DISCUSSIONS ON NGO APPLICATIONS FOR CONSULTATIVE STATUS CONTINUE IN COMMITTEE ON NGOS

Committee on NGOs

772^nd Meeting (AM)

DISCUSSIONS ON NGO APPLICATIONS FOR CONSULTATIVE STATUS

CONTINUE IN COMMITTEE ON NGOS

The Committee on Non-governmental Organizations met this morning to continue its consideration of applications from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) which were deferred from its session in June 2000.

The Committee recommended ECOSOC grant special consultative status to the Triglav Circle, roster status for the Global Crop Protection Federation and deferred action on five applications pending response from those NGOs to questions.  It closed consideration of the application of the Hague Appeal for Peace for special consultative status, determining that organization, for technical reasons, must submit a new application.

The 19-member Committee, which presently is in its 2000 resumed session, makes recommendations on applications to the ECOSOC for consultative status from NGOs, using criteria such as the applicants’ mandates, governance and financial regimes.  After considering applications, the Committee then recommends to ECOSOC to grant the NGOs general, special or roster consultative status.  Different privileges and obligations are accorded to each status.

The Committee was told that the Argentina Association of International Law, a national organization requesting general consultative status which was recommended for special consultative status, had not sent a reply to questions asked.  The Committee deferred action on its application pending the NGO’s response.

Regarding the application for roster status of Amitie Sans Frontieres Internationale, the representative of Algeria expressed doubts about the nature of the organization, as it was unique because it was in the nature of a service club but pursued activities of a humanitarian nature.  The representatives of Bolivia, China and Cuba shared her concerns and felt they were not in a position to recommend roster status.  Cuba’s representative questioned the organization’s address, which seemed to be a hotel and not a fixed address.  The representative of France compared the organization to the likes of a Rotary Club.  There was also a question of what contribution the organization could provide to the ECOSOC.  The Committee decided to ask for more information and deferred action on the application pending a response.

The Center for Policy Alternatives, a national organization in the United States devoted to community-based solutions that strengthen families and communities, had applied for special consultative status.  Algeria’s representative asked for a list of the organization’s members, as elected members

of government appeared to be involved in the organization.  The representative of China wondered about the phrasing of the organization’s reply to the Committee’s questions, where it said it would work “to identify, train, mentor and encourage state elected officials”.  He asked whether by state it meant the United States or other governments, and if the organization’s ambitions in identifying elected officials were not too ambitious.  Cuba’s representative had questions about the NGO’s finances.  As new questions had arisen, action was deferred pending response.

Regarding the Global Crop Protection Federation -- an international organization requesting special consultative status -- India’s representative asked whether the organization was an NGO.  He suggested recommending roster status.  The representative of Colombia, supporting the application, asked what sort of programme the organization had in Latin America.  Germany’s delegate had questions about contributions.  None of the speakers, however, had any objection to recommending the granting of roster consultative status and the Committee ultimately recommended that status be granted.

The Hague Appeal for Peace, which had requested special consultative status, had asked for deferment of consideration of its application.  After an exhaustive procedural debate, in which the representatives of China, Russian Federation, Sudan, United States, Algeria, Ethiopia and India participated, the Committee decided to tell the organization that it should submit a new application, and that consideration of its current application was closed.

Germany’s representative, supported by Cuba, remarked that special consultative status would be most appropriate for the international organization Triglav Circle.  The representative of China expressed no objection to either general or special status, and the Committee decided to recommend ECOSOC give it special consultative status.

The Committee then deferred action on the application of International Commission on Distance Education -- an international organization requesting special consultative status -- pending its response to questions raised by Algeria’s representative, who asked if the organization was, in fact, an NGO and whether its services were paid for.  Questions were also asked about the date of establishment of the organization and its address.

Regarding the application for general consultative status from the International Energy Foundation, the representative of the United States said he was not satisfied with the organization’s answers to financial questions, especially regarding its “deficit financing”, which he described as “deceptive”.  As the organization’s previous applications had been rejected in the past, he felt the current application should be considered with caution.  Other delegates, the representatives of Algeria and Sudan among them, felt that questions had been answered fully, and that the fact that an application was rejected previously should not prejudice the Committee.  In order to preserve consensus, the representative of Pakistan suggested asking the organization for further information.  The Committee then deferred action pending the organization’s answer to questions to be submitted by the representative of the United States.

The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. to continue its considerations.

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