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Loretto at the UN: What we do

Our Work

The work of the Loretto Community extends from the grassroots to the global. Loretto Community is an NGO (non-governmental organization) accredited with consultative status at the United Nations. 

Loretto at the UN’s primary areas of focus are women’s rights through the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), climate justice, girls rights, and the rights of migrants and indigenous peoples. We also address peace and security and nuclear disarmament.

Loretto was founded as a community of educators and Loretto at the UN continues that mission by offering an educational curriculum. Contact Beth Blissman for more information.

Our Office

Loretto at the UN shares their small, yet vibrant, office at the Church Center of the UN with the Feminist Task Force, currently led by Loretto co-member Rosa Lizarde. We work collaboratively with other religious orders through Religious at the UN (RUN) and many other faith-based organizations of different religious traditions.

Men and women gather together in a demonstration in support of the people of Ukraine.
Beth Blissman with members of Religious at the UN protesting the Ukrainian War in front of the United Nation HQ and right behind the Loretto at the UN office.
Photo by Teresa Blumenstein

Having an office at United Nations headquarters (UNHQ) in New York City allows Loretto to represent the Community’s values by advocating for human rights, Earth rights and social justice-oriented frameworks for creating and supporting international policy.

The Loretto at the UN office shares information with the Loretto Community about issues being addressed at the United Nations and around the world via periodic e-newsletters and our social media outlets. The NGO office also leverages the knowledge base of the Loretto Community for effective virtual and in-person advocacy work with U.N. Member States and U.N. agencies. 

Four women pose at the base of a large statue of a gun, the barrel of which has been tied in a knot.
Loretto members in the United Nations courtyard posing in front of the “Non-Violence” statue.
Photo courtesy of Loretto Archives

UN Calendar of Events

The UN functions similarly to an academic calendar, with work starting in late August with the opening of the General Assembly, and ending in the summer with many diplomats returning to their home states in July. 

Here is a brief selection of the UN’s vast annual calendar of conferences and events, as well as the conferences and events Loretto at the UN pays attention to most. You can find a more complete list of UN annual events here.  

August

September

October

November

December 

  • International Human Rights Day 

January 

  • International Education Day 

February

March 

April

May 

June 

July