Report of the DPI/NGO Conference 2005

The IBVM participants included the JPIC Coordinators of all provinces: Libby Rogerson (Australia), Doryne Kirby and Maria Lanthier (Canada), Kathryn Keigher (England), Sabrina Edwards and Helen Borneo (India), Cecilia Walsh (Ireland), Margaret Sewe and Nuala Brangan (Kenya), Linda  Charles (Mauritius), Mercedes Ocharan (Peru), Elizabeth Donnan (South Africa), Cecilia O’Dwyer (Spain), Arlene Ashack (USA), as well as Pat Murray (Rome). RSCJ from abroad were Carmel Flynn (IRS), Gwen Hoeffel (JPN), Teresa Mailly (ESS), Margarita Recavarren (PER) and Livi Rodrigues (IND).

The milling, colourful crowds, the busyness of the UN and all that talk could not, however, deafen us to the cries of pain coming from across the globe – HIV/AIDS orphans, 12,000 abducted children from Northern Uganda, rape in Darfur and the ceaseless and largely unnoticed decimation of the people in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Would that our political leaders could have heard those anguished voices! Libby Rogerson IBVM, Australia

The diversity of NGOs present was beyond my imagining. The choice of workshops was vast and the speakers at the plenary sessions combined inspiration, information, passion, and in some cases they delivered their serious message for humanity with humour. Elizabeth Donnan IBVM, South Africa

Plenary Sessions Wednesday September 7, 2005 Morning: Opening session in General Assembly Hall Afternoon: In Larger Freedom: The Challenge of Partnerships Thursday September 8, 2005 Morning: A Focus on Human development: Implementing the MDGs Afternoon: Collective Security: The Priorities of Civil Society Friday September 9, 2005 Morning: A Dialogue: The Future of the United Nations Three Roundtables Afternoon: Spare No Effort: 2015 is Now We the Peoples: Every Voice Counts (Closing Session) During the conference the plenary sessions were web cast live; today they can still be watched at www.undpingoconference.org (click on “web cast”). The official report of the Conference is available at www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/ pdfs/annualrep05.pdf (English only).

Carmel Flynn rscj and Livi Rodrigues rscj

There were many fringe events. One event called “Peace not Poverty: A Political and Cultural Event” was of particular significance to IBVMs and RSCJ. By happy coincidence two of the speakers were past alumnae of our schools – Wangari Maathi (Loreto Limuru, Kenya) and Mary Robinson (Sacred Heart School, Mount Anville, Ireland). It was a strong reminder to us that some of our current pupils are potentially future global shakers and shapers. Pat Murray IBVM, Rome

Doryne Kirby IBVM, Arlene Ashack IBVM, Pat Murray IBVM, Sabrina Edwards IBVM

I came away from the UN inspired by the insights of the speakers, the breadth of their ideas, the values manifested and the challenges proposed. So now the questions are: How do I/we witness to the urgings of the UN to take initiatives aimed at eliminating inequalities throughout the world and respecting the human rights of every person? How do I/we make the necessary effort to encourage civil society to urge their governments to take responsibility for seeking changes/reform at the UN so it will be a stronger and more vibrant promoter of human rights and the accomplishment of the MDGs? Doryne Kirby IBVM, Canada

Livi Rodrigues rscj, Gwen Hoeffel rscj, Margarita Recavarren rscj, Helen Borneo IBVM, Mercedes Ocharan IBVM

Each person with her gifts, the different cultures of the provinces, were moments that enriched us during this meeting. Mercedes Ocharan IBVM, Peru

So this is it. The UN. Hands across the world. Distinctions not made by creed or colour or bank balance But by whether you went to war or not, By who kept silence, who spoke out, who took action, who merely watched While their fellow human beings slaughtered themselves And each other, By how much you value freedom, sincerity and justice, For everyone.  I’m from England, I say. Who cares, they say.  The UN is my home. It is everybody’s home. My voice counts. Your voice counts. Make Poverty History is only an impossible dream If we let it be that. It may not happen by 2015 but it is clearly happening already And the little I can do matters.  It is only a white wrist band. I wear it to remind me, not you. The secret is not to give up. The secret is to keep asking, telling, reminding, reprimanding. But I must wake up to poverty myself Before I can encourage others to do so. Watch out, Mr Blair, I’m on to you. Kathryn Keigher IBVM, England

The NGO Office asked participants to come for a full week. We began with a two day (September 5-6) introduction to the UN, the DPI/NGO Conference and the MDGs in general, to set the tone and prepare for the intense and challenging conference that would follow.  The day after the conference, on September 10, we reflected on the week’s experience.

September 12-15 was spent in a four-day JPIC Workshop (Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation) convened by the IBVM, to which the RSCJ were invited. The Workshop, led by two members of the Irish NGO “80:20”, aimed at developing a coordinated approach to JPIC initiatives in IBVM Provinces. The IBVM strategized for the Institute as a whole and agreed that the MDGs will be the focus of their JPIC work for the next three years.

Excerpts from the oral intervention by Livi Rodrigues rscj, India

Economic growth alone will not end poverty. We need multi-pronged interventions simultaneously. The boosting of agriculture must go hand in hand with interventions in primary health care and basic education, and the development of infrastructure. If economic growth is to be accelerated in the poorest countries, foreign aid is needed together with effective use of all resources, internal and external.

To the developed nations we say: ‘Keep your promises. Cut down on military spending. Keep your promises especially the ones made at Monterrey, Mexico 2002, with flexible foreign aid.’

It is necessary also to empower the poor to reduce poverty, especially to empower them to improve the delivery of key services, such as water, sanitation, energy, transport, health care, education. This is the experience of our NGO in education, health care etc. on the ground in the villages.

Finally, engage the poor in “wealth creation” so that individual institutions such as small and medium-size enterprises, micro-finance and self-help groups, take their rightful place as co-creators of wealth. The poor have demonstrated that they have resilience and persistence. Building partnerships between NGO’s and the public sector will go a long way in sustaining these efforts. Also, in engaging the poor in “wealth creation”, it is important to focus on women because “if development is not engendered, it is endangered”(Mahbul-ul-Haq).

The following are some reflections from RSCJ and IBVMs who participated in the conference.

Reflection by Sabrina Edwards IBVM, India

The DPI/NGO conference was a fabulous meeting of peoples of different cultures, creed, color, race. Every tribe, every tongue, every people, every nation gathered - peoples from all the four corners of the world converged on the UN building, committed to make the world a better place for all. I felt small as this stream of humanity made its way through the corridors of the UN- but as Mother Teresa would say “every drop in the ocean counts”. I felt privileged to be an IBVM drop!

The guide who gave us a tour of the UN building brought to our notice that we were on “International Territory”! I was no more an Indian – I was a citizen of this world!

As a social worker in one of the least developed countries of the world, coming to the UN and being part of the IBVM/RSCJ workshop was a sign of HOPE. Nepal is one of the poorest countries of the world. The country has been torn by violence for the past 10 years. Military spending increases each fiscal year. Poverty and hunger are part of life for the majority. Children go to bed hungry. Education is a luxury. Sickness usually means death. Democracy is a far cry. Yet, I was filled with “Hope” as I heard people say again and again that poverty is not right! Militarization is not the answer! Hunger is man-made! Thanks to all who can envision and dream a better world for all the peoples of this earth.

The wheels of change grind slowly, by Carmel Flynn rscj, Ireland/Scotland

One evening, traveling to East Harlem on the bus, I thought of all of those who had been in and out of the UN buildings during that day. The stream of people entering and leaving seemed endless. Most had engaged in a conversation with more than one person. There were thousands of words spoken each day. I thought of the title of the conference “Voices for peace, partnerships and renewal” and wondered if, given the millions of words uttered, the thousands of suggestions made, was anyone in the world better off at that precise moment because of all of us assembled there?

As we journeyed home that day I pondered this; how does one become a voice for the voiceless, the homeless, those disempowered by circumstances. The one small step that each of us can take is important, has value and this we must not forget.

Reflection by Maria Lanthier IBVM, Canada

Through the week spent at the UN, we were able to listen to dozens of speakers, men and women, leaders from many countries. They pointed to areas where the international body needs to reform its way of dealing with violence, trade issues, world bank issues and immigration issues if globalization is not to overwhelm the world's progress towards achieving the MDGs. Kofi Annan had this to say to us: "You must make yourselves the guardians of the reform of the international system."

A true experience of the Kingdom, by Teresa Mailly rscj, Spain South

This meeting was a true experience of the Kingdom: Kofi Annan challenged us “This is your house”, be the  voice of the poor in the UN, be the VOICE against poverty anywhere. We, RSCJ and IBVMs, have the responsibility to contribute so that the MDGs become a reality, and we must push our own and other congregations along this path.

The inter-religious prayer in the UN chapel was evidence that praying together, sharing faith is possible. Why not working and thinking together? Alone none of us can change the reality of poverty. We need to join forces and bring about alliances.

Let us be voice.

Reflections by Arlene Ashack IBVM, USA

A truly integrating experience, the conference highlighted for me the alignment of our participation at the UN with our charism of Integrity, Justice and Freedom, the IBVM stance in the world. The NGO office offers our international JPIC network an opportunity to work in conjunction with other NGOs; a deliberate shift of focus to the global realm; and the possibility of an even more intense way of living our charism.

It took me beyond the boundaries of my own country. The sharing of visions, viewpoints, and experiences brought a dynamism to the global reality and our need to work for change. As Kofi Anan said, “You can often see what is not yet visible to diplomats, and think what still seems unthinkable to governments and their officials might not yet be able to admit. What you say may be unpalatable today, but often becomes the conventional wisdom of tomorrow.”

A Call to Action, by Gwen Hoeffel rscj, Japan

As final negotiations for the Summit the following week were underway at the same time and place, we were encouraged to make our voices heard. A Call to Action was written, agreed upon by the conference participants, and delivered to the President of the General Assembly, saying:

"We, the thousands of NGOs, meeting at the United Nations today, urge leaders at this critical time in the world’s need for human security, peace and development, that you embrace the larger vision of the United Nations to benefit all the people of the world. We urge you to yield narrow interests and to work with each other for real change expressed in concrete, practical terms in the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document. Please do not squander this important opportunity."

It was a privilege and a challenge to participate in the Conference, and I wholeheartedly recommend and encourage more RSCJ from all provinces to share this experience. I do hope that we can create partnerships with each other, so that sisters from developing countries are able to make the trip to New York City.

Reflection by Cecilia Walsh IBVM, Ireland

Now, the challenge of putting the rich and varied input into practice in our individual locations and circumstances lies ahead. Networking and partnership have taken on new dimensions for us. Looking at this vast gathering one was led to dream of the leavening of the great dough of humanity. In this enterprise each effort counts, each small step begins a journey, each seed sown will grow.

So let us dream dreams and act pragmatically in our given situations. The German philosopher, Goethe, gives us hope and inspiration: “If you have a dream that you feel could come about, begin now because boldness has beauty, power and genius in it.” What is your dream?