Iona students Mekias Assefa, Sarai Acosta, and Adrian Vazquez are pictured with Br. Kevin Cawley, CFC, of Edmund Rice International at United Nations Headquarters in New York during a recent visit to the Trusteeship Council Chamber. Students are enrolled in a one-semester program at Iona to investigate aspects of the United Nations touching on their personal social justice engagements in light of Catholic Social Teaching.

Students are pictured with their newly minted UN Grounds passes issued on January 24, 2025 under the auspices of Edmund Rice International as accredited to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) at New York and Geneva, Switzerland.

Uniquely, the students now have the guidance of Iona faculty Br. Kevin, as the Main UN Representative of Edmund Rice International at UNHQ. To the best of our knowledge, this combination of faculty member and ECOSOC access is unique among local Catholic universities. These ECOSOC credentials will allow these students freedom of movement with other civil society representatives and delegates in real-time observation of ongoing public presentations and negotiations at UNHQ. Students will also have access to meetings of civil society organizations organized in support of those made poor and those forced to migrate due to multiple violent conflicts and the impacts of climate change in their home regions. Particular concerns of Edmund Rice International link to the Human Rights Council, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), related annual gatherings at UNHQ such as the Commission on the Status of Women, Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Commission for Social Development, and the ongoing calendar of events connected to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Students will meet instructors periodically in January, February, March, and April to offer reports on their engagement and will contribute to ERI’s submission for the USA’s Universal Periodic Review in November 2025.

Iona University returns to this program (following a pause due to COVID) in the Spring 2025 Semester in partnership with the Office of Mission and Ministry. Dr. Sean D’Alfonso of OMM has been consulted on this program and, in tandem with Br. Kevin, has drafted a suitable curriculum designated CDS 1196 Independent Study at the United Nations - Edmund Rice International. Sean was assisted in identifying suitable candidates by Dr. Sharon Williams of the Religious Studies Department. Br. Kevin Cawley will be directing the UN engagement as the representative with Edmund Rice International. Br. Brian Bond, Executive Director of Edmund Rice International in Geneva, Switzerland, has approved these arrangements and facilitated the issuing of credentials for the Iona students.