COMMITTEE ON NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS RECOMMENDS TWO ORGANIZATIONS FOR CONSULTATIVE STATUS WITH ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CHANGE
Press Release
NGO/326
COMMITTEE ON NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS RECOMMENDS TWO ORGANIZATIONS FOR CONSULTATIVE STATUS WITH ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CHANGE
20000121The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations this morning continued its review of applications for consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, recommending granting special consultative status to the Association Socio- culturelle de Bienfaisance de Bender Djedid and Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development.
The 19-member Committee, one of the Councils standing bodies, makes recommendations on applications from non-governmental organizations for consultative status in either general, special or roster categories -- each with distinct privileges and responsibilities.
Also this morning, the Committee recommended reclassifying the International Council of Environmental Law from special status to general status. During the discussion, the representative of Pakistan told the Committee that the environment was being placed at the centre of all matters considered by the United Nations. Similarly, Indias representative said that the environment might have been perceived in the past as a discreet area of focus, but today the complex interrelationships between environmental protection, sustainability, job creation, social development and combating desertification were clear.
The Committee left pending decisions on the request for consultative status by four organizations: the World Information Clearing Center; Enchante Repertoire de la Tranquilite; Admiral Family Circle Islamic Community; and Hadassah Womens Zionist Organization of America.
Before deciding to grant special consultative status to Association Socio- culturelle de Bienfaisance de Bender Djedid, several members of the Committee expressed support for its work in the area of poverty eradication, but also indicated their concern about its independence from government influence. Indias representative noted that the Association had listed two government affiliates in its application and wondered if such a small organization could maintain its freedom of expression.
Cubas representative added that sometimes small organizations, particularly those from developing countries, required government assistance in matters such as sharing technical expertise and project management. Sudans representative said she had worked with the Association and could attest to its independence.
At the outset of the meeting, the Committees Secretary, Otto Gustafik, answered questions posed yesterday about the rules of procedure regarding members
Committee on NGOs - 2 - Press Release NGO/326 723rd Meeting (AM) 21 January 2000
and observers requests for the floor. According to article 72, paragraph 3, of the Councils rules of procedure, the Committees observer States could take the floor and propose recommendations but not vote, he explained. During discussion yesterday and today, the Committee considered its practice for giving speakers the floor: members were called on first, then observer delegations. Some felt it would be beneficial to the work of the Committee if speakers were called on in the order of their requests, as decisions were sometimes made before observers were allowed to voice their opinions. The Chairman agreed, but said that until the Committee took up the issue formally, the order in which speakers were recognized from the floor would remain as it had.
The representatives of Cuba, Algeria, Ireland, Turkey, Chile, Sudan, China, France, Russian Federation, Colombia, India, Lebanon, United States, Bolivia and Turkey spoke, as did the observers from Iran, Djibouti, Yemen and Syria.
The Chief of the Non-Governmental Organizations Section, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Hanifa Mezoui, addressed the Committee; as did the representatives of the Association Socio-culturelle de Bienfaisance de Bender Djedid and the International Council of Environmental Law.
When the Committee meets again at 3 p.m. today, it will continue reviewing applications for consultative status and reclassification, and hear from a representative of the Jammu and Kashmir Council for Human Rights.
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