Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary NGO with special consultative status in the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations since 2013 and with the Department of Public Information since 2006.
The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary became affiliated with the United Nations in 2006 as a non-governmental organization (NGO) associated with the UN Department of Public Information, extending the influence of the Institute’s mission “That All May 
Have Life” to a global level. In 2013 we applied for and were granted Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This gives us an active voice, enabling us to participate in UN sessions and present written and oral testimony to influence policy as we work for justice on behalf of those who are made poor and marginalized, especially women and children.
Three main ways in which we live out our mission as the RSHM NGO at the UN are through education, participation and advocacy. We disseminate UN information resources to our members and, through them, to all those we serve. We encourage participation of members through their provincial and regional structures, working in close partnership with the RSHM Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Network to make our presence dynamic and effective at local and global level. We advocate in collaboration with other NGOs having similar goals to make explicit our preferential options for women and children and the care of the earth within the UN network of international bodies. At this time we aim to be more effectively involved in changing unjust structures in the areas of human trafficking, the girl child and sustainable development for all, engaging with Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals so that all may have Life.
Veronica Brand, RSHM NGO Representative
NEWS FROM THE UN #155 – May 2025
The last edition of the News from the UN reports on several events and discussions that took place at the United Nations and related institutions, highlighting international cooperation across various fields. They detail the Forum on Science, Technology, and Innovation for the SDGs, the growing importance and challenges of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in development financing, and the need for inclusive policies to avoid deepening inequalities. The bulletin also addresses the 77th anniversary of the Nakba, emphasizing Palestinian displacement and the ongoing struggle for rights, as well as the adoption of the New Pandemic Agreement by the World Health Organization (WHO), aimed at improving preparedness and response to future health crises. It also mentions a shift in the U.S. stance on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a sustainability program at Marymount School in Paris, illustrating their educational efforts.
For the most recent bulletin from our NGO please click here.