NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS CONSULTATIVE STATUS FOR GUTTMACHER INSTITUTE, INTERNATIONAL PRESENTATION ASSOCIATION

Press Release
NGO/359

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS CONSULTATIVE STATUS FOR GUTTMACHER INSTITUTE, INTERNATIONAL PRESENTATION ASSOCIATION

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) started week two of the second part of its 2000 session this morning by beginning its review of over 50 new applications by NGOs for consultative status within the Economic and Social Council, and recommending consultative status for the Alan Guttmacher Institute and the International Presentation Association.

Last week the Committee reviewed applications by various organizations for consultative status that had been deferred from its 1998 and 1999 sessions. It also took action on a number of new applications.

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”.

The Committee decided to recommend that special consultative status be granted to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, an international not-for-profit, independent non-membership organization based in New York and Washington D.C., United States.

The Institute deals with research, policy analysis and public education in the fields of family planning, reproductive health rights and population. Its goal is to protect and support the reproductive choices of men and women in the United States and throughout the world. It aims to support and expand their ability to obtain information and services needed to protect their health, exercise their individual responsibilities and to achieve their full human rights with regard to sexual behaviour, reproduction and family formation.

While general consensus prevailed in the decision taken by the Committee, delegations expressed reservations on the organization’s involvement with such issues as the prevention of unwanted pregnancies. In that light, attention was drawn to the fact that some of the goals of the organization might not be in consonance with the different laws of the world.

Other speakers drew attention to the fact that the organization was not technically an NGO, but a research organization. It was stressed that the research nature of the Institute should not become a precedent for other research organizations to acquire consultative status. Questions were also raised about the organization’s financing, its membership and its international activities.

Committee on NGOs - 2 - Press Release NGO/359 754th Meeting (AM) 19 June 2000

Acting Chairman, Munawar Saeed Bhatti (Pakistan), warned, however, that it was not a good precedent to recommend the granting of consultative status when there were so many reservations. The Committee should consider the step carefully, he stressed.

The Committee also recommended that the International Presentation Association, an international NGO requesting general consultative status be granted special status instead.

The Association, based in New York, exists as a collaborative body of Presentation Sisters and their Associates. The Sisters work in solidarity with the poor and those who are unjustly treated. The NGO is committed to the cultural, social and economic development of people, particularly women, children and indigenous people.

During its review of the application by Felege Guihon International, an international NGO asking for special status, the Chairman decided that the Committee would return to that request pending the Secretariat’s clarification of certain issues raised this morning by members.

Felege Guihon International, based in Geneva, Switzerland, supports social and human development, cultural and ecological restoration and measures to maintain the health of populations living near the sources of the Nile and in the countries through which the major African rivers flow.

One speaker said that the organization was a political one whose application for consultancy status was rejected two years ago. Another speaker stressed that, if that was indeed the case, then the rule was that three years had to elapse before it could reappear before the Committee. The Secretariat was asked to provide clarification.

Also this morning, the Committee decided to skip over the application by the Argentina Association of International Law, an NGO requesting general consultative status, due to that organization’s non-response to questions put to it by members. The Association, a national NGO based in Santa Fe, Argentina, supports the development and codes of international law.

Also this morning, the Committee deferred consideration of the application of Amities sans frontières internationale, an international NGO requesting roster status, until there was clarification of certain issues raised this morning by members. The organization, based in Monaco, is a service club that is open to all and founded on the principle of mixed membership, based are justice, tolerance and friendship.

One speaker said the organization was a club or a service organization and not an NGO. Several speakers said they were hampered by the lack of an English version of the organization’s response to the Committee and requested one. One member expressed uncertainty about the organization’s aims. Another member said the nature, expenses, funding and purpose of the organization were unclear. Attention was also drawn to the fact that the organization seemed to be funding the activities of other organizations -- that was not an NGO function. It was also underscored that the Club’s address was a hotel, which did not seem to make it an organization.

The Committee also decided to allow further time for consideration of an application by the Center for Policy Alternatives -- a national NGO requesting special status. Algeria would also submit questions to that organization for further clarification.

The Center, located in Washington D.C., is the United States’ leading non- profit, non-partisan public policy and leadership development centre devoted to community-based solutions that strengthen families and communities. Its mission is to engage a new generation of leaders around the world to envision and realize progressive solutions for the future.

Consideration of an application by Global Crop Protection Federation, an international NGO requesting special consultative status, was deferred pending review of the organization’s possible industry advocacy.

The Federation, based in Brussels, Belgium, aims to promote understanding of the crop protection industry’s contribution to society. It also focuses on coordinating the membership network of associations in order to: achieve effective representation of the industry in its relations with international organizations; operate an effective global intelligence network; emphasize the industry’s contribution towards the achievement of food security for all; and to communicate and promote industry positions on key issues.

One Committee member questioned the fact that the organization represented the interests of a single industry. Also based on the NGO’s responses to the Committee, its nature was unclear, as was its financing. The question as to whether the organization was promoting an industry was also raised. It was further noted that revenue received from contracts was equal to that raised through other activities. Speakers wanted to know the identity of organization members earning money from industry contracts.

Another speaker said that perhaps the organization was providing only the information considered relevant to the Committee. Also, while the Committee should ensure that NGOs were not seeking status merely as a way of seeking legitimacy, it should explore the productive potential of links between NGOs and industry.

The Committee also agreed to reconsider the application of the Hague Appeal for Peace -- an international NGO, requesting special status –- at its resumed session in January 2001.

Among the issues raised in the taking of that decision was the the fact that the NGO’s application process had not been completed. Further, it was also noted that subsidiary bodies of this “umbrella” organization already had consultative status.

The Hague Appeal for Peace is a global network of NGOs dedicated to the abolition of war and the development of a culture of peace. It works with governmental and intergovernmental organizations, especially the United Nations, to achieve its goals.

The representatives of Algeria, Bolivia, France, Ethiopia, India, Sudan, Chile, China, United States, Romania, Russian Federation, and Senegal made interventions in this morning’s meeting. Libya also spoke in its capacity as an observer.

The representative of Alan Guttmacher Institute also responded to questions from members of the Committee.

The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. today to continue its review of new applications for consultative status within the Council.

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