Committee on NGOs

2001 Session

5^th Meeting (AM)

COMMITTEE ON NGOS GRANTS CONSULTATIVE STATUS WITH ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

TO ONE ORGANIZATION, DEFERS THREE APPLICATIONS

The Committee on Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) this morning granted consultative status with the Economic and Social Council to one organization and deferred five NGO’s applications for such status to a future date, as it considered applications deferred from former sessions.

The Committee granted special consultative status to the European Institute. It deferred the applications of the American Motorcyclist Organization, the International Society of Doctors for the Environment, Human Rights Information and Documentation Systems International, European Association of Automotive Suppliers, and United Nations Watch pending answers to Committee members’ questions.

NGOs with consultative status are classified under the "general", "special" or "roster" categories.  Those in the general category must be "concerned with most of the activities of the Economic and Social Council and its subsidiary bodies".  The special category concerns those "which have a special competence in, and are concerned specifically with, only a few of the fields of activity covered by the Council".  The roster category relates to NGOs which "can make occasional and useful contributions to the work of the Council or its subsidiary bodies". 

Different privileges and obligations are accorded to each category.  NGOs with general status can propose items for the Council agenda, attend and speak at meetings and circulate statements.  Those with special status can attend meetings and circulate statements, while those on the roster can only attend meetings.  Organizations with general and special status must report every four years on their activities in support of the United Nations.

The European Institute, an international organization serving the international community through an array of innovative programmes based on the transatlantic relationship, had sought general consultative status, and was granted special status.

The American Motorcyclist Organization (AMA), a national organization seeking special consultative status, pursues, promotes and protects the interests of motorcyclists while serving the needs of its members.  Committee members expressed doubts about the contribution the NGO could make to the ECOSOC.  The representative of the United States, however, said the organization could contribute to the “economical” part of ECOSOC with technical expertise.  Moreover,

2001 Session                                          May 2001

5^th Meeting (AM)

similar organizations in the field already enjoyed consultative status.  He thought roster consultative status was more appropriate.  As there were also questions about the organization’s finances, the application was deferred.

The International Society of Doctors for the Environment (ISDE), an international umbrella organization based in Switzerland, aims to disseminate reliable information about pollution in order to protect health and the continuity of life on the planet.  The representative of Algeria raised the lack of NGO registration in Switzerland.  Pending information regarding that matter from Swiss authorities, the application was deferred.

Human Rights Information and Documentation Systems, International (HURIDOCS), an international organization also based in Switzerland but registered in Norway, aims to promote and protect human rights through improvement of monitoring and through the wider dissemination of information.  After the Committee that the organization had been founded two years prior to its application, as required by General Assembly resolution 1996/31, it deferred the application as it was not satisfied with the organization’s answers to questions asked and sought more clarification.

The European Association of Automotive Suppliers, an international organization seeking roster status, represents, promotes and defends the interests of automobile parts and components manufacturers vis-à-vis national and international legislative authorities.  Some Committee members had concerns about the nature of the organization -- it seemed to be more an employer organization than an NGO -- they asked for more clarification on the issue.

The Committee also deferred the application for special consultative status of the United Nations Watch, a Swiss-based international organization with the aim to promote the balanced, fair and non-discriminatory application of the United Nations Charter and to encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.  Some members were not satisfied with the provided answers regarding the organization’s view of rationalization of United Nations bodies, its participation in and monitoring of United Nations meetings, its income and its termination of the relationship with the Jewish World Congress.

The Committee’s membership consists of 19 countries: Algeria, Bolivia, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Ethiopia, France, Germany, India, Lebanon, Pakistan, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Sudan, Tunisia, Turkey and the United States. 

Other speakers this morning were the representatives of France, China, Ethiopia, Cuba, Germany, Chile, Russian Federation, India, Pakistan, Senegal and Sudan.

The Committee on NGOs will meet again at 3 p.m. today to continue consideration of applications for consultative status and requests for re-classification deferred from the previous sessions of the Committee.

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