NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS 12 ORGANIZATIONS FOR CONSULTATIVE STATUS WITH ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL
Press Release
NGO/319
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS 12 ORGANIZATIONS FOR CONSULTATIVE STATUS WITH ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL
20000117The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations this morning began its resumed 1999 session, making recommendations on a series of applications by non- governmental organizations (NGOs) for accreditation with the Economic and Social Council.
It recommended that 12 groups be granted special consultative status, deferred decisions on another 12 organizations, and adopted its programme of work for the resumed session.
A standing body of the Economic and Social Council, the Committee considers applications for consultative status and requests for reclassification submitted by NGOs; considers quadrennial reports submitted by those organizations; implements the provisions of Council resolution 1996/31 and the monitoring of consultative relationships; and considers other issues as requested by the Council. Non-governmental, non-profit voluntary organizations can be admitted into consultative status with the Economic and Social Council if they meet the requirements detailed in Council resolution 1996/31, regarding matters including the organization's activities, decision-making processes and resources.
This morning, the Committee recommended that special consultative status be granted to the following groups: American Life League; Centre for Development Services; Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association; International Buddhist Relief Association; Canadian Federation of Agriculture; Centre for Womens Global Leadership; Global Action Plan International; Red de educación popular entre mujeres (REPAM); Association Tunisienne de Lutte contre les MST/SIDA; Association Tunisienne de Prevention de Toxicomanie; Vie Montante Internationale; and Association of Organizations for Social and Educational Assistance (FASE). The Committee had before it a series of memoranda from the Secretary-General transmitting requests for consultative status and requests for reclassification. In many cases, the Committee had taken ad referenda decisions during its June 1999 session.
Also this morning, it decided to defer decisions on 12 applications, in most cases pending receipt of further information. Those NGOs are as follows: Kazem Rajavi International Association for the Defense of Human Rights; Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development; World Information Clearing Centre; International Metalworkers Federation; Relief International; Vishva Hindu Parishad; Jammu and Kashmir Council for Human Rights; Association Tunisienne de la Communication; Le Foyer Musulman, Association Internationale pour les Droits de lHomme; Ligue pour lEducation de la Femme et de lEnfant; Management Sciences for Health; and Peaceways. Committee on NGOs - 2 - Press Release NGO/319 716th Meeting (AM) 17 January 2000
Regarding Peaceways, Chinas representative said further information was needed, as he had doubts about the organizations independence and its relationship to the authorities of Taiwan. From 1995 to 1997, it had received funding from the Economic and Social Organization of Taipei. But Chiles representative said those donations were linked to specific projects in other countries.
Regarding the Kazem Rajavi International Association for the Defense of Human Rights, the observer from Iran said the organization should not be granted status because its president, Saleh Rajavi, had connections to MJONCR, a terrorist organization that had been regularly condemned for horrible crimes. While the organization claimed to reject violence, there were many examples of its true behaviour.
During the course of a lengthy discussion on the International Metalworkers Federation, some representatives wondered whether it wouldnt be more appropriate for the organization, as a trade union, to be associated with the International Labour Organization (ILO). Others stressed that the organizations work for human rights and industrial democracy rendered it an appropriate candidate for accreditation. In a similar discussion of the World Information Clearing Centre, some representatives suggested it might be more appropriate to have the organization considered for affiliation by the Department of Public Information (DPI).
The Committee decided to hear from the representative of Jammu and Kashmir Council for Human Rights tomorrow; and of Vishva Hindu Parishad on Wednesday. Questions and comments were also voiced by the representatives of Tunisia, Cuba, Pakistan, France, India, Sudan, United States, Ireland, Algeria, Colombia, Bolivia, Russian Federation, and by the observers of Iraq and Syria.
In his opening comments this morning, the Committee Chairman, Wahid Ben Amor (Tunisia) said cooperation between the United Nations and NGOs had developed rapidly. The Non-Governmental Organizations Section of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs faced an increased workload, due to the greater number of organizations with consultative status with the Council. He added that the General Assembly had recently requested information on the resources needed to enable the Section to work effectively, and decided to raise the level of the post of Chief of Non-Governmental Organizations Section of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs from P-5 to D-1. He also drew attention to a decision by the Economic and Social Council to remove the status of Christian Solidarity International (CSI).
The Chief of the Non-Governmental Organizations Section, Hanifa Mezoui, said the Committee would be reviewing over 200 applications for consultative status this session. Along with 40 applications that had been deferred from the previous session in June, there were 76 new applications, 11 applications for reclassification, 54 quadrennial reports and 15 applications on the list for the Commission on Sustainable Development. She welcomed and encouraged efforts regarding African NGOs, including the compilation of a report on over 1,000 African groups and 340 regional organizations.
Committee on NGOs - 3 - Press Release NGO/319 716th Meeting (AM) 17 January 2000
Non-governmental organizations which are granted consultative status are either general, special or roster status. Organizations in the general category must be concerned with most of the activities of the Economic and Social Council and its subsidiary bodies. Special category is granted to those NGOs which have a special competence in, and are concerned specifically with, only a few of the fields of activity covered by the Council. Organizations which can make occasional and useful contributions to the work of the Council or its subsidiary bodies are included in the roster.
Different privileges and obligations are accorded to each category. Those with general status can propose items for the Council agenda, attend and speak at meetings and circulate statements. Those with special status can attend meetings and circulate statements, while those on the roster can attend meetings. Also, organizations with general and special status must submit reports every four years on their activities in support of the United Nations.
The Committees current members are Algeria, Bolivia, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Ethiopia, France, India, Ireland, Lebanon, Pakistan, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Sudan, Tunisia, Turkey and the United States.
The Committee will continue its consideration of applications for consultative status at 3 p.m. today.
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