Committee on NGOs

7^th & 8^th Meetings (AM & PM)

TWO APPLICATIONS WITHDRAWN AS COMMITTEE ON NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

POSTPONES DECISIONS ON 14, RECOMMENDS CONSULTATIVE STATUS FOR 9 GROUPS

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) continued its work today, recommending nine entities for special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, postponing decisions on 14 others and seeing two deferred applications withdrawn.

Alongside the withdrawal of applications from the International Crisis Group -– which is based in the United States as a legal entity but with its international headquarters in Brussels -- and the South Africa-based Centre for Conflict Resolution, the Committee decided to close, without prejudice, the application of Association Sahel solidarité action.  That Niger-based national organization promotes the human rights of that country’s indigenous Touareg population.  The decision allowed the group to reapply for consultative status within a year, whereas a rejection of its application would have required it to wait three years and provide information about the rejection.

The representative of Egypt proposed closure, partly on grounds that the Permanent Mission of Niger to the United Nations had communicated in a 23 January note verbale that the organization had not obtained the proper regulatory status in its home country, making its operations illegal.  Further, the goals outlined in the organization’s application differed from those stated at its first registration.  Egypt had proposed closure in consideration of that, and in light of the requirements of Economic and Social Council’s resolution 96/31.

However, the representative of Romania pointed out that non-compliance with criteria outlined in resolution 96/31 constituted grounds for rejecting an application rather than closing it.  Past precedent should guide decision-making on the present situation.

Regarding the International Crisis Group withdrawal, the representative of Pakistan said the organization had correctly decided to withdraw as its goals were similar to those of a think-tank.  It produced highly political reports and recommendations, which could not contribute to the work of the Economic and Social Council.

A standing subsidiary body of the Council, the 19-member Committee uses various criteria to recommend consultative status with the Economic and Social Council in the general, special or roster categories.  Those criteria include the applicant’s mandate, governance and financial regime.  Organizations with general and special status can attend meetings of the Council and circulate statements of a certain length.  Those enjoying general status can, in addition, speak in meetings and propose items for the Council’s agenda, while groups granted roster status can only attend meetings.

Recommended for special consultative status today were:

-- Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims, a Denmark-based national organization founded in 1982 with the aim of helping to eliminate torture and other forms of organized violence, in part through the rehabilitation of torture survivors;

-- World of Hope International, an organization based in the United States and founded in 2001 with the goal of promoting human rights, tolerance, non-violence, education and health awareness for young people.  It embraces the United Nations Millennium Goals in carrying out its mission;

-- School of Human Genetics and Population Health, an international organization founded in 1993 and based in India.  It helps people achieve health awareness, partly by strengthening basic public health systems in rural and urban sectors, and through genetic counselling, screening and research;

-- Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, a national Uganda-based organization founded in 1991 with the aim of promoting awareness of basic fundamental human rights and obligations guaranteed under the Ugandan Constitution and other international human rights instruments; and

-- Civil Resource Development and Documentation Centre, based in Nigeria and established in 1996 for the protection and promotion of human rights and women's human rights, as well as the strengthening of civil society (deferred from last year); Assemblea delle Donne per lo Sviluppo e la Lotta Contro l’Esclusione Sociale; Mountain Women Development Organization; Stree Atyachar Virodhi Parishad; and Yugoslav Youth Association against AIDS -- Youth of JAZAS.

The Committee left pending decisions on:

-- Global Aware, a United States-based international organization founded in 2003 with the goal of coordinating international volunteer projects so as to mitigate the severe social and economic challenges faced by developing countries;

-- International Foundation for Dharma Nature Time, an international cooperative non-profit organization certified in 2001 in the United States with a principal office in Indonesia; to support interculture in cultural environments through sharing in the arts, religiosity, and nature.  Its programmes aim to nourish a dialogue of informal and formal education amongst traditional, ethnic, and modern cultures; cultural diversity and intercultural creativity;

-- Neda Institute for Scientific-Political Research, a national organization based in Iran and founded in 1997 to carry out research on Middle Eastern political and social problems both inside and outside Iran;

-- Verein Sudwind Entwicklungspolitik, a national organization based in Austria and founded in 1979, which stands for a just world economic order and aims to strengthen participation in representative democracy;

-- Dutch Council for Refugees, a Netherlands-based national organization founded in 1979 to protect asylum seekers and refugees, and support and protect refugee interests during the admission, reception and social participation process.  Its activities focus on integration, legal support and public support;

-- Forest Products Association of Canada represents that country’s wood, pulp and paper producers nationally and internationally in Government, trade and environmental affairs;

-- Better Life Programme for the African Rural Woman, based in Nigeria, works to raise women’s social consciousness of their rights and roles, as well as their social, political and economic responsibilities.  It further encourages women to work together to better understand and resolve their problems;

-- Cercle de Recherche sur les Droits et les Devoirs de la Personne Humaine, a national organization in Cameroon which promotes international standards on human rights;

-- Ambedkar Centre for Justice and Peace, a global organization headquartered in the United States, seeking to liberate Dalit brothers through social work and human rights education; and

-- Social Alert, a Belgium-based international coalition of social, human rights and workers' organizations aiming to promote economic, social and cultural rights.

The Committee also deferred decisions on the applications of the Dynamic Christian World Mission Foundation, the Kashmiri American Council, the International Centre for Peace Studies and the Asian-Eurasian Human Rights Forum.

In the ensuing discussion, the representative of the Foundation for Subjective Experience and Research, asked by the United Kingdom’s delegate why the organization had sought reclassification from roster to special status, cited a 2006 General Assembly report stating that partnership between the United Nations and non-governmental organizations was vital.  NGOs brought vision to meetings, raised public awareness of the Organization and complemented its intergovernmental structure.

He responded to a question from China’s representative by saying the organization had no projects in the South-East Asia region, but such projects would be encouraged.

Taking a question from Egypt’s representative concerning his organization’s name, the representative of Fondation Ostad Elahi-Ethique et Solidarité Humaine said Ostad Elahi was a humanist of Iranian heritage who had laid a basis for ethics in the context of using knowledge of self and others to understand the full nature of humankind.  There was no professional, structural or financial link between the organization and other NGOs, but that might be an idea for the future as such a link could enhance its work.

On the democratic nature of the organization, he said it was a public foundation in France, a status that entailed meeting stringent criteria.  To be defined as a public utility, the board of directors must incorporate institutions.  Thus, officials from the Ministry of the Interior, the Council of Europe and the University of Paris were represented in the organization.  The process remained democratic as those institutions had the right to vote, as did other members.

The Committee will reconvene at 10 a.m. tomorrow, Friday, 25 January, to continue its work.

For more information on the Committee and the non-governmental organizations, visit www.un.org/esa/coordination/ngo.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record