Committee on NGOs

2001 Session

24^th Meeting (PM)

NGO COMMITTEE CONTINUES CONSIDERATION OF NEW APPLICATIONS

FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL CONSULTATIVE STATUS

As the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) continued its consideration of new applications this afternoon, it recommended Trauma Foundation and Jaime Guzman Errazuriz Foundation for special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, and recommended roster status for We Care About Kids.

Responding to questions posed, the representative of We Care About Kids, an international organization working to alleviate hunger, stated that different individuals actively participated in the NGO on an ongoing basis.  Its membership was divided into a Board of Directors and a Finance Committee.  The NGO had seven paid employees, and at least 15 volunteers helped get the meals out on a daily basis.  There was no cost for the meals served in the United States or in Colombia.  During the school year, the NGO delivered 24,000 meals a month in Houston.  In the summer, that number increased to 40,000 a month.  In Colombia, the NGO was currently only able to feed about 500 children.

Asked how the NGO determined those it served, she replied that the organization had been targeting low-income communities for 18 years.  In Houston, the NGO delivered meals to the homes of needy children, while in Colombia it had feeding centres where children came to receive food.  

Regarding the Trauma Foundation, a national organization committed to reducing fatal and non-fatal injuries through prevention, improved trauma care and improved rehabilitation, Algeria’s representative requested clarification on what the NGO meant by stating that it was not a membership organization.  The representative of the NGO replied that it was technically not a membership organization.  The NGO had a staff of 25 people, who provided technical expertise to other membership organizations.

Responding to additional questions from Pakistan and Ethiopia, he said that the NGO’s Web site contained a search tool to navigate its firearms database.  It was essentially meant to be a tool for academics and others looking for information.  Also, while the NGO itself did not go into schools, it did work closely with community-based organizations, which provided education to young people.  It was only just becoming involved with groups outside the United States in the field of small arms, and had not yet collaborated with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) but hoped to in the future.

The representative of Chile noted that the Jaime Guzman Errazuriz Foundation, a private non-profit organization based in Chile, had developed

several projects in addition to those mentioned in its application.  Its scope of activities included working with the disabled, providing scholarships and working in low-income areas, among many others.  The NGO had the full support of her Government.

[As the documentation for the Jaime Guzman Errazuriz Foundation was not ready, the Committee’s decision to recommend special status was ad referendum.] 

Also this afternoon, the Committee took note of the quadrennial reports of the American Jewish Committee, Centro Nazionale di Prevenzione e Difensa Sociale, Felix Varela Centre, Global Education Associates, International Association for Impact Assessment, International Road Transport Union, International Save the Children Alliance, and World Resources Institute.  The reports, covering the period 1997-2000, were contained in document E/C.2/2001/2/Add.19.

With regard to the report of World Evangelical Fellowship, the representative of China wanted to know how the NGO was involved specifically with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.  The Sudan’s representative pointed out that one of the activities of the NGO was evangelism.  While there were several organizations involved in religious activities which enjoyed consultative status, it was an issue that should be examined within the Committee.  She also wanted concrete examples of how the NGO spearheaded development activities, particularly in Africa. 

India’s representative noted that some NGOs, once they received status, focused only on attending and organizing meetings and delivering statements.  The Committee should examine whether or not organizations had gained some grass-roots experience and had made a real contribution to the work of the Economic and Social Council.

The representative of China also requested a copy of a publication on Tibet, which was mentioned in the report of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

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 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.  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.

Questions were posed and expressions of support were also made by the representatives of the Russian Federation, Colombia, Cuba, Tunisia, Germany, United States, France, Turkey and Romania.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 23 May, to continue considering new applications for consultative status.

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