Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary/Loreto

05/26/2026

The 2nd International Migration Review Forum took place at UN headquarters May 4-8, 2026. The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Loreto Generalate NGO was present at the Forum to learn, advocate, and connect Congregation of Jesus grassroots initiatives on migration, labour exploitation, and human trafficking with global advocacy. Discussions focused on reviewing progress on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), sharing the lived experiences of people on the move.

Read a short summary of the Forum here: https://ibvmunngo.org/2nd-international-migration-review-forum/

Governments from around the world gathered at UN Headquarters in New York from 5–8 May 2026 for the second International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), the primary global platform for reviewing progress on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). The Institute of the Bless...

05/25/2026

During the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (April 20 - May 1), UN NGO youth intern Anika particiapted in a side event on the movement towards Australia's first treaty with First Peoples. Please read her reflection here:
https://ibvmunngo.org/walking-together-towards-treaty-the-victorian-journey-to-australias-first-treaty-with-first-peoples/

# IndigenousJustice

Side Event of the 25th UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues On the 21st of April 2026, the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria gathered at the UN Headquarters in New York to present, ‘Walking Together Towards Treaty: The Victorian Journey to Australia’s First Treaty with First Peoples’ at th...

05/23/2026

The UN Permament Forum took place at UN headquarters April 20 - May 1. Our NGO youth interns participated in virtual side events during the Forum. Read about Lucy's experience of Indigenous language systems, policies, and practice here: https://ibvmunngo.org/pfii-side-event-strengthening-engagement-with-indigenous-peoples-knowledge-systems-languages-policy-and-practice/

The United Nations side event Strengthening Engagement with Indigenous Peoples: Knowledge Systems, Languages, Policy and Practice focused on innovation demonstrating possibilities for it to be effectively scaled to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Highlighting sig...

05/17/2026

From May 17 - 24, we invite you to participate in Laudato Si week!

Let us to move from hope to action. Hope is not passive; it is lived and shared through daily choices, community life, prayer, and concrete acts of care.
https://laudatosiweek.org/

One concrete action you can do: support the global campaign to 'Turn Debt into Hope' for financial and ecological justice. Add your voice to the petition now!
https://turndebtintohope.caritas.org/

05/15/2026

On May 15th we commemorate the International Day of Families!

The UN states, "Families are central to social and economic progress, yet many face income insecurity, limited caregiving support and unequal access to essential services. Without adequate support, families with young children face higher risks of poverty, with lasting effects on children’s health, education and overall wellbeing. Income instability, limited caregiving support and restricted access to services can hinder children’s development, especially when compounded by gender, racial, migrant or disability-based inequalities... this year’s observance will spotlight gaps in income, education, healthcare, digital access and essential services that shape children’s life chances."

You can view this year's commemoration at the UN headquarters by viewing UN web tv: https://webtv.un.org/en

Date and time:15 May, 10:00 – 11:30 am (EST)

05/07/2026

The IBVM-Loreto NGO joined together with the Justice Coalition of Religious (JCoR), the NGO Committee on Migration, the Grassroots Forum on Migration Governance, the Civil Society Action Committee, the Women In Migration Network, and many other partners to stand up for migrants. We gathered at the end of the 3rd day of the International Migration Review Forum taking place at the UN this week to voice loudly and clearly: migrant rights are human rights.

We call on all Member States to:
- resist the erosion of migrant rights
- reclaim the power and dignity for all people on the move, and
- realise a world where migration policy is rooted in justice, humanity, and hope.

It was a grace-filled moment to stand alongside other Catholic religious sisters, priests, and brothers, and so many others dedicated to human rights, and to sing out for justice for all migrants - for men, women, and children.

04/29/2026

The Opening Session of the 2026 ECOSOC Financing for Development Forum promised action over dialogue and delivery on promises of financial reform. Read the summary and reflection from Clare, one of our youth interns:

https://ibvmunngo.org/2026-ffdforum-opening-session/

On the 20th of April, the 1st Meeting of the 2026 ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development took place. This opening meeting consisted of a panel, as well as a collection of country representatives, diplomats and civil society. The meeting was opened by António Guterres, the current UN Secretary-Ge...

04/28/2026

The 25th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, which continues this week at the UN, began last Monday, April 20, 2026, under the theme “Ensuring Indigenous Peoples’ Health, Including in the Context of Conflict.”

Our youth intern, Tejaswi, shares her insights from the Opening Session, here: https://ibvmunngo.org/25th-un-permanent-forum-on-indigenous-issues-pfii/

Opening Session, United Nations Headquarters, New York “Ensuring Indigenous Peoples’ Health, Including in the Context of Conflict” On the morning of 20 April 2026, the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations Headquarters in New York became the site of something rare in international diplom...

04/28/2026

Read the key takeaways from the 2026 ECOSOC Financing for Development Forum side event "The role of debt swaps in fostering long-term investment in agrifood systems to achieve food security and improve nutrition."

The event showcased the use of debt swaps as instruments to promote food security, nutrition, and climate. It gathered a range of relevant sovereign and multilateral actors that have been engaged in recent years in debt-for-food security swaps, as well as other programmes, aligned with actions from the Sevilla Commitment.

https://ibvmunngo.org/ffdforum-side-event-the-role-of-debt-swaps-in-fostering-long-term-investment-in-agrifood-systems-to-achieve-food-security-and-improve-nutrition/

The event was held to showcase the strategic approach of the FAO, Italy, Spain, Egypt, WFP and IFAD to the use of debt swaps as instruments to promote food security, nutrition, and climate; and to gather a range of relevant sovereign and multilateral actors that have been engaged in recent years in....

04/28/2026

Last week, the United Nations hosted the 2026 ECOSOC Financing for Development Forum which brought together Member States, UN agencies, civil society, and the private sector to examine progress on actions from the 2025 Sevilla Commitment.

The Forum featured in-depth reviews across four action areas: private business and finance, international trade, financial architecture reform, and data and monitoring, with special focus on debt sustainability and domestic resource mobilization.

The IBVM-Loreto Generalate NGO to the United Nations calls on Member States to enable full financial equity and inclusion, especially for marginalized populations, implement debt relief and cancellation for highly indebted countries, and provide effective and equitable climate financing.



Read about the Forum here:

April 20–24, 2026 | UN Headquarters, New York The 2026 ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development Follow-Up officially opened at United Nations Headquarters on April 20, marking the first global review of progress since the adoption of the Sevilla Commitment in 2025. The Forum convened global leade...