Committee on NGOs

2001 Session

28^th Meeting (AM)

COMMITTEE ON NGOS RECOMMENDS CONSULTATIVE STATUS FOR TWO ORGANIZATIONS,

DEFERS APPLICATIONS FOR TWO OTHERS

This afternoon, the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) recommended special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council for WebForce International and Hong Kong Women Professionals and Entrepreneurs Association, and deferred the applications of two other organizations. 

Pending further clarifications, the applications of World Forum on the Future of Sport Shooting Activities and Association of American Railroads were deferred. 

The Association of American Railroads was requested by the representatives of Germany and Algeria to elaborate on its expected contribution to the work of the Economic and Social Council, as well as whether it had any subsidiary organizations.  India’s representative asked the NGO to clarify what amount each member organization paid in membership dues, considering that there were 44 member organizations and over $36 million collected in membership dues. 

Also, the representative of the United States noted that the NGO had salaries, benefits and payroll taxes amounting to over $8 million.  Was the organization paying employees, who were not members, or employees of member organizations? he asked.

Elaborating on the activities of WebForce International, its representative said that the organization was set up in 1995 and defended the rights of all citizens to access communications.  It had cooperated with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).  The NGO had a four-year contract with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to distribute UNDP’s work.  Its statute stated that its primary aim was to disseminate information about the United Nations.

Algeria’s representative requested clarifications on the addresses of the NGO, its registration in Switzerland, membership and working methods.

The representative replied that organizations were not registered in Switzerland unless they were commercial in nature.  His organization had made a voluntary declaration to the court by mail on the creation of the organization.  The NGO did have an address in Switzerland, as well as one in France.  It wanted to work with all agencies of the United Nations to reduce poverty in the world,

which included providing education and training.  Its main aims were to provide communications that were easily accessible for native populations as well as assistance to anyone who needed it.  The organization’s 281 members had been contributing to it from the outset at an average of $10,000 per person.

As the official documentation was not ready for WebForce International, the Committee’s decision to recommend status was ad referendum.

Following its discussion of World Forum on the Future of Sport Shooting Activities, which had been left pending from an earlier meeting, the Committee decided to defer the application as delegations requested further clarification on various aspects of the NGO.

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.

Statements were also made this afternoon by the representatives of China, Pakistan, Cuba, Sudan and France.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Friday, 25 May, to consider special reports.

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