Calling for representation in the UN: What are the prospects for Emmaus International? 

Ukraine, Palestine, Lebanon, Democratic Republic of Congo…armed conflict is spreading to all four corners of the world.  On top of this, climate disasters that were once rare are becoming routine, fuelling global anxiety and accelerating the decline of life on Earth.  Hostilities regarding human rights, primarily for women and minorities, are also multiplying, resulting in an increase in extremist political parties.  In this context, it’s crucial to strengthen our campaigning and advocacy, especially with international organisations such as the UN, in order to fight against structural causes of poverty.  

The UN plays a central role in promoting and maintaining peace on a global scale. In fact, the organisation’s main mission, which was created after the Second World War, is to prevent new world conflicts, promote peace and ensure respect for human rights and international security. 

Along with many other organisations in civil society (over 6,000 non-governmental organisations), Emmaus International has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which is one of the six main bodies of the UN.  This grants us the right to participate in meetings or conferences organised by the United Nations for civil society organisations, submit reports and recommendations to ECOSOC or even organise UN session side events.  In theory, this allows NGOs to contribute to creating international policies in areas that affect their missions, namely human rights, the environment, development, health, education and many others. 

Looking back through the history of the Movement, Emmaus has engaged with UN bodies on several occasions.  

The topics of UN meetings are in line with those addressed by the Movement. In 2024, one of the UN’s many events particularly drew our attention: the Summit of the Future (SOTF).   

Held on 22-23 September in New York, the goal of this summit was to secure the adoption of a Pact for the Future and a Declaration on Future Generations, in the hope of rallying the international community around the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs), whose adoption by 2030 is increasingly at risk.  Initially, this summit created an opportunity for the Movement to re-explain its struggle against poverty and the exclusion of the most vulnerable to international elected officials. Based on the 6 demands from our World Report and our three key struggles (migration, education and social and environmental justice), we hoped to share our recommendations with the United Nations by getting involved in the preparations for this summit. 

Firstly, through a written contribution to the Pact for the Future… 

Loyal to its mission, Emmaus International’s contribution reiterated that poverty is not an inevitable scourge, but the result of political decisions. Emmaus put forward proposals, starting with legal recognition for the actors in the ethical and solidarity-based economy who play a significant role in achieving the SGDs¹. Emphasising the eradication of poverty and the promotion of human rights, our Movement suggested more egalitarian global governance that works in solidarity with civil society and that listens to the most vulnerable populations. Emmaus also reaffirmed its call for freedom of movement and settlement and proposed the recognition of an international right to residency or the drafting of an additional protocol on this issue and demanded that the political decisions implemented to combat climate change match the scale of the challenges we are facing. 

…and then by attending the United Nations Civil Society Conference. 

Last May, Emmaus International then went to the Civil Society Conference organised by the United Nations in Nairobi in preparation for the Summit of the Future, which was held in September 2024. Through this conference, the UN hoped to change the way different stakeholders, and especially civil society organisations, engage with intergovernmental processes. Around 1,400 organisations and other stakeholders – representatives from NGOs, universities, various interest groups from the private and public sector, and a few representatives from the member states – gathered to connect, share ideas and perspectives, take advantage of expert insights, and more.

Despite visible efforts to bolster the role of civil society organisations in UN processes, this meeting revealed the limitations of their actual inclusion. The conference shed light on the inefficiency of the consultative processes and marginal influence of small organisations. Speaking opportunities, for example, were often reserved for organisations well-versed in UN negotiations, primarily reflecting the Global North perspective, with little concern for the issues of food sovereignty, water crises, inaccessible education or fragile healthcare systems.  No mention was made of the climate debt owed to the nations of the Global South or population displacement.   

On a positive note, this meeting allowed us to join a group of about 40 organisations that have all noted the asymmetry in participation among different stakeholders. This observation highlights the need for a paradigm shift in the relationship between the UN and civil society organisations.    

The urgent need for new international cooperation 

If we are to achieve the SDGs by 2030, the international community must stop working in silos and, instead, work more collaboratively to address climate, health, economic and social issues.  Need we mention that currently, based on the UN Secretary- General’s report on the organisation’s activities in 2024, only 17% of the SDG targets are on track, around 48% of the targets are behind, and 35% haven’t made any progress or have regressed, compared to 2015? Need we also mention the record number of 120 million displaced persons and the 72% increase in armed conflicts between 2022 and 2023?  Renewed international cooperation is urgently needed to create a more just, sustainable and peaceful world. 

Many means for facilitating international cooperation exist, in which Emmaus International participates: The World Social Forum, mobilisation campaigns, joint declarations among civil society organisations, demonstrations and more. However, these do not address the United Nations directly.  

The time has come to reclaim the United Nations before it becomes completely useless, by collectively working on how civil society can regain its role and influence.

Advocating for Renewal  

It seems necessary to coordinate social movements’ commitments within the UN with activities carried out in alternative spaces, such as World Social Forums, to adopt a dual strategy: influence the UN internally while getting involved alongside people directly impacted by these same issues.  

As highlighted during our second World Forum of Alternatives in September 2024 by Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights “Emmaus International’s response is to say that’s it’s not enough to compensate the excluded, the lost, the victims of the entrenched predatory economy. Instead, we must create an inclusive economy that gives everyone a chance. […] And Emmaus International’s great strength lies in working with local efforts so that the knowledge of those living in poverty informs and lends credibility to our proposals.”