Resources

Handbook for Persons Living in Extreme Poverty

Making Human Rights Work for People Living in Extreme Poverty... is the title of a recent publication that aims to facilitate the implementing of the UN Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights by local actors.

It is Good for Us to be Here

In a collaborative effort to explain their mission at the United Nations to a wide audience, several NGO representatives at the United Nations have published a small book entitled It is Good for Us to be Here: Catholic Religious Institutes as NGOs at the United Nations.

A Defining Week

When a diplomat called September 25-30, 2015, “a defining week”, he was pointing to three critical events taking place at the United Nations: more than 150 Heads of State or Heads of Government spoke during the annual General Debate at the beginning of the 70th Session of the General Assembly, with the situation in Syria dominating many speeches; the adoption of Agenda 2030, the Post 2015 Development Agenda, with an address by Pope Francis...

The Charter of the United Nations

The Charter of the United Nations was signed on 26 June 1945, in San Francisco, at the conclusion of the United Nations Conference on International Organization.

Use of the United Nations logo is prohibited

All non-governmental organizations — NGOs — affiliated with the UN have been formally reminded that the use by NGOs of the official UN logo is strictly prohibited. This is the familiar logo showing the view of the world from the North Pole ...

Secretary-General's 100-day Countdown Message

The theme for the Day this year is “Education for Peace”. It is not enough to teach children how to read, write and count. Education has to cultivate mutual respect for others and the world in which we live, ...
Stock image rearranged by CEDC.org

One Woman

Launched on March 8, 2013, International Women's Day, the song One Woman is like a theme song for UN Women. Numerous persons from around the world - singers, musicians, ordinary people, men and women - have contributed to this inspiring song and video.

A Call to Action

To watch the video address by Ms. Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director of UN Women, for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, please click here. To read her statement and other information related to ending violence against women ...

World Habitat Day

Half the world’s people now live in towns and cities. In little more than a generation, two-thirds of the global population will be urban. As the proportion of humanity living in the urban environment grows, so too does the need to strengthen the urban focus of our efforts to reduce global poverty ... "

Statement on Rio +20

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development – Rio +20 – is being held June 20-22, 2012, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A good resource to understand the core issues and to prayerfully follow this important summit is a statement written by Caritas Internationalis ...

Launch of GEO-5 report

“The moment has come to put away the paralysis of indecision, acknowledge the facts and face up to the common humanity that unites all peoples, … Rio+20 is a moment to turn sustainable development from aspiration ..."

The General Assembly

The General Assembly (GA) is a principal organ of the United Nations (UN) in which all 193 Member States of the UN participate. Each member country, whether small or large, poor or rich, has a seat at the table and has one vote. The General Assembly is the world’s prime multilateral body and is often referred to as “the international community.”

UN Observances

United Nations observances have been around for many years. Whether the observance is during an international day or week or year, commemorating a particular issue of concern is an excellent way to promote awareness of it and to call to action. This year – 2012 - two important issues are put in the spotlights: Cooperatives and Energy.

Introduction to the United Nations

The United Nations (UN) was created in 1945 as an international organization whose members are countries, states. Today, the UN has 193 Member States – the latest country to become a UN Member State was the Republic of South Sudan in July 2011.

Change the World

"Change the World" was the theme of the International Day of Youth 2011 on August 12th.  To read the message of the Secretary General, please click here.