NGO COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS SPECIAL CONSULTATIVE STATUS FOR DOMINICANS FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE; ADOPTS REVISED QUESTIONNAIRE FOR APPLICANTS

Committee on NGOs

38^th Meeting (PM)

NGO COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS SPECIAL CONSULTATIVE STATUS FOR DOMINICANS

FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE; ADOPTS REVISED QUESTIONNAIRE FOR APPLICANTS

Dominicans for Justice and Peace, an international organization based in Switzerland, was recommended for special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council this afternoon by the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). 

As it continued its resumed 2001 session this afternoon, the Committee also took note of two quadrennial reports submitted by NGOs already in consultative status with the Council.  In addition, it adopted a revised questionnaire to be used by NGOs wishing to apply for consultative status.

The quadrennial reports taken note of were those of the International Federation of Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture and the World’s Woman’s Christian Temperance Union.  Both those reports are compiled in document E/C.2/2001/CRP.6.  Dominicans for Justice and Peace is described in document E/C.2/2001/CRP.5.

The 19-member NGO Committee makes recommendations to the Economic and Social Council on applications for consultative status with the Council, on reclassification of that status and on related matters.  Organizations with general and special consultative status can attend meetings of the Council and circulate statements of a certain length; those with general status can, in addition, speak at meetings and propose items for the Council’s agenda. Quadrennial reports on activities in support of the United Nations are required by all organizations with general and special consultative status.  Organizations with roster status can attend meetings but are not required to submit quadrennial reports.

In taking note of the quadrennial report of the International Federation of Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture, Senegal asked the identities of the African countries in which the group carried out its programmes, and why those countries had been targeted.  It being the allotted hour for NGO representatives to be heard, the representative of the organization was present.  In his reply, he listed the countries in question and said they had not been targeted; there were chapters in those countries which invited members to give seminars. 

A representative of the World’s Woman’s Temperance Union was also present to answer questions about her report.  Those questions concerned the activities of the group and what impact those had on the Council.  The Russian Federation asked about any activities of the organization in his country and wanted to know where the headquarters were.

The Temperance Union’s representative said it had helped to gain the vote for women in the United States; that was where the original headquarters was.  However, the headquarters was, she said, always located where the president lives, New Zealand at present.  Speaking of its triennial convention, she said children were a major concern, with the focus on alcohol, tobacco, drugs, landmines, arms and other factors harmful to the home.  The poor and homeless were also a concern.  She didn’t have information on hand about activities in Russia and the Committee took action on the report pending that information.

Before taking action on applications and reports this afternoon, the Committee considered the draft of a revised questionnaire for NGOs who apply for consultative status, as part of the review of its methods of work.

In that regard, the Chairman of the NGO Committee, Levent Bilman (Turkey), said that the Committee appreciated the work of NGOs and would like to facilitate the process for participation of qualified groups in the activity of the United Nations.  For that reason, an informal working group had been formed to revise the application questionnaire.  Its hard work had resulted in a concrete accomplishment, and he hoped the draft would be adopted.

The representative of Germany introduced the draft questionnaire, the coordination of which he facilitated along with the representative of India.  In total, fifteen Committee members participated in the six meetings of the working group.  NGOs in the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO) also contributed.  The streamlined questionnaire provided clearer questions for NGOs and gave the Committee fuller information about them, within the requirements of resolution 9631 under which the Committee operated.

In the discussion that ensued, most representatives expressed satisfaction with the collaborative atmosphere in which the questionnaire had been drafted and supported its adoption.  The representative of Senegal, noting the improved format, said it would be interesting to hear the views of other NGOs about the matter.  While also supporting the draft, the representatives of Cuba and Sudan, however, suggested several improvements.  After accommodating those suggestions, the questionnaire was adopted.

Also speaking on the various items this afternoon were the representatives of India, France, China, Pakistan, Chile, Romania and Turkey.

The NGO Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, 18 January, to begin its consideration of special reports by organizations having consultative status with the Economic and Social Council.

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