Committee on NGOs

21^st & 22^ndMeetings (AM & PM)

non-governmental organization committee grants 8 civil-society groups consultative

status, defers action on 32, as 2 groups withdraw applications

As it continued its 2008 resumed session, the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations today decided to recommend six civil-society groups for special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council and two for roster status, as it deferred its consideration of 32 other applications, pending further clarification of their goals, financing and activities, and saw 2 more withdrawn.

The 19-member Committee recommends general, special or roster status with the Council in accordance with such criteria as the applicant’s mandate, governance and financial regime.  Organizations enjoying general and special consultative status can attend meetings of the Economic and Social Council and circulate statements.  Those with general status can, in addition, speak at meetings and propose items for the Council’s agenda, while organizations that have roster status can only attend meetings.

Taking up applications deferred from previous sessions, the Committee recommended the following organizations for special consultative status:  Cercle de recherche sur les droits et les devoirs de la personne humaine, a Cameroon-based organization that conducts research on “the rights and duties of people”; Global Hand, an international organization based in China that aims to help match corporate resources to disaster and development needs; and General Research Institute for the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a Japanese organization that facilitates the activities of researchers, lawyers, doctors, teachers, workers in institutions, parliamentarians and others involved in protecting children’s rights.

Also recommended for special status were:  Women’s Health and Education Center, an international organization based in the United States which seeks to improve women’s health in developing countries; Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development, a Kenya-based international organization focused on championing the rights of impoverished people; and Globe Aware, an international organization based in the United States that coordinates volunteer work in struggling communities.

Two organizations were recommended for roster status:  Trance Research Foundation, an international organization based in the United States which seeks to advance psychological research through a better understanding of “trance technology”; and Play Soccer, another United States-based international organization that is also an implementing partner to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) in its efforts at peacebuilding, social integration, health promotion, children’s rights, good governance and environmental issues.

The Committee left pending the applications of:  Mahabodhi International Meditation Center, an international organization based in India that provides humanitarian services to the impoverished people of Ladakh; Better Life Programme for the African Rural Woman, an international organization based in Nigeria that promotes gender equality; New Zealand Council of Licensed Firearms Owners, which seeks to preserve the rights and privileges of licensed firearms users; Kosmos Associates, an international organization based in the United States which aims to facilitate dialogue among civilizations; and Association Malienne d’initiatives et d’actions pour le développement, a Mali-based organization seeking to improve basic health education among disadvantaged people.

Also deferred were the applications of:  International Sustainable Energy Organization for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, an international organization based in Switzerland that promotes sustainable energy around the world; Ambassadors for Children, a United States based international organization that helps provide volunteer opportunities for travellers interested in humanitarian work; Environment Action Association, a Korean organization seeking to promote environmental preservation; Sub-Priorato del Piemonte dell’Ordine di San Fortunato, an Italian organization which aims to help disadvantaged children in Piedmont, Italy; and International Foundation for Dharma Nature Time, an Indonesia-based international organization that seeks to promote cultural diversity.

Other applications deferred today included those of:  Dutch Council for Refugees, which seeks to protect asylum-seekers and refugees; Kashmiri American Council, a United States-based organization that aims to inform the public about peoples’ rights of self-determination; International Centre for Peace Studies, an India-based international organization seeking to develop rights-based strategies for peacebuilding; Ambedkar Centre for Justice and Peace, an international organization based in the United States which focuses on empowering marginalized people in South Asian countries; and Asian-Eurasian Human Rights Forum, an international organization based in India that seeks to help Governments in the Asian-Eurasia region to improve the living conditions of their citizens.

The Committee also deferred its consideration of:  Social Alert, an international organization based in Belgium that works to defend human rights in such places as Indonesia, Togo and Benin; People’s Life Center, an organization in India that promotes a just social order through values such as love, justice, equality, brotherhood, peace and harmony; Students for Sensible Drug Policy, an international youth-based organization based in Washington, D.C., that seeks to reduce harm caused by drug abuse and drug policies; Coordination internationale pour la décennie, an international organization based in France that aims to build consensus with regard to promoting non-violence and peace; Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights, an organization that puts local lawyers to work in furthering civil, economic, political, social and cultural rights worldwide; and Marijuana Policy Project Foundation, an organization in Washington, D.C., that seeks to minimize the harm associated with marijuana through regulation similar to that applying to alcoholic beverages.

Also deferred were the application of:  International Human Rights Observer, an organization in Pakistan seeking to create mass awareness of the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Hudson Institute, an organization based in Washington, D.C., and dedicated to research and analysis to promote global security, prosperity and freedom; TRIAL, an organization in Switzerland devoted to combating impunity on the part of perpetrators, accomplices or instigators of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and torture; Forest Products Association of Canada, an organization seeking to provide leadership in advancing the lawful interests of forest products companies; and Drug Policy Alliance, a New York City-based organization working towards a just society in which people “are no longer punished for what they put into their own bodies”.

The Committee devoted particular attention to an organization whose application it later deferred, Africa Action, a United States-based group that strives to change that country’s foreign policy and those of international institutions so as to support African struggles for peace and development.  The representatives of Qatar, Sudan and Egypt asked for more information about its opinions on events in Darfur, with the representative of the Sudan remarking that its written response to the Committee sounded “defensive” and seemed to indicate an opposition to Sudanese Government policies.  Further, the representative of Burundi, in reference to articles posted on the organization’s website on events in Somalia, Liberia and Zimbabwe, asked what criteria the organization used to determine what to publish.

The Committee also deferred action on Ma Qualcuno Pensi ad Abele, an Italy-based international organization aimed at helping victims of injustice and “bad public and health administration” in Venezuela.  Following a lengthy debate, the representatives of Cuba, Venezuela, Algeria and Egypt suggested that action be taken during the current session to abandon the group’s application, first submitted three years ago.  Those representatives, with the agreement of the Chinese and Sudanese delegates, expressed dissatisfaction with the organization’s habitualdisregard for questions posed to it.  The representatives of Morocco, United Kingdom, Israel, India, Guinea and Burundi suggested that the Committee alert the group in writingbefore taking any action to close its file, so it could avail itself of a final opportunity to state its case.  Qatar’s delegate asked that the draft letter be circulated to members, while Dominica’s delegate stressed that action should be taken within the time frame of the resumed session in the event of a non-reply.

Also today, the Committee heard from a representative of the Fondation Ostad Elahi:  éthique et solidarité humaine, an organization in France which, inspired by the works of the nineteenth century Iranian philosopher Ostad Elahi, seeks to promote a spirit of tolerance and solidarity between peoples and culture.  In response to a question from Qatar’s delegate, the representative explained that the group was not a faith-based organization and it had been specially recognized by the French Government for its secular, public works.  Its case was deferred pending the receipt of a written document reflecting today’s testimony.

Another representative appearing before the Committee was from Federatie van Nederlandse Verenigingen tot Integratie van Homoseksualiteit, a Dutch organization devoted to the protection of the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people.  He assured members that the organization did not support paedophilia, explaining that it had been involved in HIV/AIDS prevention in parts of Central Asia and Eastern Europe, as part of its dedication to attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.  The representative of Egypt requested that the application be deferred pending a second interview by the Committee tomorrow.

A similar organization, Associação Brasileira de Gays, Lésbicas e Transgêneros -- a Brazilian group promoting equal rights for gay men, lesbians, trans persons and bisexuals -- had its application deferred until 2009 due to a scheduling conflict.  The representative of Qatar expressed dissatisfaction with the group’s response regarding paedophilia, an issue that arose the Committee found that an individual associated with the organization had published a story called My Ideal Boy, in which he confessed to being a paedophile.  Both the delegates of Qatar and Egypt argued against giving the organization more time to plead its case, while the representatives of United Kingdom, Peru and India suggested that a representative of the group be given a chance to appear before the Committee in person given the “sincerity” of its application.

Meanwhile, two organizations withdrew their applications:  Chinese Society for Corrosion and Protection, a China-based group that seeks to unite scientists, engineers and other corrosion workers in reducing the economic impact of corrosion; and Observer Research Foundation, an India-based group that emphasizes a holistic approach in formulating policy options.  Committee Chair Hassan Hamid Hassan ( Sudan) said a letter would be sent in response to a strongly-worded letter from the latter group, in which it accused a certain Committee member of prejudice against its application.  The Committee’s letter was expected to reflect dismay at the tone of that letter.

Another strongly-worded letter, from the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, elicited a similar response from Cuba, Egypt, Qatar, China and Pakistan.  The representative of Pakistan suggested that a letter be drafted informing the United States-based organization -- chaired by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and devoted to strengthening democracy worldwide -- that its application would not be considered until it responded to the Committee’s queries, and asking that it use moderate language in addressing the Committee in future.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 3 June, to complete its consideration of applications for consultative status with the Economic and Social Council and review a complaint against the World Union for Progressive Judaism (see Press Release ECOSOC/6335 - NGO/637 for further details).

* *** *

For information media • not an official record