Our Work at the United Nations
Priests for Life is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Special
Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United
Nations. We participate in meetings at the United Nations and collaborate
with the Holy See and numerous pro-family NGOs to foster international
policies protecting the dignity of human life at all stages.
RECENT UPDATES
Priests for Life Participates in Successful gathering of over 400 at the
Vatican sponsored UN Path to Peace Foundation – June 9, 2009
Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of
the Holy See to the United Nations and President of the Path to Peace
Foundation presided over the gathering of over 400 world leaders at its 17th
Path to Peace Award. Cardinal Renato R. Martino, President of the Pontifical
Council for Justice and Peace and former head of the Path to Peace
Foundation was also in attendance. A posthumous award was given to
Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho from Iraq who was kidnapped in Mosul and later
killed. Fox commentator Judge Andrew Napolitano also received the Servitor
Pacis Award and made remarks about the importance of defending sacred life
in the womb.
Bob Lalonde and Michele Velasco, who assist Fr. Pavone in
directing the international growth of Priests for Life, were present at the
event.
Click here for photos
Status of Woman (CSW) – March 2009
The Obama administration was pushing its “sexual and reproductive health”
agenda at the United Nation’s Annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)
March 2- 13 in New York. (See C-FAM’s
article.)
As usual, C-FAM and its allies played an important role educating participants
on the sanctity of life in the deliberations. PFL was present for some of the
deliberations and helped sponsor lunches for the courageous army of 50 students
from Ave Maria Law School, St. Thomas Moore Law School, Christendom College and
Overbrook Academy.
Status of Woman (CSW) – February 2008
While Priests for Life works within the United Nations, our ministries raise
awareness about abortion’s negative impact outside UN meetings. During the
United Nations’ February 2008 Commission on the Status of Women Conference,
"Financing For Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women", our
Silent No More Awareness
Campaign held an event near UN headquarters. Many women held signs “I
regret my abortion” for UN delegates to witness and spoke publicly about the
emotional and physical pain inflicted by abortion.
Important Statements from the UN Social, Humanitarian & Cultural Committee
Typically referred to as the Third Committee, the Social, Humanitarian &
Cultural Committee has been meeting throughout October 2008 at the UN in New
York. PFL was there to support C-FAM and other international pro life groups
such as SPUC (Society for the Protection of the Unborn) actively participating
and reporting on all the events.
Read C-FAM’s
report and
the two important life affirming statements from the ambassadors of
Malta
and Fiji.
LEARN MORE
To learn more about the role of NGOs, visit the official website for the
United Nations - Department of
Economic and Social Affairs - NGO Section. Also available is a calendar of
meetings and events.
The Permanent Observer Mission of
the Holy See To the United Nations website offers background on the Holy
See’s involvement at the UN, statements from the Secretariat of State of the
Holy See, position papers, and magisterial texts on the Catholic Church’s social
agenda.
Click here to read the
Statement of the Holy See to the United Nations, the Address of His Holiness
Pope Benedict XVI to the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly in
New York on April 18, 2008.
Additionally, the Catholic Family and Human
Rights Institute (C-FAM) is an organization dedicated to the research and
dissemination of information related to United Nations activities and
publications to the broader society, including the media. Read about their
activities, and receive their weekly update.
Click here to read Fr. Frank’s column on
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948-2008 marking the occasion of
its 60th anniversary.
Also read the Press Release:
The United Nations Grants Priests for Life NGO Status
