NGO COMMITTEE, CONTINUING EXAMINATION OF QUADRENNIAL REPORTS, DEFERS CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS FROM FOUR BODIES

Committee on NGOs

2001 Session

12^th Meeting (PM)

NGO COMMITTEE, CONTINUING EXAMINATION OF QUADRENNIAL REPORTS,

DEFERS CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS FROM FOUR BODIES

This afternoon, the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) deferred consideration of quadrennial reports submitted by four organizations having general or special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council.

Pending further information and clarifications, the Committee decided to defer the reports of:  Robert F. Kennedy Memorial; Society for Threatened Peoples; Women’s International Zionist Organization; and Christian Democratic International.

In addition, consideration of the quadrennial report of the World Muslim Congress was left pending to allow for the distribution of documentation.

Noting that the written responses of the Society for Threatened Peoples with regard to questions posed on Chechnya were “barely comprehensible”, the representative of the Russian Federation requested clear, concrete and comprehensive replies from the organization.  Likewise, the representative of China also pointed out that responses given to his delegation’s queries were not satisfactory.

Asked about the scope of its activities, the representative of the Women’s International Zionist Organization stated that the NGO, which was active in 52 countries, established itself in all countries where there were Jewish communities and then opened its services to everyone in need.  The “Zionist” in the name of the organization represented the traditions, culture, 5,000 years of history and national liberation of the Jewish people.

On its activities in the Palestinian occupied territories, she said the NGO had opened centres for women and children in the territories.  However, since the renewed intifada, it had to withdraw from those centres due to increasing dangers.  As to how the NGO viewed the rights of Palestinian women and children under occupation, she said that nothing would make it happier than to see an end to the violation of the human rights of women and children wherever they occurred.

Following the NGO’s remarks, a discussion ensued on the legitimacy of certain types of questions being put to organizations by members of the Committee.  Germany’s representative was disturbed that during the Committee’s consideration of quadrennial reports, questions not directly relating to those reports were

being asked of organizations.  He requested that the Committee be more disciplined in carrying out its work.  Lebanon’s representative stated that there were no guidelines in Council resolution 1996/31 as to what questions should or should not be asked.

With regard to the quadrennial report of Christian Democratic International, an organization made up of political parties and organizations, Cuba’s representative said that the NGO had been meddling in the internal affairs of her country and legitimizing the activities of foreign groups in Cuba which were financed from abroad.  She requested more details on the NGO’s activities in Cuba, as well as what criteria it used to determine whether a country was democratic or not.  Also, how could an NGO composed of political parties guarantee that all its activities were not politically motivated?

Chile’s representative noted the good work the NGO had done in Nicaragua and Guatemala in the consolidation of democracy.  As to its work in Cuba, he pointed out that the NGO had stated in its report that it promoted the lifting of the economic embargo imposed on that country.  In addition, Germany’s representative drew attention to the fact that some of the NGO’s members had been received by high officials of the Cuban Government.

The Committee, a standing body of the Economic and Social Council, considers applications submitted by NGOs for consultative status and their requests for reclassification; considers quadrennial reports submitted by those organizations; implements the provisions of Council resolutions 1996/31 and the monitoring of consultative relationships; and considers other issues as requested by the Council.  Non-governmental, non-profit voluntary organizations can be admitted into consultative status with the Council if they meet the requirements detailed in Council resolution 1996/31, regarding matters which include the organization’s activities, decision-making processes and resources.

Non-governmental organizations with consultative status are classified under the "general", "special" or "roster" categories.  Organizations with general and special status must report every four years on their activities in support of the United Nations, specifically regarding their support to the work of the Organization.  During the current session, the Committee had 200 new and 30 deferred or pending quadrennial reports for its consideration.  By "taking note", the Committee did not mean to endorse a report's contents.

Statements were also made this afternoon by the representatives of Algeria, India, France, Sudan, United States, Pakistan and Bolivia. 

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Tuesday 15 May to continue its consideration of quadrennial reports.

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