September 12, 2004

Twelve School Sisters of Notre Dame and colleagues from throughout North America joined nearly 2,000 registered NGO representatives at the United Nations to support national efforts around the world to eliminate poverty, instability and violence.

The SSND delegation participated in workshops and seminars Sept. 8-10 at the 57th Annual DPI/NGO Conference at the U.N. headquarters in New York. Entitled, "Millennium Development Goals:Civil Society Takes Action," the conference focused on the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society and government in the implementation of the eight Millennium Development Goals which were adopted by 189 UN Member States at their high-level millennium session in 2000.

Centered around the most critical problems causing tensions in the world today, the Millennium Development Goals are designed to give people worldwide the tools to care for themselves in healthy, sustainable environments. Specific targets are set to:

• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
• Achieve universal primary education
• Promote gender equality and empower women
• Reduce child mortality.
• Improve maternal health
• Combat HIV/AIDs, malaria and other diseases
• Ensure environmental sustainability and
• Develop a global partnership for development.

The conference brought together U.N. officials, government representatives, Millennium Development Goals campaign activists, journalists, academics and representatives from grassroots organizations all who are committed to meeting the goals by the target date of 2015.

The conference included a welcoming address by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, five plenary sessions to assess the progress each sector has made on the goals and three days of interactive workshops, including one on girls' education that was moderated by S. Ann Scholz, SSND, representative to the United Nations.

School Sisters of Notre Dame, an international Roman Catholic congregation of women living and working in more than 30 countries, have long supported the objectives outlined in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. As educators with a world vision, School Sisters of Notre Dame are especially sensitive to the needs of women, children and those who are poor as they strive to create a global community where human dignity is respected, the environment is treasured, spirituality is nourished, and justice is practiced.

The School Sisters of Notre Dame has been a registered NGO (non-governmental organization) with the UN’s Department of Public Information since 1993. In 1998, SSND received special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council.

Additional information on the Conference program is posted on www.un.org/dpi/ngosection. Inquiries can be addressed to the NGO section of DPI at DPI/NGO Resource Centre, Room L-1B-31, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA.

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