Representatives of the Vincentian Family at the United Nations in Geneva (Daughters of Charity and Society of Saint Vincent de Paul) took part in the 34th session of the Human Rights Council in March 2017.

The session focused particularly on the situation in Syria, and renewed the mandate of the International Commission of Inquiry on fighting impunity.

The main task of the representatives of the Vincentian Family in these international bodies is to attend meetings, providing a link to the Family and working closely with United Nations representatives.

As we know, through its work the Vincentian Family endeavors to respond to many of the objectives it shares with the United Nations: to eradicate poverty throughout the world, protect the dignity of suffering people, promote peace and justice in the world and make the voice of the poor heard at an international level. Through its presence at the United Nations, the Vincentian Family tries to achieve these objectives.

What is the Human Rights Council?

The Human Rights Council is the leading inter-governmental organization responsible for human rights. It consists of 192 member states of the UN, of which 47 have voting rights. All members of the Council meet three times a year in Geneva, Switzerland. The Council’s role is to strengthen the promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural, including the right to self-development. The member states of the Council are elected for a period of three years, and are the only ones able to vote.

Only NGOs with consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC), like the Vincentian Family, can be accredited to attend sessions of the Human Rights Council.

Sr Monique Javouhey (Daughters of Charity)
Marie-Françoise Salesiani Payet (SSVP)
Representatives of the Vincentian Family at the UN (Geneva)