COMMITTEE ON NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS CONTINUES 2000 SESSSION

Press Release
NGO/352

COMMITTEE ON NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS CONTINUES 2000 SESSSION

Continuing the second part of its 2000 session this morning, the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) resumed its consideration of the 39 applications by NGOs for consultative status within the Economic and Social Council.

Those applications for consultative status had been deferred from previous sessions of the Committee in 1988 and 1999.

Also this morning, the Committee decided to give precedence to those applications by NGOs whose representatives are currently in New York.

After a lively debate which reflected varying views, the Union of Kuwaiti Women Association –- a national NGO requesting “general” consultative status -- was granted “special” consultative status by the Committee, since many speakers felt that the burden of the organization’s activities focused on women’s issues.

The Union, among other things, aims to: increase efforts to achieve better quality of services and benefits from the Government; and protect the human rights of women, who are the primary caregivers for children and therefore the nucleus of society.

Organizations wishing to apply for the “general” category must be concerned with most of the activities of the Economic and Social Council and its subsidiary bodies. They tend to be fairly large, established international NGOs with a broad geographical reach. “Special” category is granted to organizations that are concerned specifically with only a few of the fields of activity covered by the Council. Those NGOs tend to be smaller and more recently established. Organizations that can make occasional and useful contributions to the Council or its subsidiary bodies are included on the “roster”. Such NGOs tend to have a more specific or technical focus or both.

The Committee deferred consideration of the application of the Human Rights International Alliance –- an international NGO requesting special consultative status -- until this afternoon.

The goals of the Alliance, which is based in Surrey, United Kingdom, are to identify areas for the betterment of the community in terms of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, as per the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related Covenants. It aims to work in partnership with other national and regional human service organizations and human rights groups, bring common

Committee on NGOs - 2 - Press Release NGO/352 747th Meeting (AM) 13 June 2000

objectives and issues to public awareness, promote multicultural awareness, relieve poverty, improve health conditions, promote education, improve socio- economic conditions and save lives.

Committee members expressed some concern at the fact that the Global Peace Foundation, a new applicant for special consultative status, had the same address and phone number as the Alliance. Others expressed profound concern at the nature of the relationship between the two organizations, drawing attention to the fact that certain key figures, board members and executives held similar or related positions in both organizations. Other speakers disputed the goals of the Alliance.

The activities of the Foundation are focused on educating the masses through the dissemination of data, including information on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related covenants and conventions. It continuously highlights principles of the Declaration and updated resolutions, guidelines and recommendations. The Foundation sends United Nations publications and other information to members, affiliated organizations and individuals that wish to update their information or educate their community on the Organization.

The representative of the Alliance told members that his organization merely shared the same office space as the Foundation. In addition, the Chairman of the Committee, M. Levant Bilman (Turkey), informed members that in a communiqué to the Secretariat, the Global Peace Foundation had withdrawn its application for consultative status. Further to that, another speaker wanted clarification as to why the Foundation had withdrawn its application after similarities between it and the Alliance had been pointed out.

The representatives of Algeria, Bolivia, Chile, China, Cuba, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Sudan and Tunisia spoke during this morning’s meeting. Interventions were also made by Syria in its capacity as an observer.

The representatives of the Union of Kuwaiti Women Association and the Human Rights International Alliance also spoke in response to questions raised by Committee members.

The Committee will meet again today at 3 p.m. to continue its consideration of the applications by NGOs for consultative status with the Economic and Social Council.

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