain join in solidarity with the people of the 40
poorest countries during Lent. The program contains elements of
learning, prayer, and action. There is also the opportunity to
explore issues significant to those counties, e.g., domestic
violence, access of women in the political process, Family, Marriage
and Motherhood. To learn more visit the website,
http://www.marianistas.org/~justiciaypaz/cuaresma/
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16
November 2007 - International Day of Tolerance
GA President Receives 5
Million Signatures to End the Death Penalty
The call for a
moratorium on executions will be presented to the President of the
General Assembly of the United Nations, Mr. Srgian Kerim, on Friday,
Nov. 2, at 10.30 am. A delegation of the Community of Sant'Egidio
and the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty will deliver more
than five million signatures collected worldwide on a petition to
the General Assembly calling for a global moratorium on executions.
CLICK Here to view press release.
http://www.marianistngo.org/DeathPenalty press release 2 Nov.doc
Social Watch Report 2007, 24
October 2007Social
Watch launched its 2007 report at the United Nations in the context
of the High-Level Dialogue on Financing for Development. Social
Watch Report 2007: dignity in rights includes a Gender Equity Index
which measures gender equality in the world using three indicators:
education, empowerment, and economic activity. The report also
discusses how social security is being dissolved worldwide in order
to maintain capital investments and how this has especially affected
the retirement life of women.
http://www.socialwatch.org/en/informeImpreso/informe2007.htm
The United Nations, Google and Cisco Systems Launch new
Website for the MDGs
The
MDG Monitor (http://www.mdgmonitor.org/aboutMDG.cfm)
shows how countries are progressing in their efforts to achieve the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). With the 2015 target date fast
approaching, it is more important than ever to understand where the
goals are on track, and where additional efforts and support are
needed, both globally and at the country level.
The MDG Monitor is designed as a tool for policymakers,
development practitioners, journalists, students and others to:
TRACK progress through interactive maps
and country-specific profiles, LEARN
about countries' challenges and achievements and get the latest
news, SUPPORT
organizations working on the MDGs around the world
Over 43 Million Stand Up
and Speak Out Against Poverty
Over 43.7 million people, in 127 countries have broken the Guinness
World Record – set last year at 23.5 million – for the largest
number of people to “STAND UP
AGAINST POVERTY
AND FOR
THE MILLENNIUM
DEVELOPMENT GOALS” in 24 hours. In 127
countries, millions stood and spoke out to demand a more urgent
political response to the growing crisis of global poverty and
inequality. They called on their world leaders to keep their
commitments made in the Millennium Development Goals. http://endpoverty2015.org/take-action
Negotiating and
Implementing MEAs (Multilateral
Environmental Agreements): A Manual for NGOs
United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP), 2007
This manual - developed in cooperation with
Stakeholder Forum, Earth Media and Centro de Estudios Ambientales –
aims at strengthening multi-stakeholder participation and increasing
political momentum for effective MEA development, implementation and
enforcement. It provides step-by-step background information,
hands-on guidance, and expert advice on how stakeholders can
effectively engage in developing and implementing MEAs.
http://www.unep.org/delc/docs/MEAs%20Final.pdf
The UN Nonprofit Handbook Project
Johns Hopkins University and the United Nations, 26-27
September 2007
The Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society
Studies in collaboration with the United Nations Volunteers and the
United Nations Statistics Division came together in a Global
Assembly to review the progress of the civil society sector,
volunteerism, and philanthropy through the creation of a United
Nations Handbook on Nonprofit Institutions in the System of National
Accounts (UN NPI Handbook). The Global Assembly provided a space for
civil society members to discuss mechanisms of extending their work
and to assess the ability of this Handbook in helping civil society
to promote the Millennium Developmental Goals.
Global Assembly website:
http://www.jhu.edu/ccss/unhandbook/meetings.html
UN NPI Handbook:
http://www.jhu.edu/ccss/unhandbook/handbookdraft.html
Global
Food Crisis Looms as Climate Change and Fuel Shortages Bite
(November 3, 2007)
The price of food is increasing worldwide and
several countries are on the brink of a food crisis. The reason for
the increase is due to a combination of rising oil prices, greater
amounts of food crops used for bio-fuel production, and unstable
weather conditions. The rise in food prices has devastating
consequences for the world's poor who cannot afford to buy basic
necessities and food to live above the subsistence level. (Guardian)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/hunger/economy/2007/1103crisis.htm
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Marianists International Annual Report for 2007
 The
International Youth delegations read a powerful statement to the
high-level plenary in at the climate conference in Bali. Giving the
UN climate conference’s closing statement, it was a defining moment.
The incredble speakers were Anna Keenan from Australia,
Karmila Parakkasi from Indonesia, Whit
Jones from SustainUS in the United States, and Bambou Chieppa
(a 13-year old girl). At 4 minutes, the statement was powerful and
concise — and called for bold action.
Progress for Children: A
World Fit for Children Statistical Review reports on
how well the world is doing in meeting its commitments for the
world’s children. This UNICEF special edition analyses progress
towards the Millennium Development Goals in four priority areas for
children: promoting healthy lives, providing a quality education,
combating HIV and AIDS, and protecting against abuse, exploitation
and violence. CLICK on the link
http://www.unicef.org/progressforchildren/2007n6/index_41401.htm to
view a video, see a photo essay or download the PDF report.
 General
Assembly Urges
Stepped Up
Effort To
Meet ‘WORLD FIT FOR
CHILDREN’ Pledges
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/ga10675.doc.htm With
the adoption of a consensus Declaration, the Assembly marked the end
of its high-level plenary on the follow-up to its 2002 special
session on children, a seminal event which laid out time-bound goals
for achieving children’s well-being in the areas of health,
education, protection from abuse and violence, and combating
HIV/AIDS. The commemorative meeting heard from more than 140 Heads
of State, senior Government officials, representatives of
non-governmental organizations and youth delegates, who spoke on
varied economic and social issues, ranging from equitable trade to
the importance of family.
CLICK here to view final declaration fo the special
session.
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_42201.html
CTAUN,The
Committee on Teaching About the United Nations presents its 10th
Annual Conference
Friday, 1 February 2008
9:15 am to 5:30 pm
United Nations
Headquarters, New York City
For more
information and registration form go to
http://www.teachun.org/main_conf.html
Any
Marianist or teacher at a Marianist school wishing to attend, we can
offer accommodations in Rockaway.
General Assembly Decides on Modalities and Preparation for
Doha Review Conference on
FFD
By the terms
of the draft resolution, the General Assembly would decide to hold
the Follow-Up International Conference to Review the Implementation
of the Outcome of the International Conference on Financing for
Development in Doha, Qatar from 29 November to 2 December 2008.
The President
of the General Assembly would also be requested to provide a
programme of work, including six substantive informal review
sessions of the whole on the six thematic areas of the Monterrey
Consensus, to be held during the period from January to June 2008.
To read the latest newsletter on "The Road to Doha" go to
http://www.un.org/esa/ffd/newsletter/2007_12TheRoadtoDoha.pdf.
You may also download the whole text of the resolution using the
link on the FFD
homepage.
The Global
Gender Gap Index 2007
A 2007 index
places Nordic countries at the top of the list as the world's most
gender equal countries. The report shows improvements in gender
equality worldwide, but the advances are small and mainly take place
in rich countries. A number of wealthy countries are decreasing on
the ranking, among them the US and Switzerland, while Middle Eastern
countries are advancing. (World Economic Forum)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/inequal/gender/indexarticles.htm#wef
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17 October 2007 - International Day for the Eradication of
Poverty
International Day for
the Eradication of Poverty
Following last year's record
breaking event, the UN's Millennium Campaign and Global Action
Against Poverty hope to repeat the success with an even larger
witness this year. Stand Up and Speak Out is the growing
movement of people no longer prepared to stay seated or silent
in the face of poverty and inequality. On October 16th and 17th,
Stand Up and Speak Out for the Millennium Development Goals.
Help us break the world record. So we can break the record of
broken promises.
Login to Manage Your Event
 ,
http://www.standagainstpoverty.org/user/login/edit?destination=mystandup/events.
International Movement
ATD Fourth World, a non-governmental organization with
no religious or political affiliation which engages with
individuals and institutions to find solutions to eradicate
extreme poverty and helped initiate the International Day for
the Eradication of Poverty, has more information about
commemorations of the day around the world at their website,
http://www.oct17.org/en. There you can also sign the Call to Action
petition to end global poverty.
World Food Day, 18
October, New York
Established by the
Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO), http://www.fao.org/,
to be celebrated every year on 16 October, the World Food Day
will be observed this year on 18 October at the United Nations
in New York . Under the theme “The Right to Food”, the World
Food Event will be held at the United Nations, from 1:15 p.m. to
2:45 p.m., in Conference Room 3. Attendees expected, The
President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General of The
United Nations, the President of ECOSOC, the entire UN
Community, NGOs, Civil Society and school children involved in
school gardening programmes, will address the right of all human
beings to have physical and economic access to nutritionally
adequate, culturally acceptable and safe food. For more
information about the day released by FAO go to the World Food
Day website,
http://www.fao.org/wfd2007/index_wfd2007.
 Reflections
on the Recent DPI/NGO Conference on Climate Change
The new Marianist intern at the
NGO office, Cynthia Sias, has written her reflections about the
recent conference on global climate change. While she did leave
the conference with hope, there were also frustrations. "We
need to realize that everyone around the globe is impacted by
climate change and we should listen to one another’s sufferings
and work to alleviate those sufferings while taking care of our
earth." To view the entire reflection go to the Marianist NGO
website,
http://www.MarianistNGO.org/documents.htm. The
next important UN Conference on Climate Change is scheduled for
Bali, 3-14 December,
http://unfccc.int/meetings/cop_13/items/4049.php.
3rd Pax
Romana ICMICA/MIIC Internship Programme, 10-19 December, Bilbao
, Spain
Pax Romana–International
Catholic Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs (Pax
Romana ICMICA/MIIC) with the support from the Government of
Basque Country are happy to invite you to participate at the 3rd
Pax Romana-ICMICA Interreligious and Intercultural Internship
Programme 2007,
http://www.paxromana.org/node/923 to take place in Bilbao ,
Spain from 10 to 19 December 2007. The
internship programme brings together people from different
faiths, cultures and religions to reflect on how to be able to
live together in a peaceful manner in the era with a profound
transformation and transmission of cultures and religions. The
deadline for submitting your application is
October
20, 2007.
Read here the Call for Participation,
http://www.paxromana.org/node/922.
Marianists International to Participate in
Vatican Forum for "Catholic-inspired" NGOs, 30 November-2
December in Rome
"The Forum will provide an
interactive space for the participants to share their
experiences, priority areas and challenges in their important
commitment to working for the dignity of the human person in the
Community of Nations. It will also try to draft new proposals
for collaboration and renewed dynamics, making the most of what
has been realized until now and creating new modalities, if
found useful. The intention is also to foster mutual knowledge
and synergy with the HolySee and its Representatives." While
there in Europe, Bro. Steve O'Neil, SM will try to meet with
other Marianists in France and Spain to explore new ways for
broader collaboration with the Marianist Family.
US Senate Passes FY08 State Department Spending Bill Providing
Increased UN Funding
The Senate adopted its
fiscal year 2008 spending bill for State Department operations
and foreign assistance programs, boosting the President's budget
request for US assessed and voluntary contributions to
international organizations, including the United Nations, UN
agencies and programs, and UN peacekeeping operations. However,
several amendments were adopted that may affect US financial
contributions to the UN system.
To Read more go to
http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=evKPK8PTJiIZLoK&s=fkJRJ4OMIfKWIbNTJuF&m=dhLQK2MyHfJ3E.
Marianists
International Signs Onto Letter to Corporate Sponsors of the
Beijing Olympics
The
Marianists have signed onto a letter to the multinational
corporations sponsoring the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The
government of China and chinese oil companies are the major
international investors in Sudan. Therefore the letter to the
Olympic sponsors asks that they "urge Beijing to use
every tool at its disposal to convince the government of Sudan
to allow a robust civilian protection force to move into Darfur
before the Games begin. We urge your company to contact the
Chinese government and the International Olympic Committee, to
press China to play a constructive role to help those in
Darfur."
Globalization: End of the Beginning - or Beginning of
the End? (September 11, 2007)
This Globalist article compares the US and Chinese
economies following decades of economic globalization. The two
countries are experiencing equally worrisome levels of income
inequality and turbulence in their financial markets. This has
caused fear, even among pro-globalization advocates. The author
suggests that the global economy is headed towards a rough
patch. He does not necessarily advocate for an end to
globalization but rather a reform of the nature of globalization
as we know it. He predicts that the structure of the global
economy will have to change to counter the wide global and
national disparities.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/globaliz/econ/2007/0911end.htm
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12 August 2007:
International Youth Day
 The
Theme for the 2007 Commemoration of International Youth Day is:
BE SEEN, BE HEARD: YOUTH
PARTICIPATION FOR DEVELOPMENT. This
year’s commemoration -- Be Seen, Be Heard: Youth Participation for
Development -- focuses on the enormous contributions young women and
men everywhere can and do make towards national uplift. They are
valuable and committed partners in the global effort to achieve the
Millennium Development Goals, including the overarching goal of
cutting poverty and hunger in half by 2015. They remain at the
forefront of the fight against HIV/AIDS. And they bring fresh,
innovative thinking to longstanding development concerns.
CLICK the link to view the
Secretary-General's message.
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/iyd2007.htm
New Marianist Volunteer to
work at the NGO Office:
Marianists
International is happy to welcome a Marianist Volunteer to the New
York office. St. Mary's University graduate, Cynthia Sias, will be
an intern at the NGO office from August until July 2008. Cynthia is
also a member of the Steering Committee of the Marianist Social
Justice Collaborative. She will be assisting Bro. Steve in all
aspects of the NGO ministry with a particular focus on the NGO
Committee on Youth.
Dafur Resolution 1769 (July
31, 2007)
After threatening further sanctions to prod Khartoum
into acquiescence, UN Security Council members unanimously passed
Resolution 1769, a watered-down version of earlier proposals. The
resolution espouses UNAMID, a hybrid AU-UN peacekeeping mission to
Darfur, comprised of 20,000 military personnel and 6,000 police.
UNAMID will act under Chapter VII to implement the Darfur Peace
Agreement and to protect civilians and aid workers. The UN has yet
to secure the cooperation of all of Darfur's rebel groups, which
will be crucial to UNAMID's success.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/sudanindex.htm#1769
Action on Follow-up to the Outcome of the Special Session on
Children
Taking up the
draft on the commemorative high-level plenary meeting devoted to
the follow-up to the outcome of the special session (document
A/61/L.63), the General
Assembly decided to convene that meeting on 11 and 12 December 2007,
to evaluate progress made in implementing the Declaration and Plan
of Action contained in the document entitled “A World Fit
for Children”.
CLICK link to download this
document (http://www.MarianistNGO.org/documents.htm).
It decided also that the meeting would comprise plenary
meetings and two thematic interactive round tables, and that the
Presidents of the Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, the
Secretary-General and the Executive Director of the United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF) would address the opening plenary. The
Assembly decided also that a girl and boy selected through a process
led by the Assembly President, and organized by UNICEF and a
representative of a non-governmental organization in consultative
status with the Economic and Social Council, would address the
closing plenary meeting.
Experts: As Economy
Grows, Income Disparity in Latin America Widens (July 30, 2007)
Despite some solid economic growth in various Latin
American countries, the region has the greatest income inequality in
the world. Latin America's economy has "grown between 4 to 6 per
cent annually since 2004," but "200 million people still live in
poverty and 81 million of them in extreme poverty." Rodrigo Guerra,
head of the Social Observatory of the Latin American Bishops'
Council, said that the inequality is quickly increasing in all Latin
American countries. The article calls for governments to invest in
social programs, to reform the education and the judiciary in order
to reduce such disparity. (Catholic News Service)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/inequal/income/2007/0730lainequality.htm
New ActionAid report
looks at effects of IMF policies on education
A new ActionAid report on education in Malawi,
Mozambique and Sierra Leone, finds that a major factor behind the
chronic and severe shortage of teachers is that IMF policies have
required many poor countries to freeze or curtail teacher
recruitment.
Read
ActionAid's report
Read IMF's response
Read ActionAid's rebuttal to IMF
Tools for Activists:
An Information and Advocacy Guide to the World Bank Group
After twenty years of monitoring the Bank, BIC
(Bank Information Center) believes that without independent
public monitoring and pressure, the gap between the World Bank's
rhetoric and reality will remain wide and may in fact
 expand.
That is why we have developed the Tools for Activists. CLICK
on picture to Download.
Table
of Contents:
Introduction (pdf,
87 KB)
1. World Bank Group Basics (pdf, 405 KB)
2. The World Bank Group in your Country (pdf, 216 KB)
3. Access to Information at the World Bank Group (pdf, 120 KB)
4. Protecting your Rights (pdf, 336 KB)
5. When Rights are Violated (pdf, 284 KB)
Glossary of Terms and Acronyms (pdf, 39 KB)
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11 July 2007: World Population Day & 1984 UN Agreement on
the Use and Control of the Moon
Marianists in Philippines and UNICEF tackle Child
Pornography
Dear Steve, Check out our blogspot ( www.acporno.blogspot.com)
concerning our anti-child
pornography campaign in Davao city which is being financially
supported by UNICEF. We are also helping UNICEF to develop a
national campaign in the Philippines. With 100,000 websites on child
pornography, it's a goliath challenge and task.
Richard
Richard Joyal SM
(P.O. Box 80718)
Foundation of Balay Pasilungan, Inc.
8000 Davao City, Philippines
60th Annual DPI/NGO Conference:
5 -7 September 2007, United Nations Headquarters, New York
This year's
theme for the conference is "Climate Change: How It Impacts Us All."
Marianists International would like to invite anyone in the
Marianists Family who is interested in this important issue to join
us in attending this year's conference. We can house 4 or 5 folks in
Rockaway for no additional expense. You would only have to cover
travel and food costs. It would also be an opportunity to learn more
about the work of the Marianist NGO. Please send me an email at
BroSteve@MarianistNGO.org if you are interested as soon as
possible.
 Release
of the Seventh Annual Trafficking in Persons Report,
June 12, 2007,
Washington, D.C.
The
2007 Trafficking in Persons Report (http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2007/)
on over 150 countries is the most comprehensive worldwide report on
the efforts of governments to combat severe forms of trafficking in
persons. Its findings will raise global awareness and spur countries
to take effective actions to counter trafficking in persons.
The annual Trafficking in Persons
Report serves as the primary diplomatic tool through which the
U.S. Government encourages partnership and increased determination
in the fight against forced labor, sexual exploitation, and
modern-day slavery.
The Marianist Province of the US also works on this issue through
its investments and corporate responsibility actions.
A Call to
our Governments for Action
to Fulfil the Millennium
Development Goals
Marianists International is joining
the Sisters of Mercy and the Passionists in distributing a flyer for
members to use for contacting their goverments and asking for
greater efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. We just
passed the half-way point (7-7-07) to the ulimate goal of the MDGs,
2015. Many countries, particularly those of sub-Saharan Africa, are
a long way from reaching the targets by 2015. The flyer (in English,
Spanish & French) is one page, front and back, and available for
download on the
Marianists International website on the Documents
page (http://www.MarianistNGO.org/documents.htm).
Chances of Achieving MDGs "Slim" Without Civil Society (June
28, 2007)
As governments fail to make adequate progress in
achieving the UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), civil
society plays a growing role in promoting the goals. Hundreds of NGO
representatives met for the Civil Society Development Forum in
Geneva, Switzerland, concentrating their agenda on the two goals of
"eradicating poverty and hunger" and "creating a global partnership
for development." ECOSOC President Dalius Cekuolis argues that civil
society's pressure on governments and participation in policy
formation are essential in reaching the MDGs; delegates from the
forum will present their conclusions at the next high-level ECOSOC
meeting. (Inter Press Service)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/ngos/advocacy/network/2007/0628mdgsslim.htm
After Gaza violence, young people face an uncertain future
The recent intra-Palestinian violence in the Gaza
Strip left many young people shaken and unable to carry out their
daily activities.Clashes between Hamas and Fatah killed more than
110 people and injured another 500 earlier this month. Children and
adolescents were left with nothing to do but wait and hope,
disappointed over the cancellation of summer plans, the disruption
of critically important final exams and the uncertain future they
face. “They were continuously shooting for five days,” recalled
Julie, 17, one of several Palestinian youths who spoke to UNICEF
Radio. “The situation was really bad. Nobody was able to get out of
the house, not even able to get near a window.” Read entire article
and hear audio interview at UNICEF website (http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/oPt_40034.html).
CLICK on the picture at right.
Financing
Development to achieve the MDGs
On 17 and 18
June, 2007 a meeting entitled 'Financing Development to achieve the
MDGs' will take place in Doha, Qatar. This is a follow-up to the
Informal Thematic Debate "Partnerships
to achieve the Millennium Development Goals"
that took place at the United Nations, New York on 27 November 2006.
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15 May 2007 - International Day of Families
Societies must aid families to protect rights of persons with
disabilities: Ban Ki-moon
15 May – Marking the
International Day of Families, celebrated today, United Nations
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the international community
to assist families to empower and enrich the lives of the persons
with disabilities in their households. CLICK
for
FULL STORY>>
 UN-Civil
Society Engagement: Year in Review 2006
CLICK Title to Download
The UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service has just published a
comprehensive review paper on UN Engagement with Civil Society
during 2006. Some of the areas covered are:
- Informal Interactive Hearings with the General Assembly
- Special Review Conferences
- ECOSOC Functional Commissions
- Annual Meetings or Forums
- On-going Engagement with UN Agencies and Programs
This year's meeting between ECOSOC member countries' finance
ministers and the IMF, World Bank, and WTO focused on the following
themes:
(1) Good
governance at all levels; (2) Voice and participation of developing
countries in international economic decision-making, including the
Bretton Woods institutions; (3) Realizing the Doha development
agenda – effective use of trade and investment policies; and (4) Aid
effectiveness and innovative financing for development.
The second annual
civil society forum, which took place the day before the official
meeting, was a collaborative effort of three NGOs working to move
the Monterrey Agenda forward: The New York based NGO Committee on
Financing for Development (of which Marianists International is a
member), News Rules for Global Finance (Washington Based) and the
International Facilitating Group on Financing for Development (IFG).
Petition to have the US honor it's UN Peacekeeper
Commitments
On May 1, 2007, The Better World Campaign
launched an online, grassroots campaign called the Price of
Peace.
PriceofPeace.org
seeks to raise awareness about the relatively small price of UN
peacekeeping missions and their high success rate, compared to
the cost of war and unilateral U.S. military action.
We will call on the United States -- the largest
funder of UN peacekeeping -- to meet its financial obligations
for these missions through an online petition.
In addition,
UN Dispatch, a blog focusing on UN issues,
that will run "Posts on Peace" throughout the month of
May and
The People Speak, an online forum for young people engaged
in global issues will kick off with an interview with former
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Andrew Young.
New US Ambassador to the UN,
Zalmay Khalilzad, Gives First Address to General Assembly
The Ambassador talked about UN reform and the expansion of the
Security Council. To see the whole text go to the Marianist NGO
website. CLICK the
title above to open that page in your browser.
India: Half of Children Sexually
Abused, Study Says
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
More than half of children in India are subjected to sexual abuse,
but most do not report the assaults to anyone, a new government
study said. Parents and relatives were mostly found to be the
perpetrators of child sexual abuse, said Women and Child Development
Minister Renuka Chowdhury. Separately, nearly 65 percent of
schoolchildren reported facing punishment beatings by teachers,
mostly in government schools, the study said. The ministry’s study
covered 13 of India’s 28 states and questioned 12,447 children in
the 5-to-12 age group and 2,324 young adults. It covered different
forms of child abuse, including physical, sexual and emotional
abuse, as well as female child neglect. The study did not have a
margin of sampling error. Last year, the government barred the
employment of children under age 14 as domestic servants or in
hotels, restaurants or small teashops because children were often
subjected to physical violence, mental trauma and sexual abuse.
Assam's missing
women and the sex trade
Thousands of girls in India's violence-stricken
north-eastern state of Assam have gone missing after being ensnared
in the sex trade, reports Subir Bhaumik.
A recent police report says 3,184 women and 3,840
female children have gone missing in the state since 1996.
That's around two females a day on average.
Go to this link to see the whole BBC story.
<
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/6430811.stm
>
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7 April
2007: World Health Day (Happy Easter!)
 World
Health Day Spotlights International Health Security
by Alanda Perry
World Health Day
will be commemorated on Saturday, April 7, the day that the
United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) was founded. This
year's theme is "international health security" and the guiding
motto is "invest in health, build a safer future." The rising
concern over potential global health pandemics such as SARS and
Avian flu, the real devastation of HIV/AIDS and fears about
bioterrorism demonstrate that health security is a crucial
component of human security on our planet.
Read WHO Director-General Margaret Chan's latest
statement on this year's World Health Day theme.
From Bro. Richard Joyal, SM in
Davao City, Phillipines:
"I continue to
appreciate with interest receiving the Marianists International
Report. Here in Davao City, our participation with UNICEF
sponsored programs is increasing. For your information, our
ministry with street children, (Foundation of Balay Pasilungan,
Inc.) will be receiving $12,500 this year from UNICEF for a
variety of outreach and non-formal education programs for street
children and children in conflict with the law. With three other
non-government agencies in the city, we are involved in a two
year campaign program on Anti-Child Pornography, sponsored by
UNICEF. And another thing is that I am very much involved with
UNICEF and Davao City Planning, as non-government agency
partner, is with their CNSP project called Sixth Country
Planning for Children which goes up to 2009.
CLICK Here to view the Foundation
of Balay Pasilungan Annual Report
More Comments on the World
Social Forum
The UN's
Non-governmental Liasion Service (NGLS) has published some
additional reflections on the 2007 World Social Forum. We
received a number of responses to last month's report on WSF so
you may also be interested in this contribution. Go to the
following link through the Marianist NGO website.
http://www.MarianistNGO.org/documents.htm
Feature Article on Marianists International
in the New
Alive
Magazine
Both Bro. Steve O'Neil
and Lay Marianist Rich Scroczynski were recently
interviewed about their ministry at the United Nations.
You can view the whole issue in PDF format by
CLICKING
the photo on the right and the NGO article begins on
page ten.
 Signing
Away the Future--Summary (March 20, 2007)
This
Oxfam
report
finds that rich countries are using regional and bilateral trade
deals to attain "enormous irreversible concessions" from poor
countries, making these agreements far more damaging to
development than anything proposed under World Trade
Organization negotiations. Arguing that these deals have "grave
implications" both for the environment and for economic growth,
Oxfam calls for trade rules that recognize the rights of
developing countries and work to reduce poverty.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/trade/2007/0320signing.htm
 51st
Session of the Commission on the Status of Women:
“The Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination and Violence Against the Girl Child”
The Commission
concluded in New York on March 9th. At their website (http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/51sess.htm) you can now
view the "advance unedited version," (updated 15 March 2007) of
their agreed conclusions as well as drafts of four resolutions
to be sent to ECOSOC:
-
E/CN.6/2007/L.1 :Women, the girl child and
HIV/AIDS
(Lesotho on behalf of the States Members of the United
Nations that are members of the Southern African Development
Community)
-
E/CN.6/2007/L.2 : Situation of and assistance to
Palestinian women
(Pakistan on behalf of the Group of 77 and China)
-
E/CN.6/2007/L.3 :
Ending female genital
mutilation
(South Africa, on behalf of the States Members of the United
Nations that are members of the African Group)
-
E/CN.6/2007/L.4 :Forced and early marriage
(United States of America)
All documents are in PDF
format [Available in Arabic,
Chinese, English, French,
Russian, Spanish]
Global Poverty Act Introduced in
US Congress
Legislation known as the "Global Poverty Act of 2007" was
introduced into the House in March, requiring the President to
develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to achieve the
United Nations Millennium Development Goal #1 of halving the
proportion of people around the world living on less than $1 a
day by 2015. Read
More.
Civil
Society Forum on Migration and Development
On 9, 10 and 11 July 2007 the Belgian government will host the
first meeting of the ‘Global Forum on Migration and
Development’. The King Baudouin Foundation has accepted the
invitation to organise the first day of the Global Forum, which
will be
devoted to civil society. The
‘Civil Society Forum on Migration and Development’ on 9
July will gather a broad range of non-governmental actors to
discuss the migration and development nexus and give input to
the governmental discussions on the 10th and 11th
of July . A
website dedicated to this event is online as of today at
www.gfmd-civil-society.org. The
application form to attend the Civil Society Forum on Migration
and Development can be downloaded from the website. You can also
find it attached to this
e-mail, and
it needs to be returned on 10 April 2007 at the latest. You
are kindly invited to circulate this message in your networks.
It would be great
if any of our European based Marianists could attend this
meeting! Please email me if you are interested.
Just a Reminder: Survey Forms
on Employment Best Practices
The NGO Committee on
Social Development is still collecting responses to a simple
survey sent to our local networks on "best Practices" on
programs to address employment concerns. The survey is available
in English, Spanish, and French. These forms may be downloaded
at the
Marianists
International
website.
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2 March 2007
Marianists Participate in 2007 World Social Forum; Nairobi,
Kenya
The
Marianists communities in Kenya were very gracious hosts to the NGO
representative while attending the recent World Social Forum. Two of
our African brothers were also able to participate. To read the
reports of Brothers Charles Kimeu, SM and Steven O'Neil, SM go to
the Marianists International
website.
The 2007 Commission on Social Development
Bro. Brian Halderman, SM (Marybrook
Community, St. Louis) participated in the recent Commission on
Social Development at UN Headquarters in New York. The theme for
this year's Commission was "Promoting
Full Employment and Decent Work for All." To read Bro. Brian's
report
CLICK
here.
The NGO Committee on Social Development is circulating a simple
survey to our local networks on "best Practices" on programs to
address employment concerns. The survey is available in English,
Spanish, and French. These forms may be downloaded at the
Marianists
International
website. I hope that various
Marianist projects will be include, e.g., IIRD in Bangladesh and
DECAMP, in Mexico.
Sudan and Neighbors Agree Not to Support Rebels (February 16, 2007)
Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic renew a pledge
not to support rebels attacking each other's territory. Past
agreements have failed to stop fighting in the region. African Union
chairperson John Kufuor says that Sudan's neighboring states may now
be ready to accept a proposal that a joint African Union and United
Nations force monitor their borders. Khartoum however, has still not
changed its position in rejecting a UN-AU hybrid peacekeeping force
in Darfur. (Reuters)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/sudan/2007/0216neighbors.htm
"Vulture" Feeds on Zambia
(February 15, 2007)
"Vulture funds" buy debt cheaply from developing
countries and then sue the governments for the full value of the
debt plus interest. One such company, Donegal International, has
sued Zambia for US$55 million-over ten times what it paid for the
original debt. Although unlikely to uphold the full amount of
Donegal's "evasive and even dishonest" claim, the UK judge hearing
the case "had little choice but to say the contract was binding." (Guardian)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/develop/debt/2007/0215vulture.htm
UN Chief Relents on
Restructuring World Body (February 21, 2007)
Following strong protests from mostly non-aligned
governments at the UN, Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon will modify his
reform plans and comply with traditional procedures for General
Assembly approval. According to some diplomats, Ban's hasty reform
efforts, which included splitting the Department of Peacekeeping
Operations into two, "created the unfortunate perception that the
proposals had not been well thought out." In light of the political
realities as well as the different priorities of the various blocs
at the UN, this Inter Press Service article emphasizes the
need for openness in the UN reform process.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/reform/topics/manage/2007/0221banrelents.htm
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