KOLPING INTERNATIONAL and the “Vienna NGO Committee on the family“
Many of you know that KOLPING INTERNATIONAL has been active at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in New York and the International Labour Organization in Geneva. What is less known, however, are those networks doing international advocacy for a more just and peaceful world order, especially for the most vulnerable. One of these networks is the “Vienna NGO Committee on the Family“. It was originally founded as a platform for exchange of information on family issues with the support of the then United Nations Center for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs. The platform offers coordination and promotion of activities of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) represented at the United Nations, who are interested in questions relating to families.
The network has grown to understand itself as a bridge between families-oriented Civil Society Organizations, the United Nations, Member States of the United Nations, and their governments, and academic institutions. It further offers knowledge resources, on issues relating to families, through the online networks set up and maintained by the Committee. For more information, please visit its website at http://www.viennafamilycommittee.org/.
Kolping is particularly concerned about the well-being of families. That is why KOLPING INTERNATIONAL is very active in this network. Wolfgang Engelmaier (photo), national secretary of Kolping Austria, has been chairman of this Committee for many years. This year, KOLPING INTERNATIONAL is also involved in the drafting of a joint statement of the Committee to be submitted at the next ECOSOC meeting.
