Here are some ways in which you can participate more actively in VIVAT’s mission:
- Help VI voice VIVAT Members values and concerns at United Nations conferences and Summits throughout the world
- VI welcomes working with those interested in giving us feedback/analysis for the Preparatory Committees (PrepComs) by reading the various drafts of the documents and suggesting what issues to pursue, where change is needed, and how policies will affect those who are poor or marginalized. Personal stories are always a powerful addition.
- VI welcomes VIVAT members who are interested in participating in a UN conference as part of our delegation. Participants would have to read the documents in advance, stay informed on relevant issues, and participate in e-mail discussions or PrepComs in preparation.
- Implementation of UN Programs for Action adopted by Conferences always need monitoring at the national level, and often needs the help of civil and religious groups to be effective. For example, “The Program of Action of the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance” was agreed to by governments, but there still remains a tremendous amount of work to be done at the local level to overcome racism. VIVAT members are needed at the local and national levels to help implement programs as well as to call their governments to accountability.
- Research topics of importance to your community; share your work with VI.
UN Commissions and Committees meet regularly to monitor compliance with international treaties and covenants. Interested persons can provide VI with research on some of the topics being addressed or provide testimony as to country-specific compliance. This can include writing reports or participating in the meetings. VI follows closely The UN Commission on Human Rights, the Sub-Commission on the Protection of Human Rights, the Treaty Bodies that monitor the promotion and protection of human rights, the Commission on the Status of Women, the Commission on Social Development, and the Commission on Sustainable Development among others. - Animate your community to work on a common VI project.
A congregation or province might like to work on a common UN project such as eliminating trafficking in persons, or using UN themes as a study topic for basic or ongoing formation. VIVAT Members information might like to do research around VI’s UN advocacy. - Help us with our formal studies.
Often, VI puts out a more formal request for feedback on a certain issue, or asks members to reflect on something through our VIVAT lense. In such a case we count on people at all levels inour network to help facilitate the process – further disseminating the request and channel the results back to us. - Volunteer at one of our international offices, or with your national VI.
Participating in VI’s ministry at the UN can be a valuable Sabbatical experience for VIVAT Members. Members can encourage students in their colleges or those in formation to volunteer for a semester or year-long internship with VI. - Share your successes with other VIVAT Member.
VI is looking for “best practices” stories — ways that individuals and groups are able to address international problems at the local level. We then can share these with VIVAT in other areas, as well as in the proper UN forum to promote replication of the successes and to stimulate ideas for positive change. - Keep VIVAT International informed!
VI wants to work through existing VIVAT structures wherever possible to develop and enhance our international ministry at the United Nations. Please inform our two international offices (New York, and Geneva) about the local, national or regional VIVAT networks that promote Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, as well as information about communications networks. - Help us reach more people.
VI is constantly building its international address database for better communications. Sharing addresses and emails of local convents/friaries and province headquarters will help us build and strengthen this international VIVAT network.
If you would like to participate in any of these projects, please contact us at
viny@vivatinternational.org (New York), geneva@vivatinternational.org (Geneva)