CE International and the United Nations
In collaboration with the United Nations, CE International:
- Holds consultative status with the United Nations through the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
- Is an NGO in official partnership with UNESCO
- Has representatives at UN headquarters in New York, USA, and Geneva, Switzerland
- Is associated with the UN Department of Global Communications and serves as a member of the NGO Committee for UNICEF.
History
CE International has actively engaged with the United Nations as a non-governmental organization (NGO) for decades. CE International first became associated with the United Nations in the 1940s through its support of the UN Declaration of Human Rights and we remained a strong and engaged supporter. In 1977, CE International obtained consultative status with the United Nations through the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Since the 1990s, we have had representatives based at the United Nations headquarters in New York; in 2011, we established representatives in Geneva. Most recently, in 2019, CE International became an NGO in official partnership with UNESCO.
Role
With UN consultative status for over 40 years, CE International has had a growing opportunity to present our views and concerns through various means. Over the duration of our affiliation, we have actively engaged with the UN by attending official meetings and debates; submitting written statements; giving oral presentations; participating in global surveys; meeting with official government delegations; convening with representatives of UN missions; and helping to support dialogues, panel discussions, and events. We also attend the United Nations General Assembly annually to understand the needs of nations regarding education and the broad scope of challenges in the world and learn about solutions that are driving positive change in education. Finally, our representatives provide us with timely information about the UN and global initiatives and urgent issues related to child rights, children’s education, learning, health, and overall well-being and development.
Our UN Representatives
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Yvette Gatilao Murphy
Senior Technical Advisor for Global Education⨉ Yvette Gatilao Murphy
Senior Technical Advisor for Global EducationYvette Gatilao Murphy, Senior Technical Advisor for Global Education, is passionate about ensuring equity and social justice through education and has dedicated her academic research and work to addressing issues that affect the most disadvantaged children and youth. She previously served as a United Nations representative for CE International and has Director of Education Diplomacy and Global Advocacy.
In her free time, Yvette enjoys photography and is an avid runner, having run multiple marathons and ultra-marathons.
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Elisabeth Shuman
UN Representative⨉ Elisabeth Shuman
UN RepresentativeElisabeth Shuman serves on the advisory board of the NGO Committee on UNICEF, which works to uphold the rights of children everywhere, making her a key representative of CE International. Elisabeth has extensive experience working in several committees in the UN, organizing various conferences and outreach efforts, including communicating with CSO organizations in the Global South, allowing her to extend CE Internationals connections around the globe.
An insatiable learner, Elisabeth is trying to master the art of bicycle repair and learning Japanese with, in her own words, limited success.
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Cassandre Guibord Cyr
UN Representative⨉ Cassandre Guibord Cyr
UN RepresentativeCassandre Guibord Cyr, who works closely with UN agencies in Geneva, has a diverse professional background in international relations, education, and human rights policy—particularly gender-based rights frameworks. Cassandre’s work promoting the Sustainable Development Goals with the International Labour Organization positions her to support CE International’s mission of seeking innovative solutions to education challenges.
Cassandre is native from Quebec, and particularly enjoys the rich use of the French language in her province and the colorful images to describe reality such as: Il pleut a boire debout, which translates to: it rains so much that you can drink standing outside.
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Justine Heckmann
UN Representative⨉ Justine Heckmann
UN RepresentativeJustine Heckmann, who has served as a UN Representative in Geneva for CE International since August 2016, has dedicated her professional career to human rights and international cooperation. She specializes in child rights working with the NGO Terre des Hommes Suisse, managing projects with a focus on children’s education, protection and participation. Justine’s frequent presence at Human Rights Council sessions and meetings organized by the Child Rights Connect network ensures CE International has place in the critical conversations surrounding child rights.
Specializing in South American projects, she lived in Bolivia working in an orphanage helping the children in their education process.