Committee on NGOS

13^th & 14^th Meetings (AM & PM)

NGO COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS ONE ORGANIZATION FOR CONSULTATIVE STATUS

WITH ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL, DEFERS DECISION ON 14 OTHERS

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) today recommended one organization for special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and deferred decisions on the applications of 14 others.

The 19-member Committee makes recommendations on an organization’s standing or reclassification with ECOSOC using a variety of criteria, including applicant mandate, governance and financial regime.  Currently, 2,234 NGOs have such status.  Those with roster status can attend meetings; those with special status can attend meetings and circulate statements; and those with general status can attend meetings, circulate statements and propose items for the Council’s agenda.

The Committee recommended special status for International Corrections and Prisons Association for the Advancement of Professional Corrections, an international organization based in Canada.

Decisions on the following international organizations were deferred pending clarifications and answers to questions posed by Committee members:  Non-violence International; Japan Civil Liberties Union; Association of Expelled Persons; International Centre for Peace Studies; Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative; World Sindhi Institute; Focus on the Family; Heritage Foundation; Indian Social Institute;

The decision on the application of International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)–Europe Region was also deferred as the representative of Iran needed clarification on terms such as “sexual identity” and “abortion services”. Turkey’s representative, noting that the application had not been considered for two years, stressed that as a matter of principle, questions needed to be asked in a timely fashion.

A decision on the National Abortion Federation’s application was also deferred, as representatives from Iran, Colombia, United States and the Sudan asked questions about its international status, as well as its activities regarding anti-abortion laws, training, international activities, educational activities and possible support for second and third trimester abortions.

The Permanent Observer for the Holy See, in a general statement, objected to all forms of abortion as it contradicted the fundamental human right to human life.  The representative of France, however, stressed that moral, ethical and religious motives should not be part of the discussion.  The Committee should not have to decide between pro-life and pro-choice NGOs.  The only question was whether the NGO would work within the guidelines of the Cairo and Beijing outcomes.

The representative of China also wanted more clarification on answers provided by the International Crisis Group (ICG), noting that a substantial part of its finances for 2000 had been provided by the Foreign Ministry of the Chinese province of Taiwan, and that one of the members from its Board of Trustees came from that province.  A decision was, therefore, also deferred.

Cuba’s representative wanted more clarification on the ability of the American Conservative Union to contribute to the work of ECOSOC, as it was opposed to such multilateral instruments as disarmament treaties, a decision on that NGO’s application was also deferred.

Regarding the application for consultative status of The World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), an international NGO based in the United States, the representative of the United States wished to have further clarification on the NGO’s funding and links with organizations and affiliates outside the country, including Iraq, and about the place of its headquarters.  India’s representative wanted to know whether activities conducted during youth camps in Asia were religious-based.  Turkey sought further clarification about the NGOs affiliate in northern Iraq.

The NGO’s representative, addressing some of the questions, confirmed that its headquarters was based in the United States.  It received funding from individuals, NGOs and intergovernmental organizations.  The figures provided in the documentation were subject to change.  Activities in the camps in Asia were of an educative nature.  He stressed, however, that promoting Islamic values matched with the values of ECOSOC and the United Nations, including those of peacemaking, reconciliation and opposing violence as means of solving disputes.

In response, the representative of the United States said the answers regarding financing were still unsatisfactory.  He had just received a document from the NGO stating its headquarters was in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which caused further confusion.  The Committee, therefore, deferred action on the application.

Information about the organizations considered today can be found in document E/C.2/2003/CRP.1.  It is also available to the Committee in electronic form on laptop computers, as part of the “Paperless Committee” initiative being launched during this session of the Committee.  (See Press Release NGO/497 of 5 May.)

Current members of the NGO Committee are Cameroon, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Côte d’Ivoire, China, Pakistan, India, Iran, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Cuba, Russian Federation, Romania, Germany, France, United States and Turkey.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 15 May, to continue its consideration of applications for consultative status.

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