Committee on NGOs

37^th & 38^th Meetings (AM & PM)

NGO COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS NINE ORGANIZATIONS FOR CONSULTATIVE STATUS

WITH ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) today recommended granting special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSCOC) tothe Coordinating Body for the Indigenous Organizations in the Amazon Basin, Human Relief Foundation, International Islamic Committee for Woman and Child, New Seminary, Pathfinder International and Focus on the Family (Canada) Association.  Roster status was recommended for the American Family Association of New York, Spanish Association of Jurist Women and Italy-based Globus et Locus.

The Committee deferred action on the Ambedkar Centre for Justice and Peace and Focus on the Family requesting more detailed information from those organizations.  Also left pending was action on a request for reclassification from roster to special consultative status by the International Association of Charities.

In other action today, the Committee took note of seven quadrennial reports from NGOs holding special status with ECOSOC.  Six such reports were deferred, pending clarifications.

Quadrennial reports on activities in support of the United Nations are required from all organizations with general and special consultative status to the Council.  Those organizations have the right to 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.  NGOs placed on the roster can only attend meetings.

In taking note of a report, the Committee agrees that the organization meets reporting requirements established by ECOSOC.  All reports considered today had been deferred from previous sessions of the Committee.

Having received satisfactory replies to its previous queries, the Committee took note of the reports by Pax Christi International (special status since 1979), International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists (special status granted in 1995), Simon Wiesenthal Center (special status since 1995), Equality Now (special status since 1997), Qatar Charitable Society (special status since 1997), Muslim World League (special status since 1979) and International Commission of Jurists (special status since 1957)

Action was deferred onthe International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (special status since 1996), World Society of Victimology (special status

since 1982), World Safety Organization (special status since 1987), International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (special status granted in 1952) and World

Evangelical Alliance (formerly World Evangelical Fellowship --special status since 1997).

The Committee decided to consider a regular reportfrom France Libertes: Fondation Danielle Mitterrand (special status since 1991), after taking up a special supplementary report on the issue of Tibet, which had been requested by China.

As the Committee took up the Muslim World League, the organization’s representative responded to several questions regarding its proclaimed goal of “disseminating Islamic Dawah and expounding the teaching of Islam”.  He said that calling for peace and justice, the principles and the Charter of the United Nations were in consonance with the objectives and activities of his NGO.  In essence, religions guided humanity.  Islam did not interfere with other religions.  Asked if his organization was engaged in proselytizing, he said that the League did not force anybody to convert to Islam.  A person would convert if he found a calling within himself.  Everybody was guided by God. 

While not entirely satisfied with those answers, the representative of Germany said that, as long as efforts to disseminate the faith and activities in support of the United Nations were kept separate, he was prepared to support taking note of the report.

In a debate on the United States-based Focus on the Family, the representative of Germany, supported by Turkey, said that while the organization held strong opinions on sexual and reproductive health services, members of the Committee did not have to agree with it to grant it status.  The Committee however, had to look at the criteria for granting consultative status to NGOs.  He was concerned that in its publications the applicant was extremely critical of the work of the United Nations, and in particular the Convention on the Rights of the Child.  Still, organizations critical of the United Nations needed to come in closer contact with the Organization.  The whole spectrum of opinions should be reflected in the choice of NGOs granted status with ECOSOC. 

China’s representative said that, pending clarifications, she could not yet make a decision on the NGO in question.  Any NGO requesting status must strictly abide by ECOSOC criteria and respect the Charter.

Responding to questions, a representative of the Focus on the Family said that, as far as the rights of children were concerned, parents held the highest authority within the family.  That did not excuse abuse or exploitation of children.  At the same time, his organization had the highest regard for the Convention on the Rights of the Child. 

About the NGO’s approach to China’s family-planning and adoption policies, he said that the issue was outside of its domain.  His organization did not have any opposition to the use of contraceptives as a family planning tool.  The sanctity of life was important to it, however.

Information regarding the organizations before the Committee is contained in documents E/C/2/2002/R.2 Add.1-15, E/C.2/2002/CRP.6, E/C.2/2002/CRP.3 and E/C.2/2002/CRP.5.

The Committee will continue its work at 10 a.m. Friday, 17 January.

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