Committee on NGOs

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

NGO Committee Recommends Nine Organizations for consultative status

with Economic and Social Council

 

Closes Consideration of Four Applications, Postpones Consideration of 25

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations, in two meetings today, recommended 9 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, closed 4 applications and postponed a decision on some 25 more applications.

A standing committee of the Council, the 19-member body uses various criteria to recommend general, special or roster status with the Economic and Social Council, including the applicant’s mandate, governance and financial regime.  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, while NGOs with roster status can only attend meetings.

The Committee recommended that the Economic and Social Council grant special consultative status to:

-- AIDS Action, a national organization in the United States, dedicated to advocating for effective and sound HIV/AIDS policy and funding;

-- Vali-Asr Rehabilitation Institute, a national organization in Iran, dedicated to rehabilitation of disabled children and adults, especially those who suffer from neurological deficit or mental retardation;

-- UDISHA, a national organization based in India that would like to promote art and culture, development of education and employment, as well as health care;

-- Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities, an international organization with headquarters in the United States, working to uphold the human rights of, and to provide rehabilitation and legal services to the destitute people in Bangladesh;

-- Viet Nam Family Planning Association, a national organization in Viet Nam, wanting to enhance the health status for children and women in poor communities in mountainous and remote areas;

-- Tandem Project, an international organization with headquarters in the United States, promoting and sponsoring programmes that advocate the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief;

-- Association of Asian Confederation of Credit Unions, an international organization with headquarters in Thailand, which wants to promote and strengthen credit unions in Asia as instruments for community development;

-- Join Together Society Korea, an international organization based in the Republic of Korea, providing assistance for sustainable livelihood and sustainable development of people in the Republic of Korea and abroad;

-- Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti, a national Indian organization aiming to help people with disabilities, particularly those without resources.

As more time was needed for some delegates to study answers or more questions were asked, consideration was postponed of the applications of:

-- International Centre for Peace Studies, an international organization with headquarters in India, which focuses on the study of conflict situations and development of peacebuilding strategies;

-- American Conservative Union, a national organization in the United States, aiming to effectively communicate and advance the goals and principles of conservatism through one multi-use umbrella organization.  The representative of the United States, supported by Romania’s representative, noting the application stemmed from 2001, expressed the hope for a speedy and favourable conclusion, even though one might disagree with the opinions of the NGO.  Cuba’s representative said more time was needed as the Committee had had some doubts in the past and no conclusion had been reached;

-- Association El Houda pour l’action feminine, a national organization, headquartered in Morocco, promoting women’s cultural education;

-- Ambedkar Centre for Justice and Peace, an international organization with headquarters in the United States, focusing on the marginalized people of South Asian countries to advocate for their rights, as India’s representative had more questions;

-- Asian-Eurasian Human Rights Forum, an international organization with headquarters in India, wanting to help create a special climate of solidarity and responsibility, as Pakistan’s representative had more questions;

-- Society for the Promotion of Youth and Masses, an Indian organization aiming to enable people to maximize their potential, increase their abilities and enhance human dignity by providing quality services within available resources, because Pakistan’s representative wanted clarification about some contradictions in answers provided;

-- Stree Atyachar Virodhi Parishad, a national organization based in India, wanting to bring awareness to rural women and motivate them to fight against atrocities, inequality and social injustice, as Pakistan’s representative asked for specific projects the NGO had conducted on violence against women;

-- Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, a national organization that wants to create and stimulate an awareness among the public for the preservation of the cultural and natural heritage of India, because Pakistan’s representative wanted more clarification about Government influence in the NGO;

-- Social Alert, an international organization with headquarters in Belgium, aiming to defend and promote economic, social and cultural rights, as Cuba’s representative had more questions concerning the organization’s activities and relationships with individuals working for foreign Governments;

-- Sahara for Life Trust, an international organization with headquarters in Pakistan striving for the betterment and promotion of health and education in remote and underdeveloped areas, as India’s representative asked for correction of description of certain regions which were inconsistent with United Nations terminology;

-- Social Action Forum for Manav Adhikar, a national organization from India, striving to work for the protection and promotion of human rights enshrined in the Constitution of India, because Pakistan’s representative had concerns about the use of geographical names which were inconsistent with accepted United Nations terminology, and wanted more information about the organization’s activities regarding “untouchables”;

-- Center for Human Rights and Environment, a national organization in Argentina, promoting sustainable development through the promotion of the relationship existing between the environment and people;

-- Nonviolent Peaceforce, an international organization with headquarters in Belgium, aiming to implement proven non-violent peacekeeping techniques, as China’s representative needed one more day to speak to a representative of the organization;

-- International Bureau for Epilepsy, an international organization with headquarters in Ireland, which functions as an international umbrella organization for national groups that want to improve the social condition and quality of life of people affected by epilepsy, on the request of China’s representative who wanted to give contacts between his Government and the organization a further chance.  The representatives of the United Kingdom and the United States hoped for a speedy and positive conclusion as the organization was doing “fabulous and important” work;

-- Foundation for Research and Support of the Indigenous Peoples of Crimea, a national organization based in Ukraine, seeking to revive, defend and promote cultures, traditions and customs of the indigenous peoples of the Crimea, as the Secretariat would try, once again, to contact the organization in order to get responses to questions posed;

-- Global Ecolabelling Network, an international organization with headquarters in Canada, seeking to improve, promote and develop ecolabelling worldwide, including by facilitating access to information on ecolabelling standards around the world; as response to questions had not yet been received.

Regarding the application of World Sindhi Institute, an international organization with headquarters in the United States, aiming to elevate awareness of Sindh, Pakistan’s representative noted that the application had been on the agenda for some years.  The NGO had given assurances that it would no longer take any action contrary to the United Nations Charter, in particular contrary to the principle of territorial integrity regarding Pakistan.

The representative of Pakistan gave then some examples to the contrary, asking that the Committee recommend not to grant consultative status.  While the representatives of China and Egypt expressed support for the request, the representatives of the United States and the United Kingdom asked for more time to get instructions from their capitals.  The Committee then postponed consideration of the application, with the understanding that action would be taken during the current session.

Consideration was also postponed on the application of Credo-Action -- a national organization in Togo aiming, among other things, to promote health and to provide a genuinely favourable environment for social services -- in order to enable the NGO to reply in French to a questions regarding its independence from the Government, as its address was listed as the Ministry of Social Affairs.

Addressing the application of the Kashmiri American Council -- a national organization based in the United States, focusing on international education and the promotion of the principles of human rights and human dignity -- the representative of India had asked for some publications which he had not received.  Without those, discussion on the organization could not start.  The organization seemed to plead for self-determination in a region, as had another NGO considered this morning.  Such organizations could, maybe, contribute to the objectives of the Charter of the United Nations.

Pakistan’s representative rejected any analogy between the NGO and the World Sindhi Institute.  The latter advocated for the right of self-determination in a part of Pakistan that was indisputably part of the country.  Self–determination for the disputed area of Kashmir was a valid topic of discussion, as the area was disputed under United Nations resolutions.  Consideration of the issue was postponed.

Consideration was once again postponed of the application of the International Crisis Group -- an international organization with headquarters in the United States, with the mission to help Governments, international organizations and the world community at large prevent deadly conflict through high-quality advice and high-level advocacy.  China’s representative asked that the organization state that it would abide by standard United Nations practices and not challenge the principle of one China; not accept any contribution from Taiwan, Province of China; and in the future not accept any members from Taiwan, Province of China, in particular from authorities there.

Other delegates, such as the representative of Burundi, admitted that the organization sometimes published some tendentious reports, but nevertheless supported it.  The representative of the United States warned that the Committee should tread lightly where membership was concerned.  Cuba’s representative said that resolution 96/31 should be respected, which meant that NGOs with consultative status should respect the principles of the United Nations Charter and not undertake actions against the interests of one State.

Regarding the application of Ma Qualcuno Pensi ad Abele -- an international organization with headquarters in Italy, aiming to uphold the ethical principle or responsibility in the defence of human and civil rights -- Cuba’s representative, supported by the representative of the Sudan, noted contradictions in answers provided.  It was not clear whether the NGO was one of the organizers of a conference in Italy where the matter or Saharawi children in Cuba was discussed or not.  He also wanted to know who the officer in the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was who had given information about Saharawi children in Cuba.  Did the organization have any connection with an organization called “Cuban Democratic Directorate”?

A discussion on the matter ensued among the representative of the United States, who claimed that the organization had explained its presence at the conference; the representative of Romania, who warned against demanding the names sources of information; and Cuba’s representative, who demanded clarity from the organization.  China’s representative added that ECOSOC resolution 1996/31 gave Committee members the right to raise questions.

The observer of Venezuela wondered why the NGO focused on Venezuela, as his country had never been accused of human rights violations.  He asked whether there had been any accusations offered by victims of human rights abuses, and if there had been any contact with Venezuelan authorities to address those matters.  He also asked if the NGO had contacts with other human rights NGOs in Venezuela.

The observer of Algeria said the replies provided were not satisfactory and were ambiguous.  Had the NGO organized the conference in Rome or not?  She wanted to know more on the substantiation by Moroccan people and humanitarian agencies regarding the sending of children to Cuba, and pointed out that in the issue there were two parties, Morocco and Western Sahara.  The NGO should have used sources from both sides.

Consideration of the issue was postponed.

In an interactive dialogue, a representative of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) -- a national organization in the United States with headquarters in New York, that wants to share its expertise on environmental issues and collaborates with international partners to promote the global agenda of sustainable development -- said his NGO would fit in well with the Millennium Development Goals, particularly those on water and sustainable development.  The Fund had founded the International Arid Land consortium, consisting of six United States universities, Jordan and Egypt.  India wanted to join.  The United States Government had over the last 14 years provided $18 million for grants going to scientists in those countries.  Scientific efforts in desertification water problems had no boundaries.  The fund had done work in Haiti and Afghanistan, among numerous other countries, and also developed educational activities.

He stressed, in response to questions from Qatar, Cuba, Pakistan and Egypt, that his Fund had nothing to do with political activities.  It was true, that the original JNF, founded in 1901 in Austria, was a Zionist organization, but the American JNF had been founded in 1926 and had a different perspective.  Organizations affiliated with it were not politically active.  There was no direct funding in settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

After the dialogue, the Permanent Observer for Palestine said the JNF website raised concerns regarding activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.  The website claimed that the lands bought and redeemed by the JNF determined the borders of the State of Israel.  In that regard she asked whom the lands had been redeemed from and what were the borders of Israel.  The website also contained information on relief work in the Jerusalem corridor.  She asked whether the communities receiving relief work were illegal settlements in East Jerusalem and what the role was that Himnuta played in the JNF.

The observer of Syria said that according to the JNF website, the objective of the Fund was to be the right hand of the international Zionist organization in order to lay hands on fresh territories.  What were the frontiers of Israel?  Did the JNF recognize international law, or did it have ideological Zionist interpretations?  What was the legal status of the Golan Heights in the eyes of the JNF, and had it participated in colonial activities in the Golan Heights?

Consideration of the matter was postponed.

Also answering questions, a representative of the Asian Pacific Women’s Watch -- an international organization based in Thailand that monitors the implementation of the United Nations Beijing Platform of Action, the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the Millennium Development Goals and any international and regional convention, agreement or action for the advancement of women –- said her organization had worked with a Chinese NGO for many years, since the adoption of the Beijing Platform.  It had not organized any conferences in China over the last five years.  For financial reasons, most conferences and seminars had been organized in Thailand.  The NGO did work with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), but mostly with UNIFEM Thailand.

As she would provide detailed information in writing, consideration of the application was also postponed.

The Committee finally heard from a representative of the Coalition gaie et lesbienne du Québec -- a national organization in Canada, aiming to promote, represent and defend the rights of the homosexual community -- who was peppered with questions from the representatives of Colombia, Pakistan, Guinea, Egypt, Angola, Burundi and the United Kingdom.

In answer to concerns raised, he said his NGO clearly condemned paedophilia and invited organizations and people it worked with to denounce it as well.  It also helped the police to combat the phenomenon.  As for same sex marriage and civil unions, he said the Quebec Parliament had unanimously approved such unions so that same sex couples could enjoy the same rights as others.  Quebec law also did not discriminate regarding adoption by same sex couples.  Homosexual couples did have to go through a selection process to ensure that they met high standards.

He said that the Coalition was a member of the International Lesbian and Gay Association and had influenced that body’s policies, especially regarding paedophilia.  Consequently, the ILGA had gone through a lot of changes and needed support.  He was a member of the Board of North America for ILGA solely in his personal capacity.  The Coalition was working on Canadian territory within the framework of Canadian and Quebec law.

He said that, although his NGO was a national organization, it did have both international and national exchanges with other organizations.  It supported Amnesty International in certain cases if requested.  He was not sure if the Coalition contributed to Amnesty on an annual basis.

A decision on the application was likewise postponed.

The application of Mountain Women Development Organization, a national organization in Pakistan, working to eradicate gender discrimination against women in the northern areas, was deferred to May, as the organization wanted to re-submit its application.

Because there had been no answers to communications sent over a couple of years, the Committee decided to close the applications of Angel Foundation, Association pour la prosperité des famille mauritaniennes, and Religious Freedom Coalition.

Pending the outcome of efforts by the United States representative to contact NGOs, the Committee postponed a decision on the closing of the applications of Southern Organizing Cooperative.

The application of the Conflict Management Group was cancelled as the organization had informed the representative of the United States that it no longer needed accreditation.

The Committee members are Angola, Burundi, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, Egypt, Guinea, India, Israel, Pakistan, Peru, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, the Sudan, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States.

The Committee will meet again tomorrow, Thursday, 25 January, at 10 a.m. to consider quadrennial reports.

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For information media • not an official record