NGO COMMITTEE SEEKS FURTHER INFORMATION ON APPLICATIONS CONSIDERED THIS MORNING

Committee on NGOs

780^th Meeting (AM)

NGO COMMITTEE SEEKS FURTHER INFORMATION ON APPLICATIONS CONSIDERED THIS MORNING

The Committee on Non-governmental Organization this morning decided to keep applications from the Consumer World Organization and from Elizabeth Seton Federation for general consultative status pending and to defer the application of United Nations Watch.

The representative of Consumer World Organization, answering delegates’ questions, said the non-governmental organization aimed to promote a new world order which would arise from globalization.  It disseminated information internationally about United Nations guidelines for consumers, as well as about consumer safe products.  Consumers, he said, were not just people in need of defence, but people who should also be able to develop to their full potential, and who possessed human rights.  The organized consumer must be considered a “dynamic factor”.  The Committee decided to keep the application pending so delegates could gather more information.

The representative of the Elizabeth Seton Federation, which aims to strengthen the union of congregations of the Catholic order, Sisters of Charity, answered questions about the organization’s affiliations, its position on religion, its members in China and its publications.  The representative stated it was tolerant towards other religions and had non-Catholic members.  Its representatives in China were all working in Taiwan.  The Committee decided to keep the application open, pending written corrections to that application and submission of samples of the NGO’s publication.

A representative of United Nations Watch answered questions about the organization’s revenues and expenditures.  Committee members decided to submit further questions to it in writing, and to defer action on the application pending responses to those questions.

The representatives of India, Chile, Germany, China, Algeria, Bolivia, Cuba, Colombia, Sudan, United States and observer member Syria also spoke on applications and procedural matters.

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, and have different privileges and obligations according to their category.

The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. to continue its consideration of applications.

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