DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION ADMITS 17 NON-GOVERNMENTAL

ORGANIZATIONS TO ROSTER, DISASSOCIATES 1

 

The United Nations Department of Public Information’s Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations held the second of its biannual meetings on 11 and 19 December.  Seventeen new non-governmental organizations were admitted to its roster, bringing the number of those that work with the Department in the area of communications and information outreach to 1,650.

The Department, together with the Economic and Social Council, is a key focal point in the United Nations Secretariat for non-governmental organizations wishing to work with the Organization.

Eric Falt, the new Outreach Division Director and Chair of the NGO association review committee, explained that the Department’s NGO Section can spread the work of the United Nations in very significant ways.  Therefore, it is imperative for the Section to be proactive in search of new non-governmental organizations willing and able to work with the United Nations.  The association of new organizations is a critical part of this effort.

As noted by the Committee, the newly associated non-governmental organizations represented five regions of the world: Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, North America and Western Europe.  All of them conform to the principles of the United Nations Charter and fulfil the Department of Public Information criteria of association.  In addition, they operate solely on a not-for-profit basis and are involved in United Nations areas of interest.  Some of these include education, HIV/AIDS, the environment, landmines and human rights.

Of the admitted non-governmental organizations, 6 are from developing countries and 11 are located in developed countries.  Following are the newly associated non-governmental organizations, listed alphabetically and by region:

Africa:  Centre d’étude et de recherché pour l’intégration régionale et le développement de l’Afrique ( Guinea); Helpage Kenya ( Kenya).

Latin America:  Fundación Argentina a las Naciones Camino a la Verdad (Argentina); Fundación Rioplatense (Argentina); Red Venezolana de Organizaciones para el Desarrollo Social (Venezuela).

Middle East:  The Muhanna Foundation ( Lebanon).

North America:  George Mason University (United States); Girls Learn International (United States); Harvard International Relations Council (United States); International Federation of Family Associations of Missing Persons from Armed Conflicts (IFFAMPAC) (United States); Hejrat Foundation (United States); Kosmos Associates Inc. (United States); Mercy University (United States); Quaker Earthcare Witness (United States); Ramapo College of New Jersey (United States); Roots of Peace (United States).

Western Europe:  Instituto de Estudos Para o Desenvolvimento ( Portugal).

Among the associated non-governmental organizations, two also have consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council: Centre d’étude et de recherché pour l’intégration régionale et le développement de l’Afrique ( Guinea); International Federation of Family Associations of Missing Persons from Armed Conflicts (IFFAMPAC) ( United States).

In keeping with the Department of Public Information’s policy to ensure that its active roster of affiliated non-governmental organizations maintain the level of interest and support that initially justified their acceptance, the following non-governmental organization was disassociated due to their failure to meet the criteria for ongoing association: International Association for Suicide Prevention (France).

For further information, please contact the DPI/NGO Section at tel.: +1 212 963 6842, e-mail: dpingo@un.org.  The Directory of non-governmental organizations associated with the Department of Public Information is also available on the DPI/NGO website: www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/index.asp.

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For information media • not an official record