NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS FOUR GROUPS FOR CONSULTATIVE STATUS

Press Release
NGO/362

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS FOUR GROUPS FOR CONSULTATIVE STATUS

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) this afternoon recommended consultative status for the Kenya Alliance for Advancement of Children, Fundación “8 de Marzo” para la Promoción de Mujeres y Jovenes, the Development Promotion Group and the International Union of French-Language Journalists and Press.

The Committee also recommended that the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts be reclassified from “special” consultative status to “general” status.

As it continued reviewing new applications for consultative status within the Economic and Social Council, the Committee also deferred taking decisions on applications by the Kethea -- Therapy Center for Dependent Individuals,the YWCA of/du Canada, and the Youth Federation for World Peace pending those organizations’ responses to questions from the Members.

The Committee considers requests by various organizations for consultative status. Based on profiles and answers provided to questions posed by its members, the Committee then recommends whether a particular NGO should or should not be granted such status in one of three categories. 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 involved specifically with only a few 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 began its afternoon session by recommending that the Kenya Alliance for the Advancement of Children -- a national NGO that had requested general status -- be granted special status instead.

The Alliance, based in Nairobi, aims to advance the well-being of children in Kenya regardless of race, political, social or gender differences as reflected in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989). Its mission is to develop a culture that respects human rights, the rule of law, is gender sensitive, and provided equal opportunities to girls and boys in all spheres of development.

The Committee also recommended that special consultative status be granted to the Fundación “8 de Marzo” para la Promoción de Mujeres y Jovenes, a national NGO, based in Mérida, Spain.

The general aims of the organization are: to promote the social development of women and youth; to seek respect for human rights by social and legal

Committee on NGOs - 2 - Press Release NGO/362 757th Meeting (PM) 20 June 2000

assistance to women, children and youth in situations of discrimination; to support, advise and offer technical assistance to other NGOs whose basic goal is to defend the human rights of women and youth; to promote voluntary activities; to promote solidarity actions and programmes designed to assist women and youth in underdeveloped countries; to work with programmes of international development cooperation; and to protect the sustainable environment.

The Committee further recommended that special consultative status be granted to the Development Promotion Group, a national NGO, based in Choolaimedu India.

The Group reaches out to those who are marginalized and assists them in their development process. One of its main objectives is to implement or assist in the implementation of development programmes that focus on water, sanitation, housing, skills development and cottage industries.

The Committee also recommended that roster consultative status be granted to the International Union of French-Language Journalists and Press, an international NGO, which is based in Paris, France.

The Union’s aims to establish and develop cooperation networks between its North and South members and defend and undertake activities to promote press freedom and democracy.

In other action this afternoon, the Committed recommended that the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, be reclassified from special consultative status to general status as per that organization’s request.

The Association was granted special consultative status in 1947 as one of the first NGOs involved in work to support the aims of the United Nations. For over 50 years, the Organization and the NGO have continued to increase their activities and scope. When it started, the Association comprised seven countries -- it now boasts 140 associations and almost 10 million members.

According to the Association, it is the largest voluntary organization for girls and young women in the world, offering non-formal education and values-based programmes to all its members. Its ability to work with the United Nations has increased and it would like to see the relationship become even stronger. In the past decade it has also increased the voices of girls and young women through its presence at the Organization’s conferences and meetings. The NGO believes it would increase its participation at and enhance the work of the United Nations if it were to be granted general consultative status.

During the review of the Association’s request for reclassification, some speakers, including the representative of the NGO, pointed out that the World Association of Boy Scouts had been granted general status in 1998. It was therefore only appropriate to grant this counterpart organization the same status.

The representative of the Association said it was important for the organization to speak for itself and its constituency -- mainly young women. It worked in several critical areas, including AIDS prevention and refugee issues. In a project with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), children from all over the world put together peace packages for those living in war-torn areas. The organization also undertook water projects and clean-up campaigns, among others.

On speaker remarked that the organization was unique, as it included the issue of social integration, worked for peace and tolerance and took diversity into account.

Also this afternoon, the Committee deferred taking a decision on the application of the Kethea -- Therapy Center for Dependent Individuals, a national NGO requesting special consultative status, pending that organization’s response to questions that would be sent to it by members via the Secretariat.

The Center, based in Athens, is the largest non-profit organization in Greece in the field of drug abuse treatment and prevention. Aiming to reduce the prevalence of substance abuse, the Center runs drug-free multi-phased treatment programmes for drug addicts and their families in various parts of Greece.

One member said that while the Center had done significant work, it seemed that its focus on drug usage restricted its work. The NGO should therefore be granted roster status. A number of other speakers, however, said the organization’s work in drug abuse and prevention was important, and therefore supported its request for special status. Clarification on the type of funding the organization received from the government was also requested.

The Committee also deferred taking action on the application by the YWCA of/du Canada for roster status until the Secretariat communicated a question posed by a member.

Located in Toronto, the YWCA, a national NGO, is one of the oldest organizations serving women in Canada. Its purpose is to help women in the country to sustain equality and socio-economic autonomy. Its mission is “A Voice for Equality … A Strong Voice for Women”.

One member wanted to know how the Canadian Government’s contributions were used by the organization. Underscoring that the organization was established in 1893, another speaker asked why it was only requesting roster status bearing in mind its history and work? Another member said that the organization could be granted roster status and if it wished a change in the future, then the Committee could grant it that request.

The Committee also deferred taking action on the application by Youth Federation for World Peace, an international NGO requesting general consultative status, pending that organization’s written response to questions raised this afternoon by members. If the responses were received, the Committee would resume consideration of the application at its resumed session in January 2001.

According to the Federation, which is based in Washington, D.C., United States, it is dedicated to the belief that peaceful families are the foundation of peaceful societies and nations and a peaceful world. Through its initiatives to inspire the next generation of world leaders, the organization promotes the values of filial piety, premarital celibacy, marital fidelity and public service to humanity among youth and young adults worldwide. The Federation advances understanding and builds harmony among peoples by transcending all barriers of gender, race, culture, religion, ideology, ethnicity and nationality.

One of the questions put to a representative of the Federation concerned its association with the Unification Church.

The representative of the Federation said the NGOs membership originated from different nations. Its national chapters developed working relationships with other NGOs in their countries. In addition, the founder of the Federation was also the founder of the Unification Church. The Foundation, however, was an autonomous organization and the Church’s founder, Reverend Sun Myung Moon, had no direct involvement in its operations.

One member said that it appeared as if the organization was not giving the full picture of its association with the Unification Church. The representative of the NGO was asked what percentage of the organization’s members, including those on the Board, also belonged to the Church. More information on the peace fund scholarship programme that the Federation had referred to in its submission to the Committee was also requested. In addition, a question was posed on how projects relevant to the family and gender-based violence were being implemented.

Another member noted that, according to the Federation’s information, its activities were being carried out on a very small budget. The organization was asked to provide more details on its income and expenditure. It was also pointed out that the NGO gave no clear idea on its structure and financing. More details were therefore requested.

The representatives of Algeria, Bolivia, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, France, Germany, India, Lebanon, Russian Federation, Sudan, Tunisia and the United States made interventions during the Committee’s session this afternoon. Canada also spoke in its capacity as an observer. The acting Chairman of the Committee’s afternoon session was Mercedes Armas García (Cuba).

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. Wednesday, 21 June, to begin its consideration of special reports.

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