NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE, RESUMING REVIEW OF WORKING METHODS, POSTPONES CONSIDERATION OF DEFERRED APPLICATIONS FOR CONSULTATIVE STATUS

Press Release
NGO/341

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE, RESUMING REVIEW OF WORKING METHODS, POSTPONES CONSIDERATION OF DEFERRED APPLICATIONS FOR CONSULTATIVE STATUS

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations decided this morning to put off until June its consideration of deferred applications by non- governmental organizations (NGOs) for consultative status with the Economic and Social Council.

It took that decision after several delegations agreed with the representative of India that besides the Committee's heavy schedule, delegates had several other commitments elsewhere in the United Nations. However, several other delegations supported the view of Chile's delegate that a middle ground should be found to accommodate those NGO representatives who were already in New York, perhaps having travelled even from outside the country.

Some delegations also agreed with the representative of Cuba that some of the deferred applications required more complex discussion than others, and might take up the entire week allocated for the present session. The Secretariat should inform those NGO representatives who were not present that it would not be possible to deal with their applications at this time. The representatives of Algeria and the Russian Federation suggested that the present session consider only new applications.

The Committee, a 19-member standing body of the Economic and Social Council, began the first part of its 2000 session yesterday. Non-governmental organizations that fulfil requirements set out in Council resolution 1996/31 can be granted consultative status under "general", "special" or "roster" categories. Each category carries distinct privileges and responsibilities. (For further details, see Press Release NGO/339, issued on 15 May.)

Following an announcement by the Secretariat that 110 NGOs had been informed by letter that the Committee would not be able to guarantee consideration of their applications this week, Mr. Levent Bilman (Turkey), Committee Chairman, said the Secretariat had informed him that only two NGOs were present from among those whose applications had been deferred. Given the Committee members' heavy schedule, deferred applications would be considered in the first week of the Committee’s June session.

The Committee then resumed the review of its working methods: implementation of Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31, including the accreditation of NGO representatives, and Council decision 1995/304. The review is to include consideration of organizations whose defining characteristics

Committee on NGOs - 2 - Press Release NGO/341 738th Meeting (AM) 16 May 2000

are not in strict conformity with resolution 1996/31; strengthening of the Secretariat's NGO Section; and other related matters.

Mr. BILMAN (Turkey), Committee Chairman, said it was time to emphasize to the NGO community that it was one thing to obtain consultative status and quite another to fully respect and follow the spirit of resolution 1996/31. They should be reminded of the resolution and its stipulations when they were applying for accreditation. While the participation of NGOs was valuable, their representation should be reasonable. The Committee did not intend to restrict NGO participation in United Nations activities, but it could inform them about the norms and practices of participation.

While drawing attention to the effective contribution of NGOs to United Nations bodies, Sudan's representative said they should shoulder responsibility for any actions taken by their members, because status carried certain duties and obligations. The practices of some NGOs constituted a flagrant violation of rules governing their relationship with the United Nations, and threatened the security of some governments.

While agreeing that the time had come to emphasize the duties and obligations that came with status, the representative of France said that in the Commission on Human Rights, NGOs were usually allowed to speak after 6 p.m., when most delegates had already gone home. The work of certain bodies needed to be structured better so as to enhance NGO participation. The Conference on NGOs (CONGO) had proposed guidelines in connection with that issue.

The representative of Algeria said that some NGOs felt themselves to be untouchable and had forgotten the rules. The Secretariat's NGO Section should inform such organizations about the Committee's disquiet over the failure of some bodies to live up to Council resolution 1996/31.

A representative of CONGO, a voluntary organization to facilitate relations with the United Nations, said that if all NGOs adhered to resolution 1996/31 there would be no problems. However, with the recent growth in the number of NGOs, accreditation had become limited. Conscious that the South was under-represented, the 1,400 NGOs participating in the Millennium Forum had paid $200 each to facilitate the participation of NGOs from the South. Access was a major concern for NGOs, which often had difficulty entering conference buildings and obtaining the necessary documents. CONGO provided training for new NGO representatives to the various committees and commissions, and in some cases held daily briefings for them.

Also this morning, the Committee elected Munawar Saeed Bhatti (Pakistan) by acclamation as its Rapporteur. He is one of its four Vice-Chairmen.

Other speakers this morning were the representatives of Pakistan, China, Germany, Russian Federation, United States, Ethiopia, Colombia, Bolivia, Lebanon, and Romania.

The Committee on NGOs will meet again at 3 p.m. to consider new applications for consultative status

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