United Nations

	Girl Scouts Shrutika and Madelyn at the UN conference in New York.

In 2003, Girl Scouts of the USA was granted Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This status allows Girl Scouts of the USA to build on its prior representation efforts at the United Nations. It can now not only share information with its members on issues within the United Nations system, but provide input on issues of importance to our members and to girls globally to UN organizations and member states.

Our Challenge: Voices for Peace, Partnerships and Renewal

The 58th annual United Nations Department of Public Information/Non-Governmental Organization Conference, held Sept. 7-9, 2005, entitled Our Challenge: Voices for Peace, Partnerships and Renewal, provided a forum for a dynamic and diverse gathering. More than 2,000 non-governmental organization (NGO) representatives attended the event, as well as two Girl Scouts—from the Girl Scout Council of Southwestern Connecticut and the Girl Scout Council of the Colonial Coast, in Virginia.

The two girls attended panel sessions and workshops on human rights, peace-building, health, reconciliation, and education for girls. They received firsthand knowledge about the UN Millennium Development Goals and how the UN functions. They also networked with other NGOs and young attendees, and enjoyed a tour of the UN headquarters.

Read what Madelyn, 18, wrote about her time at the UN conference. (PDF)

Read what Shrutika, a Senior Girl Scout, wrote about her UN experience. (PDF)

2005 UN Commission on the Status of Women

	Girl Scouts actively participated in the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

Girl Scouts of the USA played an active role in the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, held at UN headquarters in New York March 3-9, 2005. The session commemorated the 10th anniversary of the UN's Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. Included in the delegation was Carrie, a 17-year-old from Girl Scouts of Utah, who participated as a panelist at a "Girls Speak Out" session. Carrie and her fellow panelists presented issues important to girls, including family life, health, education, and the right to speak and be listened to. During the weeklong conference, Carrie attended all-day trainings and workshops and met with delegates from around the world. Her participation gave her a sense of the issues affecting girls globally and how the UN operates.

Read what Carrie, 17, of Utah, wrote about her time at the UN Commission on the Status of Women. (PDF)

2004 UN Department of Public Information/Non-Governmental Organizations Conference

	Girl Scouts participated in the UN Department of Public Information/NGO Conference in 2004.

In the recent past, two Girl Scouts from Girl Scouts of Michigan Trails and Girl Scouts, Connecticut Trails were part of the Girl Scouts of the USA delegation to the annual United Nations Department of Public Information/Non-Governmental Organizations Conference. The two girls attended workshops and panels relating to the UN Millennium Development Goals, allowing them to better understand how organizations like Girl Scouts are having an impact on issues affecting the world.

2004 Permanent Forum
on Indigenous Peoples

And earlier, a member of Girl Scouts of the USA moderated a panel at the third session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples. The panel featured four girls from Canada, Congo, Mexico, and South Dakota. They discussed issues girls in their countries face such as poverty, limited education, teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, and homelessness.