UNANIMA International had its beginning at the US Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) in 2000, when UI’s founder, Catherine Ferguson, SNJM, invited any interested religious congregations to form a coalition NGO to advocate at the United Nations on behalf of Women and Children. In December 2001 six interested congregations met to develop a mission statement and to choose the name: UNANIMA International. The name begins with “UN” to represent the United Nations, and the “ANIMA” is from the Latin word for feminine “spirit” or “life principle.” It not only indicates that the organization is bringing the feminine spirit to the UN, but (as it brings to mind the word, “unanimous”) that it represents a group acting with one heart and mind.
A Mission Statement was also created:
UNANIMA International is a coalition of congregations of women religious with members on all continents committed to work for peace and human dignity in response to the needs of our world by service to our members, to the United Nations, and to other NGOs through collaboration, education, and action in affiliation with the UN regarding:
● Women and children, particularly the economically poor
● Immigrants and refugees
● The welfare of the planet
UNANIMA International was formally established as a non-profit organization incorporated in the State of New York in 2002. By the fall of 2004 UI was accepted for UN Department of Public Information Status, and on July 21, 2005, received special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Currently, UI represents 23 Congregations of Women Religious, comprising 25,000 people in 85 countries.
