Committee on NGOs

35^th Meeting (AM)

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS ONE NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION

FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL CONSULTATIVE STATUS

Defers Four Other Applications

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) this morning recommended International Communities for the Renewal of the Earth for special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, as it continued its resumed 2001 session of such advisory action. 

The Committee also decided to defer, this morning, recommendations for the applications of four other organizations.  All applications considered today had previously been deferred.

There are three levels of consultative status with the Council:  general, special and roster.  Each denotes different privileges and obligations within the United Nations system.  Organizations 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.  Organizations with general and special status must submit reports every four years on their activities in support of the United Nations.

Among those whose recommendations were again deferred this morning was United World Colleges, an international organization based in the United Kingdom that had requested general consultative status.  That deferral was based on a discussion initiated by the representative of China, who wished to know whether the organization was a group of schools, in which case it would fall outside the purview of consultative status with the Economic and Social Council.

Also deferred was consideration of a request for special status by the Association Mauritanienne pour le Bien Étre et le Secours de l’Enfant et de la Mère, pending further clarification of income from governmental sources.  Some delegations, however, notably those of Senegal and Algeria, voiced strong support for an immediate recommendation.  The Chairman commented that, when there was confusion over an organization, it must be cleared up.  Upon a subsequent reading of the organization’s explanation of its income, consensus gathered to decide on a positive recommendation as soon as possible, before the end of the session.

The request for general consultative status by the Comité International pour le Respect et l’Application de la Charte Africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des

Peuples (CIRAC), an international organization based in Switzerland and Togo, was also deferred.  Though confusion over the main address of the organization was clarified, other information, concerning dates of application and activities in Africa, was still not clear to many speakers.

Dominicans for Justice and Peace, an international organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, had its application for general consultative status deferred as well, due to questions raised by the representatives of India and Pakistan.

Further information about the individual NGOs whose applications were considered this afternoon can be found in document E/C.2/2001/CRP.5.

Also speaking at this morning’s meeting were representatives of Germany, Sudan, Cuba, Columbia, Turkey, Bolivia, Tunisia, Russian Federation, United States, Chile, Ethiopia, France and Romania.

The NGO Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. today to review deferred quadrennial reports submitted by NGOs in general and special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council.

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