VIVAT International is a global faith-based network rooted in the values of justice, peace, human dignity, and care for creation. With nearly 20,000 members from 12 Catholic religious congregations, we are present in 121 countries, where our sisters, brothers, and lay collaborators live close to communities facing poverty, displacement, inequality, and environmental destruction.
The name “VIVAT” comes from Latin and means “May he/she/it live!” — a reflection of our deepest desire: that all people and all creation may not just survive, but thrive, as God intended. Our mission is to amplify the voices of the poorest and most marginalized, bringing their lived realities to the highest international levels. With Special Consultative Status at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and in association with the UN Department of Global Communications (DGC), VIVAT bridges grassroots struggles and global decision-making.
The story of VIVAT International began in November 2000, when the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) and the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) joined forces to create a common voice at the United Nations. Their vision was simple yet powerful: to make the experiences of their members, who work daily with the most vulnerable, heard at the international level.
Over time, ten more congregations joined this mission, making VIVAT a living network of solidarity. Today, it includes the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (CSSp), Adorers of the Blood of Christ (ASC), Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary (MSHR), Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI), Comboni Missionary Sisters (CMS), Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ), Little Sisters of the Assumption (LSA), Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo (Scalabrinian Sisters, MSCS), Sisters of the Holy Cross (CSC), and the Congregation of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (JMJ).
This rich diversity of charisms and cultures gives VIVAT its strength: one shared mission expressed through many voices, united for justice, peace, and sustainable development.
Today, VIVAT International is both locally rooted and globally connected. Its members live in solidarity with marginalized communities in some of the most remote and forgotten corners of the world. They gather authentic and timely experiences of human rights violations, displacement, ecological destruction, and inequality — and bring them to global platforms where decisions are made.
VIVAT’s presence has grown beyond New York: since 2009, the organization has maintained an office in Geneva, actively engaged in human rights advocacy. In 2022, VIVAT became an observer at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bonn, and in 2023, an observer at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi. These milestones enable the organization to raise issues of climate justice and environmental protection alongside those of human rights and development.
VIVAT International focuses on eradicating poverty, empowering women, building sustainable communities, fostering peace, and promoting intercultural dialogue. In recent years, the organization has intervened at the UN Human Rights Council on the killing of displaced persons in Nigeria, supported indigenous communities in the Amazon against ecological destruction, and consistently advocated for women’s rights and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The unique value of VIVAT lies in its ability to connect the local and the global — ensuring that the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor shape not only awareness but also policies and international accountability.
VIVAT International communicates its mission through newsletters, statements, and advocacy reports that highlight both grassroots realities and international engagement. These publications give visibility to the struggles and hopes of the communities we serve, and share how our members are influencing decision-making at the global level.
In addition, VIVAT reaches wider audiences through podcasts and digital platforms, offering reflections, testimonies, and updates on urgent issues such as migration, climate change, and peacebuilding. These channels ensure that our message is not confined to the halls of the UN but is accessible to everyone who shares our commitment to justice and human dignity.
By following our news and publications, visitors can stay connected with a movement that continues to respond to the challenges of our time with creativity, courage, and faith.
