School Sisters of Notre Dame
at the United Nations
at the United Nations
The gift of our internationality sharpens our consciousness of universal needs and calls us to foster within ourselves and others a responsible concern for the people of the world.
You Are Sent, General Directory 36
We educate, advocate, and act in collaboration with others for the dignity of life and the care of all creation.
- We are an international congregation committed to bringing the urgent needs of the global community to the attention of UN member states and to bring the gift of our charism and the values of the Gospel to bear on the deliberations and decisions of the United Nations.
- We are a non-governmental organization (NGO) accredited since 1994 by the United Nations Department of Global Communications (DGC) (previously called the Department of Public Information (DPI)) and accredited with special status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 1998.
- We focus our advocacy and educational efforts primarily on issues related to the rights of girls, women, and those who are poor — especially their right to education, economic justice, and sustainable development.
- We work in collaboration with the following non-governmental organizations affiliated with the United Nations.
Learn more about the United Nations
- SSND Publications: Shalom-UN NGO Newsletters, In Mission
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Through SSND participation in the following UN events
-
- Annual ECOSOC Functional Commissions 2022
60th Session of the Virtual Commission for Social Development (CSocD60) – February 8-17.
Theme: Inclusive and resilient recovery from COVID-19 for sustainable livelihoods, well-being and dignity for all: eradicating poverty and hunger in all its forms and dimensions to achieve the 2030 Agenda.
More information: 60th Session of the Commission for Social Development – CSocD60 | DISD (un.org)
66th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW66) – March 14-25, 2022
Theme: Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes.
More information: CSW66 (2022) | Commission on the Status of Women | UN Women – Headquarters
21st Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (PFII21) – April 25 to May 6
Theme: “Indigenous peoples, business, autonomy and the human rights principles of due diligence including free, prior and informed consent”.
More Information: UNPFII Twenty-First Session: 25 April-6 May 2022 | United Nations For Indigenous Peoples
The High Level Political Forum – Date: July 5-15
Theme: Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. SDGs under review: 4, 5, 14, 15, and 17.
More Information: High-level Political Forum .:. Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform (un.org)
Pray and invite others to pray for the United Nations
Prayer for the United Nations
O loving and gracious Creator,
Your love embraces all members of the human family,
Your care extends to the least of those among us,
to all our brothers and sisters in every part of the world.
You call us to a mature love and concern for the entire human community.
You call us as individuals, as a nation, as a united community of nations.
Let us hear this prayer in our hearts and respond with faith and good will.
Bless all efforts toward uniting peoples and nations.
Bless the United Nations
As it strives to be an authentic community,
As it witnesses to the needs of all, to the rights of all,
As it toils in the difficult work of peacemaking in all its aspects
Grant us the wisdom and the grace
To become a true global family
And witness your reign on this earth. Amen.
From the Center of Concern
UN 2022
International days are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity.
Join SSNDs around the world as we observe these UN days in 2022
- World Environment Day—5 June
- International Day of Peace—21 September
- International Migrants Day – 18 December
- International Human Rights Day—10 December
News
UN News at your fingertips
Collaboration

What is JCoR?
Click here to watch this video explanation.
A basic social media training offered by JCoR for Catholic Religious NGO representatives to the United Nations on 18 January 2022
SDG of the Month
July 2022
Goal 5
Women and girls make up half of the world’s population and therefore half of its potential. But, today gender inequality persists
everywhere and stagnates social progress. Gender equality is a fundamental human right, and advancing gender equality is critical to all areas of a healthy society, from reducing poverty to promoting the health, education, protection and the well-being of all of humanity.
To learn more click below:
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
For questions or comment, please contact Sister Beatriz Martinez-Garcia,
Director of the SSND UN-NGO Office, using the contact form below.