United Nations

On January 1, 2025, Sandy Figueroa and I became the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s newest representatives to the UN Working Group to End Homelessness (WGEH), and members of the Famvin family.

As we commemorate this month the Feast of Saint Josephine Bakhita, our thoughts turn to the plight of human trafficking victims and migrants.

In November 2025, two major events—the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year focusing on homelessness and the UN’s Second World Social Summit—will renew global commitments to social justice and inclusion. The Civil Society Declaration 2025 urges bold action for systemic change, emphasizing solidarity, resilience, and prioritizing human dignity over profit to address persistent inequalities and foster a better future for all.

Working on a variety of important issues through UN NGO committees has taught me several critical lessons, the most instructive of which is how addressing problems from a multi-stakeholder perspective can yield more positive outcomes.  Why is this, and how is it particularly Vincentian?

Every year, climate discussions at the UN grow more urgent as temperatures rise, extreme weather worsens, and vulnerable communities suffer disproportionately.