NGO COMMITTEE ACTS ON DEFERRED APPLICATIONS FOR ECOSOC CONSULTATIVE STATUS, REQUESTS FOR RECLASSIFICATION AS RESUMED SESSION CONTINUES
| Press Release NGO/484 |
Committee on NGOs
29th & 30th Meetings (AM & PM)
NGO COMMITTEE ACTS ON DEFERRED APPLICATIONS FOR ECOSOC CONSULTATIVE STATUS,
REQUESTS FOR RECLASSIFICATION AS RESUMED SESSION CONTINUES
Continuing its resumed 2002 session, in two meetings today the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations took up previously deferred applications for consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, and new requests for reclassification from 16 non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Having received replies from several NGOs, action on which had been deferred from its 1998-2002 sessions, the Committee recommended granting special consultative status to Local Government International Bureau, Wales Assembly of Women, and Community of Sant’Egidio (all three organizations had requested general status); and roster status to Amitié sans frontières internationale, and the Foundation for Subjective Experiments and Research. Further, it recommended reclassifying the International Sociological Association and Third World Institute from roster to special consultative status.
Each status level involves various rights and obligations within the United Nations system. Organizations with general status can propose items for the agenda of the Economic and Social Council, attend meetings, and make and circulate statements of a certain length. Those with special consultative status can attend meetings and circulate statements of a certain length, and those on the roster can only attend meetings.
Third World Institute had requested reclassification from roster to general status. Instead, the representatives of Chile, Cameroon and Romania supported granting it special consultative status. While not objecting to reclassifying that NGO to general status, the representatives of Cuba and China said that they would go along with the Committee’s decision.
The Committee decided to maintain the special consultative status of the World Safety Organization, which had requested to be reclassified to the general category. Without prejudice to that NGO’s activities, the representatives of Turkey, Cuba, Sudan, China and Germany expressed doubts that it had broadened its scope enough to justify such a reclassification. On a proposal from Turkey and the United States, the Committee also decided not to reclassify European Asian-Latin American Institute for Cooperation (ICEAAL) from special consultative to general category.
Similar recommendations were made regarding the International Indian Treaty Council. While Germany and the United States supported reclassification of that organization, which promoted indigenous issues, the Sudan, Turkey and Zimbabwe
advocated a cautious approach to granting general status, seeking proof of an expanded scope of activities by the NGO. Responding to questions from the floor, a representative of the NGO provided clarifications regarding the goals and expenditures of her organization.
Action was left pending on requests from the International Council on Mining and Metals and Movement for a Better World, as members of the Committee sought additional information regarding criteria for reclassification, such as the NGOs’ range of activities, membership and mandate.
At the request from the Russian Federation, the Committee decided to further defer consideration of an application for general status by Relief International and Le Foyer musulman, Association internationale pour les droits de l’homme, as clarifications were needed to the responses received from those NGOs. Action on the Jubilee Campaign was left pending, as China had not received an answer to one of the questions it had asked.
Prior to taking action on the Community of Sant’Egidio, members of the Committee heard responses to their questions regarding that NGO’s application. In particular, the Community’s representative said that the organization would be happy to comply with China’s request that correct terminology be used regarding Hong Kong, SAR. Among its activities, he mentioned mediating services in Mozambique between the Government and the guerrilla movement Mozambique National Resistance Movement (RENAMO).
The Committee also engaged in a short dialogue with a representative of the Foundation for Subjective Experiments and Research, who responded to questions regarding the NGO’s activities, saying that the organization sought to promote communications among cultures, religions and individuals for the sake of peace and understanding. He also explained that the name of the organization should have been translated as Foundation for Subjective Experience and Research.
As the Committee took up a request for special status from Federation of IJAW Communities, questions were asked regarding the NGO’s budget and official name. The representative of Pakistan wondered if the Federation should be considered an international NGO simply because it was registered overseas. It was a single-agenda organization dealing with environmental degradation in the Niger Delta region. Should the Mission of Nigeria be consulted? Several speakers also noted certain discrepancies in the documentation presented to the Committee. Action on the request was deferred, pending receipt of the information requested.
Information on the NGOs considered today is contained in documents E/C.2/2002/R.2/Add.6-15, E/C.2/2002/R.3 and Add.1, and E/C.2/2002/CRP.5.
The Committee will continue its work at 10 a.m. Monday, 13 January.
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