Committee on NGOs

17^th Meeting (PM)

non-governmental organization committee approves 10 more civil society organizations

for special consultative status with Economic and Social Council

Also Approves One Organization for Roster Status, Defers

20 Applications; Regular Session Concludes, with Resumed Session Scheduled for May

Having emerged from an informal meeting this morning, members of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations made the most of their time this afternoon during the formal meeting that was added in an effort to reduce the backlog of work -– approving 10 organizations for special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, one for roster status, and deferring 20 more.

In total during the session, which began on 19 January, the Committee reviewed 157 new and deferred applications, of which 7 NGOs were approved for roster status and 56 for special status.  Four were reclassified from roster to special status.  Of the 95 new quadrennial reports, the Committee had taken note of 94 and deferred one.

Before adopting the report of the regular session this evening, some members expressed the hope that the resumed session in May would be for a full two weeks; it is presently scheduled for eight working days.  Apologies were expressed to the representatives of NGOs who had travelled to today’s meeting for possible interaction with the Committee, before the clock ran out.  Acting Rapporteur Alexandru Ciorbea ( Romania) presented the draft report, promising to take on board the suggested additions and clarifications, which would be attached to the draft report as an informal paper.  The document was then adopted by consensus.

The civil society groups approved for special consultative status today were dedicated to such concerns as the welfare of families affected by “the Sudan emergency situation”; promotion of women’s rights and exercise of citizenship in Guinea; creation of a just world economic order via strengthening the participatory components of representative democracy; protecting the interests of trade unions in Ukraine; and combating impunity of perpetrators of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and torture.

Two NGOs were reclassified to special status.  The first was the NOUR Foundation (document E/C.2/2009/R.3), a United States-based international organization, which seeks to facilitate a greater spirit of understanding, tolerance and unity among human beings worldwide.  The second such reclassification was for the International Association of Gerontology (IAGG) (document E/C.2/2009/R.3).  The Brazilian-based NGO had requested an upgrade from roster to general status, meaning that, in addition to attending meetings (those with special status can also circulate statements), the NGO can speak at meetings and propose items for ECOSOC’s agenda.

Approved for special consultative status were:

Global Helping to Advance Women and Children (document E/C.2/2009/R.2/ Add.21), a new United States-based international organization, which works around the world to improve the lives of women, children and families through education and humanitarian projects, seeking to advise policymakers at the international, national and local levels to help them develop policies and programmes that empower women, children and families in sustainable ways and that will enable them to have healthy, productive lives;

IZZA Peace Organization (document E/C.2/2009/R.2/Add.2), a national organization based in Khartoum, Sudan, which aims to ensure the dignity and welfare of the families, women and children of the communities affected by the Sudan emergency situation through effective contribution to durable peacebuilding and sustainable development;

(Prior to its approval, the Committee member from Sudan noted that the organization helps to consolidate the peace process in the north and south of her country, including through supporting implementation of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combats.  It also seeks to protect children in the south of Sudan, and is working in cooperation with the United Nations to consolidate peace and unity between the north and south.)

Synergie developpement et partenariat international (document E/C.2/2009/R.2/Add.9), an international organization based in Geneva, which, among other things, promotes sustainable development and the elements linked to achieving it, by providing help and support to health services, education, training on new information and communications technology, and the social and professional integration of young people and women;

Coalition national de Guinee pour les droits et la citoyennete des femmes (document E/C.2/2009/R.2/add.1), a national organization in Conakry, which promotes women’s rights and the exercise of citizenship by women and their participation in governmental and public decision-making bodies, as well as the strengthening of the economic power of organized groups;

Ensemble allons dans la pais (document E/C.2/2009/R.2/Add.3), headquartered in Cotonou, Benin, is a national organization seeking to play a progressive and effective role in the genuine development of the country and to bring about significant improvements in public well-being and living standards in Benin;

Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine (document E/C.2/2009/CRP.1), based in Kyiv, a national organization with the aim of representing interests and protecting rights of its affiliated organizations, and coordinating their collective actions.  It also seeks to promote the unity of the trade union movement and to protect labour, economic and social rights of trade union members;

Verein Sudwind Entwicklungspolitik (document E/C.2/2009/CRP.1), a national organization headquartered in Vienna, which stands for a just world economic order in both social and economic terms, and subscribes to strengthening the participatory components of representative democracy.  Putting this commitment into effect calls for broad cooperation among all sectors of civil society; it thus supports all endeavours to that end; and

TRIAL (document E/C.2/2009/CRP.1), permanently headquartered in Geneva, is a national organization with a mandate to combat impunity of perpetrators, accomplices or instigators of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and torture.

Recommended for roster status was International Foundation for Dharma Nature Time (document E/C.2/2009/CRP.1), a non-profit public charity and international cooperative foundation based in Bali, Indonesia, which supports inter-culture in cultural environments through sharing in the arts, religiosity, and nature.

Applications deferred today, owing to requests for clarification concerning policy and orientation, budgets, affiliations, website references, and misuse of terminology, were:

Centre national d’information sur les droits des femmes et des families CNIDFF (document E/C.2/2009/R.2/Add.14), a national organization based in Paris that seeks to advance the position of women in society, promote their autonomy, and, among other things, contribute to the development of equality between women and men;

Ethiopian Human Rights Council (document E/C.2/2009/R.2/Add.14), based in Addis Ababa, a national organization, striving for the establishment of a democratic system in Ethiopia, promoting the rule of law and due process, and encouraging and monitoring respect and protection of human rights in the country;

Afro Centre for Development Peace and Justice (document E/C.2/2009/ R.2/Add.6), a national organization headquartered in Nigeria, which promotes peaceful coexistence and entrenchment of democratic values in Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta region;

International Dalit Solidarity Network (document E/C.2/2009/CRP.1), an international organization based in Copenhagen, Denmark, which contributes to the elimination of caste-based discrimination worldwide;

Geneva for Human Rights (document E/C.2/2009/CRP.1), an international organization based in Geneva, which serves as a training organization that empowers men and women engaged in the promotion and protection of human rights on the ground, and particularly in the implementation of national plans;

Presse Embleme Campagne (document E/C.2/2009/CRP.1), an international Geneva-based organization, which seeks to improve access to information and protection for journalists worldwide, in particular in areas of armed conflict and internal violence;

International Gas Union (document E/C.2/2009/CRP.1), an international organization in Oslo, Norway, which promotes the technical and economic progress of the global gas industry;

Drug Policy Alliance (document E/C.2/2009/CRP.1), a United States-based national organization, which envisions a just society in which the use and regulation of drugs are grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights, in which people are no longer punished for what they put into their own bodies, but only for crimes committed against others, and in which the fears, prejudices and punitive prohibitions of today are no more;

Mahabodhi International Meditation Center (document E/C.2/2009/CRP.1), based in India, has established an integrated community to provide desperately needed humanitarian services to impoverished people in the remote land of Ladakh, and to provide a meditation service to those from international communities seeking spiritual development;

PeaceJam Foundation (document E/C.2/2009/CRP.1), a United States-based international organization, built around leading Nobel Peace Prize Laureates who work personally with youth to impassion the spirit, skills and wisdom they embody and has as its goal to inspire a new generation of peacemakers who will transform their local communities, themselves, and the world;

Human Rights House Foundation (document E/C.2/2009/CRP.1), an international organization in Oslo, whose purpose is to, among other things, strengthen structural and institutional development of civil society and unite efforts in protecting and promoting human rights;

Dynamic Christian World Mission Foundation (document E/C.2/2009/CRP.1), a United States-based national organization that has as its purpose to operate a mission to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and, among other things, cultivate missionary workers through religious education;

European Renewable Energy Council (document E/C.2/2009/CRP.1), a Belgium-based international organization, committed to acting as a forum for exchange of information on issues related to renewable energy sources, as well as to represent the European renewable energy industry and research community;

Assyrian Academic Society (document E/C.2/2009/CRP.1), a United States-based international organization, whose principal aim is to ensure a robust understanding and awareness of the Assyrian people (their history and present conditions) in a variety of forums (both scholarly and governmental);

Kosmos Associates (document E/C.2/2009/CRP.1), a United States-based international organization whose purpose is to build a sustainable global civilization and world community;

International Reading Association (document E/C.2/2009/CRP.1), a United States-based international organization dedicated to promoting high levels of literacy for all by improving the quality of reading instruction;

Democracy Coalition Project (document E/C.2/2009/CRP.1), a United States-based international organization that conducts research and advocacy relating to democracy promotion policies at the national, regional and global levels;

(Following requests from Committee members from Sudan, Russian Federation and Cuba, including for further information about this NGO’s projects and clarification about the scope of its work, the United States’ member said that, after six rounds of questions and answers with this NGO, he was very concerned that “we’re dealing with more a political matter here than legitimate questions of this Committee”.  He recalled that the NGO’s representatives had also appeared before the Committee personally and had answered many questions.

He urged Committee members to evaluate whether the questions they were asking were aimed at determining whether the NGO met the requirements of the Committee’s guiding resolution -- 1996/31 -- or whether they were aimed at political considerations.  Hopefully, it would be possible to take action on this application by the next session because he feared this was becoming a political debate.  Everyone should remember that the United Nations was a democratic institution and that the purpose of the Committee was to ensure that the most diverse viewpoints possible enriched the Organization’s discussions.  That was exactly where the strength of the United Nations lay -- in its diversity.)

National Association of Home Builders of the United States (document E/C.2/2009/CRP.1), a United States-based national organization that aims at providing and expanding opportunities for all consumers to have safe, decent and affordable housing;

( Egypt’s member noted that the group is not listed as an NGO.  An exchange ensued, including with members from the United States and China.  It was decided that the Committee would seek further explanation from the organization.)

Sub-Priorato del Piemonte dell’Ordine di San Tortunato onlus (document E/C.2/2009/CRP.1), a national organization based in Torino, Italy, aimed at helping the poor and disadvantaged children of Torino and the region, Piedmont; and

Neda Institute for Scientific-Political Research (document E/C.2/2009/ CRP.1), a national organization based in Tehran, Iran, aimed at collecting all research studies undertaken on Middle Eastern political and social problems inside and outside Iran and, among other things, setting up a comprehensive archive, and organizing debate sessions and seminars about general and particular Middle Eastern problems.

( Israel’s Committee member had particular questions about the NGOs position on Holocaust remembrance and denial, and whether it differed in its opinions on that matter from the Iranian regime.  Egypt’s member wished to know the NGO’s position on the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, among other things.)

Closing the session, Committee Chairman Hassan Hamid Hassan said it had been one of considerable work, constructive dialogue and discussion.  Debate had been energetic and heated, as well as informative.  Despite the delays and ad hoc informal sessions, the Committee had nevertheless managed to accomplish a lot in 10 days.  He had been pleased with agreement at the informal meeting this morning on the way forward for the remaining agenda items.

Several important issues required continued close attention, he said.  One focused on measures to deal with NGOs that had not submitted reports for two or more successive periods.  It was the Committee members’ duty to send a clear message about respecting the rights and obligations of consultative status.  The complaint by Algeria had been of critical importance and taken much time and consideration.  The Committee had agreed on the importance of enforcing the United Nations Charter principles and of acting in accordance with resolution 1996/31, which prohibited NGOs from engaging in criminal and terrorist activities.  That complaint had raised a very serious issue, which was increasingly becoming a concern of the Committee, making abundantly clear that it needed to agree on mechanisms to deal with similar issues, based on consensus, in the days to come.

Yet another matter for consideration was the issue of consultations with Governments regarding new applications from national organizations, he continued.  Regarding the Committee’s workload, it had been acknowledged that a full complement of staff was needed to most effectively advance the review of applications.  General agreement had also emerged that when applications were submitted for translation, they should simultaneously be given to Committee members to allow for significant time for consultations with capitals, if needed.

He also noted the 10-year review of the Committee, which had illustrated how far it had come.  On behalf of its members, he bid farewell to Hanifa Mezoui, Chief of the Non-Governmental Organizations Section, Department of Economic and Social Affairs.  She had served the NGO Section during that period; her energy, drive and dedication would be missed by all.  He wished her more years of active engagement in relevant areas.  “No doubt our paths will cross again,” he said.

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For information media • not an official record