Committee on NGOs

781^st Meeting (PM)

COMMITTEE ON NGOS LOOKS AT APPLICATIONS FROM ‘GREY AREA’ ORGANIZATIONS

The Committee on Non-governmental Organizations met this afternoon to take up consideration from applications from organizations whose defining characteristics did not strictly conform with the provision of the Economic and Social Council resolution which established consultative status for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) (called ‘Grey Area’ applications).

The Committee recommended roster consultative status for the European Fertilizer Manufacturers Association; it recommended no consultative status be granted to the International Group of P and I Clubs, and it removed the applications from E-Quality, formerly known as Women’s Exchange Programme International, and of the International Federation of Inspection Agencies, from the grey area and decided to treat them as deferred applications.

The 19-member Committee on Non-governmental Organizations 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 International Group of P and I Clubs, an international organization applying for special consultative status, the representative of India said that as far as he was concerned the organization was a club whose members had vast experience in the insurance industry and not an NGO; he therefore suggested closing the file.  He was supported by Germany and Algeria.  The Chair, Levent Bilman (Turkey), however, suggested that rather than close the file, the Committee should take action either by recommending or not recommending the granting of consultative status.  The Committee decided to recommend no consultative status for the organization.

During discussion of the application from the European Fertilizer Manufacturers Association for special consultative status, the representative of Chile said that this was an organization which he felt the United Nations should dialogue with in order to improve the impact of fertilizer products on people’s lives.  The representative of India said he welcomed the technical expertise that such an organization could provide to ECOSOC, while the representative of Sudan suggested asking the organization to apply to the Food and Agriculture Organization for accreditation.  The Committee recommended roster consultative status for the NGO.

Turning to the application for roster consultative status from E-Quality, formerly known as the Women’s Exchange Programme International, the representative of the observer member of the Netherlands told the Committee that although the

Government provided funds for the NGO, it did not set its agenda.  He also informed them that the NGO was producing a “shadow report” for the Commission on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, which the Government appreciated, though it did not agree with every point made in the report.  The Committee decided to remove the application from the grey area, treat it as a deferred application and ask the organization to update all its information and respond to additional questions posed by representatives.

The representatives of United States, Ethiopia, Russian Federation, China and Bolivia also spoke on applications.

The Committee will meet again tomorrow, 24 January, at 10 a.m. to consider applications.

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