Sister Joan Pikiell has begun her term as the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) representative to the United Nations. Her work will focus on bringing the urgent needs of the global community to the attention of UN member states and bringing the SSND charism and Gospel values to bear on the deliberations and decisions of the United Nations. Sister Joan’s appointment follows the completion of a six-year term as SSND UN representative by Sister Beatriz Martinez-Garcia.
The SSND international congregation is a non-governmental organization (NGO) accredited since 1994 by the United Nations Department of Global Communications (DGC) and accredited with special status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 1998.
SSND focuses its advocacy and educational efforts primarily on issues related to the rights of girls, women, and those who are poor — especially their rights to education, economic justice, and sustainable development.