COMMITTEE ON NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS RECOMMENDS CONSULTATIVE STATUS FOR THREE GROUPS, DENIES TWO OTHERS

Press Release
NGO/356

COMMITTEE ON NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS RECOMMENDS CONSULTATIVE STATUS FOR THREE GROUPS, DENIES TWO OTHERS

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) this afternoon continued reviewing applications for consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, recommending consultative status for three organizations –- the Arab Centre for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession, Peaceways, and the Institute for Environment and Development Studies –- and not recommending two others.

The current requests for consultative status were deferred from previous sessions of the Committee in 1998 and 1999.

Organizations wishing to apply for the “general” category must be concerned with most of the activities of the Council and its subsidiary bodies. “Special” category is granted to organizations that are involved specifically with only a few of the fields of activity covered by the Council. 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 this afternoon first decided to recommend special consultative status for the Arab Centre for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession.

The Center, based in Cairo, Egypt, is a regional jurist organization that works towards the reinforcement of the independence of the judiciary and the legal profession, the rule of law, respect for human rights and basic freedoms in Egypt and the Arab countries. It is guided by international human rights standards, in general, and those related to the independence of the judiciary and the legal profession, in particular.

Also this afternoon, the Committee decided not to recommend roster consultancy status to the Kazem Rajavi International Association for the Defence of Human Rights -- an international NGO headquartered in Mery-sur-Oise, France.

The Association was formed in tribute to the memory and life’s work of Professor Kazem Rajavi, to continue his efforts to promote the human rights values embodied in the Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the international conventions on civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. The NGO opposes by all appropriate means the violation, restriction or diminishment of the rights and freedoms specified in these instruments

Committee on NGOs - 2 - Press Release NGO/356 751st Meeting (PM) 15 June 2000

Roster status was denied because the organization failed to respond to questions sent to it by the Secretariat, and there was an emerging consensus that the NGO was known to have links with terrorist organizations -– an issue that was raised in most of the interventions.

An application by Relief International, an international NGO requesting general consultative status, was deferred because responses to questions put to it by the Committee had not yet been received. Based in Los Angeles, United States, Relief International is a humanitarian, non-profit agency that provides emergency relief, rehabilitation and development assistance to vulnerable communities worldwide.

`A decision on the application by Vishva Hindu Parishad, an international NGO requesting general consultative status, was deferred until responses to questions, submitted by Pakistan were received. According to the NGO, which is located in New Delhi, India, it works for the total welfare of humanity. While it has taken on the responsibility of representing and promoting the welfare- related activities of Hindus, it also, without discrimination, promotes moral and ethical education, provides medical aid for the needy, relief to the poor, advances general public utility and pursues socio-religious, scientific and general research.

Pakistan’s representative said, unfortunately, the NGO did not have a very healthy record. According to Human Rights Watch, the organization’s activists were at the forefront of violent acts against Christians. More than a year ago, four nuns were raped by about 12 people. The Secretary of the organization responded to the act by saying that the incident reflected the anger of people against those who tried to convert them to another religion.

He went on to say that in another incident, in February 1998, also listed in the Human Rights Watch report, 400 people belonging to the NGO attacked a Catholic Church. In July of the same year, a man’s body was taken out of his grave and desecrated. The organization should be asked to explain its position in light of those accusations, and also be requested to give a written response.

The representative of India said a representative of the NGO had already appeared before the Committee and answered the questions that were now being asked.

An application by Jammu and Kashmir Council for Human Rights, an international NGO requesting special status, was deferred pending responses to questions that would be submitted to it by India through the Secretariat. The aims of the NGO, located in Surrey, United Kingdom, are to provide relief, rehabilitation, development, aid and assistance to the victims of famine and armed conflict. It also monitors violations of human rights in South Asia and seeks to promote respect for those fundamental rights.

The Chairman of the Committee, Levent Bilman (Turkey), stated that 17 questions had been put to the NGO and that responses had been received on 9 May.

India’s representative said that, while the organization had answered the 17 questions sent to it by the Committee, some of the crucial questions had been sidetracked, while some others had not been answered at all. A copy of the trust and the auditors’ report had both been requested, but none of them had been sent. He said the NGO was a political organization. In an interview given by its head, it had shown itself to be that, rather than an NGO doing the work of the Economic and Social Council. Organizations that were doing political work instead of the work of the Council could not be allowed. His delegation would prefer that the NGO not be granted any consultative status.

Pakistan’s representative said he had never seen such a detailed response from any organization. He asked if the Committee was saying that politicians could not associate themselves with human rights work. The press interview which was mentioned was not, in fact, political, he stressed. The organization has been working strictly by the principles of the Charter and the Council. It also had a long association with the latter and human rights issues.

Also this afternoon, the Committee deferred action on the application of Le Foyer Musulman, Association internationale pour les droits de l’homme -- an international NGO requesting special consultative status -– until answers to questions posed by members were received.

The aims of the NGO, based in Geneva, Switzerland, are to show and convince Muslim and non-Muslim peoples how Islam not only does not order or recommend violence, but can be a very good basis for understanding and applying human rights principles all over the world, provided that people understand its philosophy. It also aims to educate populations on the importance of human rights and the principles of the Charter.

The representative of the United States said he wanted clarification on what the organization meant by anti-slavery activities. He also wanted to know how the organization was spending its money to achieve its objectives.

The representative of the Russian Federation wanted to know the contents of a letter sent to the Secretary-General in connection with Chechnya. He also wanted to know in which cities of the former Soviet Union the organization had representation and how those missions functioned on their limited resources.

An application by Management Sciences for Health, a national NGO requesting special consultative status, was deferred this afternoon, as well. The Chairman said questions were posed by the Committee to the NGO, but no replies had been received so far. The Committee requested the Secretariat to remind the NGO that answers were expected. The application would be deferred until then.

The NGO works collaboratively with health-care policy makers, managers, providers and consumers to help close the gap between knowledge and action in the field of public health. It seeks to increase the effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of health and family planning services by improving their management, promoting access to services and influencing public policy.

Further this afternoon, the Committee granted special consultative status to Peaceways, an international NGO, based in San Mateo, United States. Peaceways aims to help bring about a peaceful world by strengthening the United

* *** *

Nations through the active and responsible participation of children under the ages of 18.

In yet other action this afternoon, an application by Enchanté Repertoire de la Tranquillité was denied by the Committee. Algeria’s representative said, when the application was first examined, the organization did not have any contributions to make to the Council. Further information submitted revealed the same thing. The representative of the United States agreed with Algeria, stating that the application was frivolous.

The NGO's primary concern is the European region and its aim is to encourage thought.

An application by the Grameena Vikas Samithi requesting general consultative status was deferred by the Committee pending the receipt of information, particularly data on funds. The aim of the organization, located in Andhra Pradesh State, India, is to bring about a desirable change in the lives of the rural poor and to strengthen and promote voluntary efforts in rural development by building up local leadership.

The Chairman informed the Committee that the Zimbabwe Association for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of the Offender, a national NGO, which had requested special consultative status, had asked for its application to be shelved. He had, however, asked the Secretariat to clarify whether by “shelved” the organization meant withdrawn.

The aims of the Association, which is based in Harare, Zimbabwe, are to mobilize communities against crime, to visit and encourage prisoners in self- reform, to give constructive help to those released on probation or parole and to befriend and assist needy families of offenders.

In a decision taken by its Chairman, an application by Hadassah, a national NGO requesting special consultative status, was deferred by the Committee until Lebanon, who had expressed interest in the request, could be present. Hadassah, a women’s Zionist organization, based in New York, United States, pursues the ideals of democracy, health, medical research, education, women’s rights and human rights. It supports and administers a vast network of worldwide programmes and institutions which serve people regardless of race, religion or nationality.

Finally, this afternoon, the Committee granted special consultative status to the Institute for Environment and Development Studies. The Institute, based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, deals with various environmental issues. It is committed to the preservation, restoration and national use of the environment.

The representatives of Algeria, Cuba, China, France, Chile, Germany, Pakistan, India, United States, Russian Federation, and the Sudan made statements this afternoon. Iran also spoke in its capacity as an observer.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow to continue reviewing applications for consultative status within the Economic and Social Council.

* *** *