About Us

Vision

The Committee aims to bring the spiritual and values dimension in all areas of the United Nations agenda and of public policy.

Mission Statement

The Committee recognizes that an emphasis on spirituality is a key factor in providing common solutions to global concerns as reflected in the Millennium Development Goals, such as human rights violations, lack of distributive justice, inner and outer poverty, destruction of the planet, injustice through racism, religious intolerance and all forms of discrimination, conflict, violence, terrorism, and war. The Committee wishes to facilitate dialogue by bringing people together to inspire an increased awareness of individual and common responsibilities in order to address global concerns and universal values. Religions, cultures and traditions around the world use silence, contemplation, prayer, reflection and meditation to ensure inner peace, well-being and to uplift individuals, families, communities, nations and life on earth, so that the finest and highest human qualities are self-realised and the full potential of human life can be expressed and preserved. The Committee facilitates dialogue, bringing people together to reach a higher level of consciousness and responsibility for our common global values and commitment to improve the state of the world and humankind.

Goals

  • to participate in the work of the United Nations and in international conferences;
  • to encourage a spiritual perspective within the international community, facilitating written and oral contributions for inclusion in United Nations declarations and programmes of action relating to spirituality, values, justice and peace at all levels;
  • to promote the right to lead a spiritual or religious way of life in full respect of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
  • to promote programmes relating to spirituality, values and global concern at all levels;
  • to support and explore the link between science and spirituality, by presenting evidence-based knowledge to demonstrate the causal effect of the spiritual dimension on personal and global change;
  • to advocate for a global network on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns;
  • to organize events in order to initiate dialogue between religious and spiritual dignitaries, speakers from United Nations specialised agencies and programmes, UN missions, Non governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society, private sector, media, etc;
  • to publish a series of documents on seminars and meetings, thereby demonstrating a commitment to keep the knowledge and wisdom of the spiritual perspective alive and transmitted throughout time.


From a Spiritual Caucus to a NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns

 

History of the Spiritual Caucus


The Spiritual Caucus was created a few months after the tragedy of September 11, 2001, for the purpose of adding a spiritual and ethical component to the work of the United Nation's. It was an initiative of a few people feeling the need to address world issues in a new and different way, shifting from the material to the spiritual paradigm. The Spiritual Caucus is a forum of organisations and their representatives interested in bringing the many different aspects of the spiritual dimension in all areas of the UN agenda and global public policy. it is grounded in the recognition of the importance of spirituality to a future of inner and outer peace, respect and dignity for all. Through the organisation of events, the publication of the document series, the creation of a clearing house, it is committed to keep the knowledge and wisdom of the spiritual perspective alive and transmitted throughout time.


The Spiritual Caucus membership consists of NGOs in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations and members of the Conference of NGOs (CoNGO) at the United Nations in Geneva which are willing to include the spiritual dimension in their work and policy. Participation is open to other international governmental or non-governmental organisations as well as civil society organisations. Links and collaboration with other NGOs and UN organizations in New York and Vienna has also been established.


The Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns (CSVGC) comes into being

On 24 October 2002 member organisations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) applied to CoNGO for it to be made a standing Committee. The application was supported by the regulatory number of over twenty Member Organisations which submitted it to the CoNGO Board at its meeting in Vienna on 30-31 October 2002, where it was discussed and adopted.


Since this Committee has been officially adopted, NGOs that want to join are welcome. Following several months of work and discussions with NGOs based in New York, the CSVGC-New York ( www.csvgc-ny.org ) came into being on 27 February 2004.


The CSVGC Committee recognizes that an emphasis on spiritual values is a key factor in providing common solutions to the societal ills of the modern world, such as human rights violations, lack of distributive justice, inner and outer poverty, destruction of the planet, injustice through racism, religious intolerance and all forms of discrimination, conflict, violence, terrorism, and war.


CSVGC Founding Member Organisations in consultative status with ECOSOC

African Commission of Health and Human Rights Promoters - All India Women's Conference - Anglican Consultative Council - Art of Living Foundation - Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University - 3HO Foundation - Institute of Global Education - Institute for Planetary Synthesis - Interfaith International - International Association of 3rd Age - International Association for Counselling - International Association for Religious Freedom - International Association for Human Values - International Association of Educators for World Peace - International Council of Nurses - International Council of Women - International Federation of Social Workers - Pax Romana - Pan Pacific & South East Asia Women’s Association  - Society for the Psychological Studies of Social Issues - Susila Dharma International- Temple of Understanding - Women’s World Summit Foundation - World Citizen Association - World Federation of Mental Health - World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women - World Organization of Former Pupils of Catholic Education - World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations.

CSVGC Founding Members from other interested organisations

AFSH/WH - Association of World Citizens - Bahai’I International Community - Bearing Point - CERN - Commune de Meinier - European Union - Franciscans International - Green Cross International - Globalizing Compassion - ICRC - IFUW –  International Baccalaureate Organization - International Emissaries - International Union Against Cancer - Economics Foundation, UK - NGO Forum on Health – OHCHR – Soka Gakkai International - UNRISD – UNITAR.

 

Please download our Membership form

What is a CONGO Committee on Substantive Issues?

CONGO Rules and Procedures as adopted by the CSVGC

History: From Spiritual Caucus to NGO Committee - 2001-2002 (PDF)

CSVGC Activities from 2003 onwards (PDF)