COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THREE NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR CONSULTATIVE STATUS WITH ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

Committee on NGOs

33^rd Meeting (AM)

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THREE NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

FOR CONSULTATIVE STATUS WITH ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

The Committee on Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) this morning began its consideration of applications for consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) that had been deferred from previous sessions, as it continued its resumed 2001 session.

The Committee decided to recommend special consultative status for three organizations:  the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children; the Argentina Association of International Law; and the Center for Policy Alternatives.

Amitie sans Frontieres Internationale was recommended for roster status, pending further information requested by representatives.  The Committee deferred consideration of the International Commission on Distance Education (CODE), after a debate in which the representatives of Germany, Sudan, India, Colombia, France and China took part.  Representatives expressed a need for clarification of the documents that had been provided to the Committee.

The 19-member Committee makes recommendations to ECOSOC on applications for standing with the Council, and for reclassification of that standing, from non-governmental organizations using a variety of criteria, including the applicant’s mandates, governance and financial regimes.  Non-governmental organizations with consultative status have either general, special or roster status, with different privileges and obligations accorded to each. 

Those with general status can propose items for the Council’s agenda, attend and speak at meetings and circulate statements of a certain length.  Those with special status can attend meetings and circulate statements of a certain length, while those on the roster can attend meetings.  Also, organizations with general and special status must submit reports every four years on their activities in support of the United Nations.

The Committee took its actions this morning after closing briefly to discuss procedural matters.  To expedite consideration of deferred applications, it decided to divide them into two groups.  The first group consists of organizations for which quick action is possible, and action commenced on those this morning. 

All applications for which more information is needed before a decision can be made are in the second group.  Consideration of those cases will begin tomorrow.

The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. today to continue its consideration of deferred applications.

* *** *