COMMITTEE ON NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS RECOMMENDS CONSULTATIVE STATUS FOR ISIS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION SERVICE
Press Release
NGO/268
COMMITTEE ON NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS RECOMMENDS CONSULTATIVE STATUS FOR ISIS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION SERVICE
19960201 The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations this morning recommended that the Economic and Social Council grant Category II consultative status to ISIS International Women's Information and Communication Service (Philippines).During the discussions on ISIS (Philippines), the representative of Cuba said that the organization should be given Category II status because of its contributions on issues of concern to women. The United Kingdom, China, Costa Rica and Indonesia agreed.
ISIS International Women's Information and Communication Service is based in Quezon City, Philippines, according to a document before the Committee. Founded in 1974, it is not affiliated with any non-governmental organization already in status. It aims to promote women's empowerment and full participation in development, provide channels to make their voices heard at the planning and policy-making levels and build links of solidarity among women worldwide to take part in community development.
Yesterday, the Committee recommended a similar status for ISIS (Chile) and, at the United States' behest, deferred action on the application by the International Energy Foundation (IEF) until it submitted additional information.
At its meeting on 23 June 1995, the Committee had decided to defer the applications from the non-governmental organization to the resumed session, which ends Friday. Receiving consultative status with the Economic and Social Council allows organizations to participate, to varying degrees, in the deliberations of the Council and its subsidiary bodies. Organizations with Category I status could submit written statements to the Council, to be granted hearings and to propose agenda items for consideration by the Council and its subsidiary bodies. Category II organizations can also submit written statements and be granted hearings. Those placed on the Council's roster may only submit written statements.
Committee on NGOs - 2 - Press Release NGO/268 587th & 588th Meetings (PM & AM) 1 February 1996
All organizations holding Categories I and II status are required to report every four years on their work in support of the United Nations, as governed by guidelines set in Council resolution 1296 (XLIV) of May 1968. After examining the reports, the Committee may recommend to the Council any appropriate reclassification in the status of the organizations concerned.
During its consideration of reports, the Committee again deferred taking note of the 1990-1993 report of Liberal International, on the proposal of China and Cuba.
The representative of China said that he was not satisfied with the organization's written answers to his questions on Taiwan, and its report should not be noted. His delegation could not accept an answer from Liberal International that did not admit that Taiwan was part of China and state that it was a province of China.
Liberal International's reply had confirmed that one of its member parties, Union Liberal Cubana, did not exist in Cuba, that country's representative told the Committee, while expressing reservations about the nature and activities of Union Liberal Cubana. [Liberal International had written to the Committee in that Union Liberal Cubana is based in Madrid.]
The United States' representative, on the other hand, praised the organization's speedy response, adding that she had no further questions on it.
The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. today.
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