REPORT ON UNITED NATIONS ACTIVITIES – 2000/2001
By John Reitter, UN Kolping Representative, New York
On April 7, 2000, in Rome, Pope John Paul II met with the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Anan. Among other things, the Pope stressed the importance of international cooperation to meet such challenges of the contemporary world as poverty, wars, persecutions, disasters and epidemics.
He also pointed out that if any effective solution to the problems of globalization on the least developed countries of the world was to be found, it would require the participation of those countries in the decision making process. It is not the province of developed nations alone to develop solutions to the challenges of globalization, and then impose them on the rest of the world. He urged all nations of the world to establish a strong sense of solidarity in order that all may share justly in the benefits available today.
As an example of a growing sense of international solidarity, of a keener awareness of the industrialized countries to share responsibility for the problems facing the less developed countries, the Holy Father pointed out the campaign to reduce or cancel foreign debt. This growing global awareness, John Paul II said, presents “the United Nations system with a unique opportunity to contribute by serving as a meeting place for States and civil society and as a convergence of the varied interests and needs …of the world at large”.
It is this latter thought, “ to serve as a meeting place for States and civil society” that propels NGOs (non-governmental organizations) such as the International Kolping Society to make their presence felt at the United Nations.
My job then, is to represent the Kolping Society in that forum.
Over the past several years, this has developed into three separate, but integrated venues.
1. Attendance at NGO briefing sessions held at the UN on a weekly basis. It is at these sessions that a broad cross section of the issues and problems facing the various member states and/or the world, are discussed. They range from poverty to the aids pandemic, from child molestation and trafficking to land mines, from global warming to volunteerism.
2. Attendance at and participation in meetings held by the International Catholic Organization Information Center (ICOIC). It is here that we discuss and develop action plans on issues uniquely related to Catholic teaching, which may indeed conflict with popular thought. For example, the comments in the lead paragraph about Pope John Paul II were provided by the ICOIC.
3. Participation in activities and meetings held by the NGO Committee on the Family. This is an interdenominational group dedicated to exploring family issues on a global basis, and ensuring that the concerns of the family are presented to the United Nations at appropriate times during the year.
Information culled from one meeting, such as times and places and topics under discussion, is often passed onto one of the other venues for their consideration and action.
In this way, a network of concerned NGOs is kept somewhat better apprised of what is going on in the areas of concern to them.
The remainder of this report will deal with a brief summary of my activity in each of these three venues over the past year.
The first session I attended was a report outlining the plan of action for the coming year of each of the committees reporting to the UN General Assembly. The activity of the 3rd Committee was of particular interest since that is the Committee that involves social development and social justice, the areas where Kolping has most involvement.
The 39th Session of the Commission for Social Development was held from February 13 to February 23 in New York. It’s themes were Enhancing Social Protection and Reducing Vulnerability in a Globalizing World and The Role of Volunteerism in the Promotion of Social Development.
Member States stressed that National Governments have primary responsibility for social protection. However, international cooperation such as sharing best practices and financial and technical assistance to developing countries was also emphasized. The European Union (EU) said that no region is spared from problems associated with poverty and unemployment, social exclusion and indebtedness. It also said that the role of non-governmental organizations, the private sector, employers, trade unions and family members must be recognized in providing social support.
It was said regarding the Role of Volunteerism in the Promotion of Social Development that this was the first time that volunteerism was discussed at such a high level forum. The observance of the International Year of Volunteers this year was intended not only to celebrate volunteering, but also to mark changes in this field.
Panelists emphasized that volunteerism should not be used as a justification for reducing state responsibilities in the area of social protection. Instead, it should be seen as complementing state action in a sensible and appropriate way. Voluntary actions are often considered by many people as providing a basic safety net. Government action can either stimulate and encourage voluntary action or discourage it. The trick is to create a space for volunteerism without stifling the autonomy of the volunteers.
To help celebrate the International Day of the Family on May 15, 2001, the International Kolping Society issued a Declaration, “Volunteer Work is Based on the Family”.
Msgr. Festing, our International Praeses, states the “the importance of volunteer work is accorded a high value in today’s world. It is not only the recognition of the high economic value of this work, which never appears on any official balance sheet. Of primary significance is acknowledging its importance for the social cohesion within a society, which is usually called ‘civic society’ today”.
He further goes on to say that it is in the family that children learn or fail to learn, to take on responsibility, to develop value concepts and to get involved in their community.
The International Kolping Society, through this Declaration, calls for responsible authorities in the political and civic arenas to support families to help them to carry out their multifaceted tasks. In addition, “parameters must be established that make it possible for people, and especially young adults, to co-ordinate family, earning a living, and volunteering.”
Other briefings included:
*Dialogues Among Civilizations, which called for dialogues between differing economic groups, ethnic groups, and religions.
*Tourism and Human Rights Today, which dealt with selling sex and fantasy tours which sexually abused children who were either purchased or kidnapped.
*Children and Their Future in a Troubled World.
· Tracking Global Persistent Organic Pollutants
· Family Survival in War and Peace
This is an organization comprised of many international Catholic organizations whose interests, activities and expertise extend across a broad range of human concerns within the spiritual and moral framework of the Catholic religion. As a member, Kolping helps provide a “Catholic presence at the United Nations”.
Under the able direction of Sister Dorothy Farley, O.P. a series of meetings with specially invited guest speakers are scheduled throughout the year. It is during these meetings that members inform each other of the various conferences, committee meetings, special sessions or Prep Coms being held at the UN, which may be of particular interest.
One of the more interesting meetings involved Meg Gardinier, Director UN Special Session on Children. Meg works with NGOs on partnering with UNICEF programs.
After giving us an overview of the progress being made since the last World Summit on Children, and the schedule of Prep Coms to review the outcome document, she then proceeded to talk about the split between UNICEF and the Catholic Church!
It appears that UNICEF, in 1991, had put their name on a manual that provided information about health care, and sex, and also supported abortion. Shortly thereafter the annual voluntary contribution of $2000 from the Holy See was rescinded. Since then,
many other unsubstantiated letters have exacerbated the situation. Her plea to the Catholic community was to spread the word that UNICEF neither promotes nor performs abortions, that pro-life organizations are not prohibited from the Prep Coms on the Special Session for Children. She asked that if anyone knew of any specifics supporting allegations and criticisms of UNICEF they should contact her personally.
She stated that the legacy of Carol Bellamy, (UNICEF executive director), is to educate girls so they can make their own informed choices.
Another interesting meeting sponsored by the ICOIC was on Financing For Development. The guest speaker, Mr. Christian Ossa, studied at Catholic University in Chile and in the Vatican. He reviewed the role of the UN, the World Bank and the IMF in providing financial assistance to developing countries. The ever increasing debt load and the resultant inability to meet the interest payments, let alone the principal, has been the subject of much press coverage, and is the subject of many UN meetings. The Catholic Church is a leader in proposing strong debt reduction programs, (as is the International Kolping Society), if not outright debt elimination.
Other meetings included a feedback session by members of Franciscans International on the Conference of Least Developed Nations, a briefing by Human Rights Watch (NGO) on racial justice, and a full day of reflection, prayer and discussion on the challenge of spirituality at the UN.
On a more disturbing note, the ICOIC expressed the need for funding. The board of directors pointed out that for Sister Dorothy to remain in her job, she had to provide for the funding herself; the Dominican Order does not fund her. The annual membership is $400, and I have paid this on behalf of Kolping. I am asking that the National Office pay 50% and the International pay 50%. Although funding requests are being sent to the Bishops, there is still a possibility that this Center may have to close.
NGO COMMITTEE ON THE FAMILY
Since Kolping has such a large interest in Family, I have joined this Committee. It seems to be the best way to directly represent the Kolping ideals on Family to the UN.
An ECOSOC report on the social situation in the world shows a declining role of the family. Although the family continues to survive, it needs regeneration. More divorce, later marriages, less children, all mean there is less family on which to turn for help.
Both the AIDS pandemic and armed conflict are responsible for an ever increasing number of single parent families, or worse yet, orphans.
*13 million children lost one or more parents to AIDS
*11million children die of curable diseases each year
*50 million children under age 14 are working to help support their families
*2 million children are killed and 6 million maimed in armed conflict annually
We will need to give extraordinary support to elders, to handicapped and to young children who will be assuming family responsibilities. We need to work on strengthening the weakest members of our society, the women and children. We need to eradicate violence towards women, increase educational opportunities for women and children
and we need to include women in the decision making process. We need to deliver families from extreme poverty, and to repair the social support network when it is fractured.
We need to influence governments and public institutions to help preserve and strengthen the family.
The NGO Committee on the Family attempts to do just that. I have co-authored a statement that was signed by the International Kolping Society as well as by 14 other NGOs, and read by our current Chairman, Mr. David Roth, to the Commission
for Social Development. This statement on the family was printed, circulated, and received by the Secretary General. (A copy of the statement is at the end of the report.)
The Committee on the Family in Vienna has also submitted a statement signed by the Kolping Society, urging Nations, governments and the UN to focus on family issues, to mainstream family issues in all future programs.
THE FRAILTY OF THE BIRDS NEST:
HOW POVERTY SEPARATES PARENTS AND CHILDREN
This was the subject of a full day conference sponsored by the NY Committee on the
Family. There were six panelists addressing such issues as trafficking of children, homelessness, addiction, lack of access to housing, support, education and foster care.
Reimbursement for family preservation service in NY is only about 20% of what is spent on foster care ($2800 per child vs. $15000). Several women spoke about having been in abusive relationships and had their children taken away by ACS as opposed to receiving help for their problems.
One young lady from Guatamala spoke of being brought to the United States by her mother under a false identity, was neglected and abused, and finally sent back home. At age 15, she crossed the border in Mexico, had a baby, lived in an abandoned building, without heat or plumbing, and had an abusive husband. She wanted to leave the relationship, but her husband wanted to keep her daughter although she could keep her son. A subsequent argument resulted in both children being taken away. She is still trying to get her children back, although it is difficult. “I am ignorant, I have no residency papers, and can’t speak English. I am not giving up hope. I am going to school, learning English, seeing my children every week. I have faith I will get my children back.”
“God bless America.”
Amr Galeb, Chief, Programme on the Family, United Nations, appreciated the work the Committee on the Family had done in sponsoring these kinds of meetings. He went on to speak about his goals as Chief in the UN:
*To increase awareness of family issues
*To strengthen and support family
*To assess the needs of family
*To strengthen the capacities of government to address family issues
*To enhance effectiveness at all levels to carry out action plans
*To improve collaboration of NGOs at all levels
The objective was to get issues on family in front of the General Assembly, by reaching the Commission for Social Development and ECOSOC through written position papers or declarations.
At the conclusion of the conference, I spoke to Mr. Galeb, and presented him with a copy of the Kolping Declaration “Volunteerism is Based on the Family”. He remarked that he had heard of the International Kolping Society, was familiar with some of their work, thanked me for the copy and asked for my card for future reference.
In summary, although progress is at a snails pace, I do believe that a constant barrage of meetings, speeches, and papers promoting the family and family values is necessary to insure that the word is heard by all member states and to focus world attention on abuses wherever they exist. This is a significant role played by NGOs in society today.