Annual gathering of the United Nations on Social Development

In February, Carmelite NGO Chief Administrative Officer, Dennis Kalob, was able to attend the annual gathering of the United Nations Commission on Social Development (CSocD) and various side events that were a part of that gathering.  Some of the particularly interesting and helpful bits of information he attained while at the UN include the following:

1. There is a great, brand new, website that tracks domestic legislation worldwide that addresses human trafficking / modern slavery: https://antislaverylaw.ac.uk/
2. Regarding mental health, there is a new concept called eco-anxiety, which is climate change-induced mental health problems/stress.  We will be hearing more about this concept in the future.
3. Finland’s Housing First strategy to deal with homelessness was discussed. It has been recognized that helping the homeless with their assorted problems and then eventually getting them into permanent or semi-permanent housing is backwards.  The homeless are more likely to be helped if they are first able to secure real, secure housing.  From there they are better situated to deal with other difficulties in their lives.  This makes sense.  And it is working in Finland. It is an approach that has been gaining traction elsewhere, including here in the U.S.
4. The 2020 World Social Report was released and there is good material in there.  You can find it here:  https://www.un.org/development/desa/dspd/world-social-report/2020-2.html.  This link will take you to a UN page from which you can click on the executive summary, the full report, an introductory video, and more.  The focus is on inequality in the world and does include info on the role of climate change
5. One of the particularly interesting presentations at CSocD came from Monsignor David Charters, First Secretary of the Holy See Mission at the UN.  He gave remarks in a session on the release of a new edited book titled, “Street Homelessness and Catholic Theological Ethics.”  Dennis was particularly struck by his comments on Pope Francis and all that he has both said and done on the subject of homelessness.  Dennis asked him if he could have a copy of his remarks and perhaps even disseminate all or parts of it at some point.  He was very fine with that. The text of the presentation of Monsignor Charters can be retrieved from here.