The Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers have taken the first step towards achieving advocacy status with the United Nations.
The orders have formed a partnership with
Franciscans International, an organisation which already has official Non-Government Organisation (NGO) general consultative status with the United Nations.
The United Nations has conferred this status on more than 300 faith based groups, including more than 80 Catholic religious organisations.
Partnership with the Franciscans has been a simpler route for the Christian Brothers and Presentation Brothers to achieve their longer term advocacy goals. Franciscans International has been established 10 years and has a track record for advocacy in the areas of global peace, children's rights, human trafficking, religious discrimination, migration, care of the earth and chronic poverty.
Within the partnership with the Franciscans, the Christian Brothers and Presentation Brothers will focus on advocacy for children at risk.
The Christian Brothers and Presentation Brothers have common roots in the charism of the Blessed Edmund Rice, with both having been established by Edmund early in the 19th century and both having similar education and social justice missions.
The partnership agreement was signed on behalf of the Christian Brothers by worldwide leader, Br Philip Pinto, and on behalf of the Presentation Brothers, by Br Martin Kenneally.
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