Committee on NGOs

2001 Session

21^st Meeting (AM)

COMMITTEE ON NGOS RECOMMENDS EIGHT ORGANIZATIONS FOR CONSULTATIVE STATUS

WITH ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL, DEFERS FIVE APPLICATIONS

The Committee on Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) this morning recommended eight organizations for consultative status with the Economic and Social Council and deferred the applications of five others, as it took up new applications.

Special consultative status was recommended for Association Culturelle d’Aide a la Promotion Educative et Sociale, Forum for Human Dignity, Global Environmental Action, International Association of Prosecutors, International Council for Caring Communities, Algerian Muslim Scouts and Fondation pour la promotion de la sante et le developpement de la recherche.

Also, the Committee recommended roster status for Union Internationale des Journalistes et de la Presse de Langue Francaise (International Union of French-Language Journalists and Press).

The applications of Hong Kong Women Professionals and Entrepreneurs Association, International Possibilities Unlimited, Rainforest Foundation, Confederation of European Forest Owners and Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya were deferred, pending further clarifications.

A number of questions were posed to the International Council for Caring Communities on the nature of its membership, finances and relations with affiliate organizations.  The representative of the NGO replied that over the last seven years, the organization had developed partnerships with several organizations and universities.  In conjunction with universities, it had conducted several international architectural competitions, some of which had been displayed at United Nations Headquarters during the Commission on Social Development. 

Many of its supporters did not give cash, which resulted in the large amount of “in-kind” donations, she added.  Many companies provided materials and facilities.  The fact that the NGO’s expenses amounted to less than half of its income could be attributed to the fact that some expenses related to contracts might have been overlooked. 

Questions about membership were also posed to International Possibilities Unlimited, an organization based in Washington, D.C., aiming to increase and expand the scope of human rights protection and to increase the momentum around

the elimination of racism, with emphasis on anti-black racism.  In addition, India’s representative wondered how it carried out all the activities that it did, especially country reporting, with only seven staff.  Also, why did an NGO with such a global scope spend so little -- $3,375 -- on travel expenses?

Regarding the application of the Rainforest Foundation, the representative of the United Kingdom, in his capacity as observer, informed the Committee that the NGO had not received the fax sent to it, which was why it had not yet responded to questions originally put to it.  Additional questions were posed by the Committee on the organization’s projects, finances and areas of concentration.

The 19-member Committee considers, among other things, applications submitted by NGOs for consultative status and their requests for reclassification.  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 such as the organization’s activities, decision-making processes and resources.

Non-governmental organizations 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.  Non-governmental organizations 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.

Statements were also made this morning by the representatives of Russian Federation, Germany, China, United States, Algeria, Cuba, Pakistan, France, Sudan, Turkey and Ethiopia.

The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. today to continue consideration of new applications for consultative status.

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