Committee on NGOs

775^th Meeting (PM)

NGO COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS ECOSOC CONSULTATIVE STATUS

FOR 18 ORGANIZATIONS

The Committee on Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) this afternoon began consideration of new applications from organizations requesting consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), during its 2000 resumed session.

The Committee decided to recommend special consultative status for 17 organizations and roster consultative status for one. It also deferred three applications, pending answers to questions from delegates.

The 19-member Committee makes recommendations on applications from NGOs for standing with ECOSOC, and on requests for reclassification of that standing. NGOs may be granted either general, special or roster consultative status, according to their work, with different privileges and obligations according to the different categories.

Regarding the application from the Comite Algerien des Droits de l’homme et des Peuples requesting general consultative status, the Committee decided to recommend special consultative status to the NGO by consensus. It also recommended granting special consultative status to Côte d’Ivoire – Ecologie and to the Mexican Foundation for Family Planning, though the later had requested general consultative status.

Empowering Widows in Development, an international NGO which aims to educate and inform the international community on the discrimination and violence experienced by third world widows and their children, was also granted special consultative status.

The Netherlands Association of Women’s Interests, Women’s Work and Equal Citizenship, a national organization that works to promote equal participation of women and men in the decision-making processes at all levels and all fields, was granted special consultative status. In recommending roster consultative status for SOS Women, the representative of Sudan said that the NGO was doing good work, particularly in Cameroon, and that her delegation would be happy to support its application. The representative of Pakistan supported Sudan’s position.

Association Jeunesse Culture Loisirs Technique, and Association Tunisienne du Planning Familial were both granted special consultative status. The representative of Sudan had earlier asked for an explanation on the meaning of “department” with regard to funding for Association Jeunesse, and that was offered by the representative of France.

The Centre for Development Studies and Action, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and DIYA (The All-Ukrainian Women’s People’s Democratic Association) were also granted special consultative status without discussion, as was the League of Kenya Women’s Voters.

In considering the application for special consultative status from the United Nations Association of Mauritius, the representative of Tunisia asked that general status be recommended, as had been done before for other similar bodies. The representative of Pakistan, however, said that since the organization was seeking special consultative status, that was what the Committee should recommend. The Committee recommended special consultative status after a short debate, during which Sudan also spoke.

Association Sante et Environment, Association Libannaise pour l’Action Populaire and the Korea Women’s Association United were also granted special consultative status.

Regarding the application for special consultative status from the Mountain Women Development Organization, the Chairman, Levent Bilman (Turkey) reminded Committee members that questions had been posed in connection with the composition of its membership and address. The representative of Pakistan pointed out that if the Committee made a habit of asking about the composition of the membership of NGOs, then that would surely cause problems in the future. The representative of India said while he had no problems with the application itself, he was still concerned about the address of the organization. He requested the application be recast according to United Nations nomenclature. The representative of Pakistan supported that and a decision was deferred pending the information. The Committee also deferred a decision on the application from the Civil Society Family Welfare in Brazil, following a request from the Brazilian Mission.

The Committee recommended special consultative status for Zhinocha Hromada, an international women’s organization based in the Ukraine.

A procedural debate followed in which the representatives of the United States, Germany, Pakistan and the Russian Federation participated.  The Committee then decided to take up the application of the International Telecommunication Academy.

The representative of the United States stipulated that a decision taken on the application would be ad referendum, since he had not received instructions from his Government. The Committee decided to recommend special consultative status.

Concerning the application for general consultative status from the Institute for Security Studies, the representative of Pakistan, making a general statement, said in the past that some applications had been rejected because members felt they had political dimensions. The issue of human security, referred to in the organization’s application, had such dimensions. He asked, therefore, if from now on those issues could be dealt with in the Committee.

In addressing Committee members’ concerns and questions, the representative of the Institute for Security Studies said that her organization had expanded considerably since their application was first submitted. She said they supported

the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and had undertaken studies linking drugs with international crime. They had also worked extensively with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on child soldiers in Africa by investigating the realities associated with being a child soldier, especially girl soldiers. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) was also a partner in that programme. She said the organization’s biggest contribution was providing independent, indigenous, objective research. The Institute did not provide recommendations and had never made political statements.

The representatives of Pakistan, India, Sudan, Chile, Algeria, Germany, China, Bolivia, France and the observer member Japan also spoke during the debate. A decision was deferred.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. Friday, 19 January.

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