NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE TAKES NOTE OF SIX QUADRENNIAL REPORTS

Press Release
NGO/336

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE TAKES NOTE OF SIX QUADRENNIAL REPORTS

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations this evening took note of activity reports submitted by six groups with consultative status with the Economic and Social Council.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with special or general consultative status with the Council are required to submit reports on their activities every four years, as part of the set of privileges and responsibilities that accompany their status. The reports cover such matters as objectives, publications, recent activities, relationships with United Nations entities, and changes in funding sources. The consultative relationship is designed, in part, to enhance the Council’s ability to put into form the ideals upon which the United Nations is based.

This evening, the Committee took note of the following quadrennial reports: International Islamic Federation of Student Organizations; General Conference of the Seventh Day Adventists; Foundation of the Rights of the Family; International Alliance of Women; International Federation of Human Rights; and All Pakistan Women’s Association.

Also, the Committee left pending its decisions on three quadrennial reports: Society for Threatened Peoples; Women’s International Zionist Organization; and Afro-Asian People’s Solidarity Organization. It decided to consider the report of the World Muslim Congress tomorrow.

When the Committee turned to the quadrennial report of the Society for Threatened People, China’s delegate said that he was not satisfied with the answers that had been provided to the Committee’s questions. He was of the view that any NGO participating in the activities of the Council should respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Member States. In its report, the Society stated that China had occupied Tibet in 1951 and, during that period, had committed various humanitarian crimes. Tibet was an inalienable part of China and any reference that described it otherwise could only be made out of ignorance or in order to promote particular political motives.

The reference to “so-called occupation” violated China’s territorial integrity and political sovereignty, China's representative continued. The Society had distorted the facts. In the last few decades, the Chinese Government had instituted many programmes and initiatives to help Tibet move to a stable economy, and now its people enjoyed many rights and freedoms. The Society for Threatened People should recognize Tibet as an inalienable part of China.

Committee on NGOs - 2 - Press Release NGO/336 733rd Meeting (Night) 27 January 2000

The delegate from the Russian Federation said that the Society had not respected the territorial integrity and sovereignty of his country when referring to Chechnya and Ingushetia in its quadrennial report. Those were inseparable parts of the Russian Federation and should have been identified as such -– “Chechnya of the Russian Federation”, for example. The Society had responded to some questions in a very general manner and failed to answer others altogether.

For the report of the International Islamic Federation of Student Organizations, the Committee noted reservations expressed by India’s representative, who said that there was evidence that the organization was politicized and had veered from its original objectives. It was affiliated with a number of organizations that worked against States’ territorial integrity. Also, the group changed the location of its headquarters each time it had a new secretary-general, but that practice contradicted the provisions of resolution 1996/31 regarding the need for groups with consultative status to have an established headquarters. Also, it appeared that the group was holding its elections less frequently. Was it becoming less democratic? he asked.

The Committee also decided to send a note to the General Conference of the Seventh Day Adventists asking for a correction reflecting that New Caledonia was a French territory.

Also this evening, Turkey’s representative said NGOs were fully responsible for the conduct of those they accredited to participate in United Nations meetings. Turkey encouraged broader representation of the views of the non- governmental organization community in the United Nations. In recent years, however, his delegation had noticed an increase in the instances of NGOs providing an umbrella to terrorists or politically motivated individuals. Resolution 1996/31 stipulated that accredited NGOs shall conform at all times to the principles governing the establishment of their relationship with the Council. As a member of the Non-governmental Organization Committee, Turkey would continue to monitor NGOs’ activities with a view to determining the extent to which they complied with United Nations principles.

In this evening’s meeting, the representatives of India, Pakistan, France, Algeria, United States, Lebanon, Ireland and Tunisia also spoke.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. Friday, 28 January, to continue its work for the two-week resumed 1999 session.

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