Committee on NGOs

5^th and 6^th Meetings (AM & PM)

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS 18 NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

FOR CONSULTATIVE STATUS WITH ECOSOC

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations recommended 18 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for consultative status to the Economic and Social Council, including several based in developing African nations, and left pending five more, during two meetings today to consider previously deferred applications.

As it continued its 2002 session, the Committee recommended 14 NGOs for special status, four for roster status, with five applications still pending.

The 19-member body uses a variety of criteria to recommend general, special and roster status to the Council, including mandates, governance and financing.  Organizations that have 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.  Organizations with roster status can only attend meetings.

Following a debate over whether to grant "general" or "special" status to the Libya-based World Organization for Education, Science and Development, the Committee granted it special status ad referendum, meaning that the decision would be revisited during the current session pending further clarification.  The NGO, formerly known as the World Permanent Organization for Jamahiriyan Youth, is an international organization with nearly 500 individuals serving 37 countries.

Also recommended for special consultative status today were the International Federation of Inspection Agencies, based in the United Kingdom; Africa for Christ International, of Uganda (ad referendum); Korea International Volunteer Organization, based in the Republic of Korea; Association Mauritanienne pour le Bien-Être et le Secours de l'Enfant et de la Mère, a national organization in Mauritania; Centre Féminin pour la Promotion du Développement, a national organization based in Cameroon; and the Swedish Organisation of Disabled Persons International Aid Association.

Also, A Woman's Voice International, of the United States; Africa Infrastructure Foundation, an international organization of Nigeria; Antioch Christian Centre, an international organization based in the United Kingdom; International Possibilities Unlimited, of the United States; Rainforest Foundation, a national organization of the United Kingdom; and the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya, a national organization.

Following clarification by a representative of the American Society of Safety Engineers, an international NGO based in the United States with the expressed aim of protecting people, property and the environment, the Committee granted it special status.

Recommended for roster status were Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights, a national organization of Kyrgyzstan; Motorcycle Riders Foundation, a national organization, based in the United States; European Association of Automotive Suppliers; and Confederation of European Forest Owners.

The following applications are pending:  the Local Government International Bureau, a national organization of the United Kingdom; Alliance Musulmane d'Angola, also a national NGO; Comité International pour le Respect et l’Application de la Charte Africaine des Droits de l’Homme, of Togo; Non-Violence International, an international NGO based in the United States; and Felege Guihon International, of Switzerland.

Information on the organizations considered today can be found in document E/C.2/2002/CRP.1.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. Thursday, 16 May, to continue its consideration of applications.

* *** *