Committee on NGOs

17^th & 18^th Meetings (AM & PM)

Committee on NGOs Recommends Nine Organizations for Consultative Status

 

with Economic and Social Council, as It Opens Resumed Session

 

Opening its 2010 resumed session today, the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations recommended consultative status with the Economic and Social Council for nine non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and postponed consideration of more than two dozen others pending receipt of more information.

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 Council and circulate statements.  Those with general status can, in addition, speak at meetings and propose items for its agenda.  NGOs with roster status can only attend meetings.

Emphasizing the Committee’s heavy workload in his opening remarks, Chair Ramis Şen ( Turkey) said there were currently 253 applications for consultative status, 104 of which were new and 149 deferred.  The Committee also had before it 237 quadrennial reports, of which 221 were new and 16 deferred.  Outlining how quickly the Committee needed to proceed, he urged members to follow the working practice it used during its most recent session in January.

Delivering a statement on behalf of the Director of the Office for Economic and Social Council Support and Coordination in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Andrei Abramov, Chief of the NGOs Branch, said this year had already seen a humanitarian crisis unfold in Haiti, a renewed focus on the Millennium Development Goals, new post-Copenhagen programmes, and preparations for Rio + 20.  In the face of those challenges, the Council must manifest its willingness, ability and determination to tackle urgent and important issues in pursuit of its global mandate.

Underlining the contribution of the NGO Committee to the Council’s work, he highlighted its efforts to vet a growing number of applications for consultative status.  Those numbers were not only indicative of civil society’s interest, but of the interest of the United Nations in broadening dialogue and debate.

To that end, he noted the high-level of interest from civil society groups in participating in the Council’s upcoming substantive session, as well the interactive hearings the General Assembly would hold with representatives of NGOs, civil society and the private sector from 14 to 15 June, in preparation for the Assembly’s High-Level Summit on the Millennium Development Goals in September.  Against that backdrop, he emphasized accountability as a critical element of the Committee’s work, and commended its efforts to set and uphold standards for those groups that wished to be active participants in the Council’s work.

Following a discussion about possible errors and omissions in the Committee’s report from its January session, which Egypt’s representative said resulted from a “rush to print” that document, the Committee requested the Secretariat to consolidate all proposed amendments to the report in one document and distribute it today, with the intention of discussing them on Tuesday, 1 June.

Joining the speakers from the United States, Qatar, Sudan, Colombia, Cuba, Pakistan, Guinea and China in that discussion, the representative of the United Kingdom said her delegation, which supported the initial report, preferred the release of a corrigendum, rather than a revision of the full report.

Turning to the procedures for the current session’s report, the Secretary proposed that his office would work with the Committee’s Rapporteur to present that report before the Committee’s last meeting.  This would allow amendments to be proposed and discussed at that meeting before the report was adopted.

Briefing the Committee on agenda items 5, 9 and 7 — which address strengthening the NGO Branch, the general voluntary trust fund supporting the United Nations Non-Governmental Organizations Informal Regional Network (IRENE) and implementation of Council resolution 2006/46 and decision 2008/217 — Mr. Abramov said the work of the Branch proceeded apace in supporting the Committee and in working with other United Nations entities serving the diverse community of non-governmental organizations.

Among other things, he said the NGO Branch was engaged in major United Nations events, particularly supporting preparations for September’s Summit on the Millennium Development Goals.  It had also organized a conference on “Financing for Climate Change:  Gender Equality” in April and was working to finalize a proposal to strengthen the capacity of civil society.

Responding to questions on how to ensure the predictability of funding for IRENE from Egypt’s delegate, who also noted that the numbers and percentages of NGOs with consultative status were still tilted towards the developed world, Mr. Abramov said that, while the NGO Branch hoped for more, the $142,000 raised so far would allow travel for NGOs from various countries for one upcoming event.  A funding strategy that coordinated with other United Nations entities that approached similar donors was also being developed.  Still, he appealed to the Committee to support fundraising efforts for voluntary financing, since the prospects for increasing funding through the regular budget seemed uncertain.

Turning to agenda item 8 on “consideration of special reports”, the Chairman drew attention to a letter received by the Chief of the NGO Branch from Turkey and invited that country’s delegate to take the floor.  Reading the letter aloud, the representative of Turkey said the NGO Centre Europe-Tiers/Third World Centre (CETIM) was “abusing its consultative status by undertaking a pattern of politically motivated acts and amplifying unsubstantiated allegations against Turkey” aloud.  According to the letter, Turkey considered that provisions in Economic and Social Council decision 96/31 stipulating suspension of consultative status were applicable to CETIM, and requested that the Committee consider this matter within the current session.

Following assurances from several Committee members that it would move swiftly in this regard, the Chairman set a deadline for a response by the NGO for Monday, 31 May, and indicated that the Committee would take up the issue on Tuesday, 1 June.

Recalling the Committee’s decision on 27 July 2009 to suspend the consultative status of the Arab Commission on Human Rights, pending further information on its members and associates, he noted that a list had been submitted by the deadline set by the Committee.  After Egypt requested more time to consider the organization’s response, the Chairman postponed consideration of the issue until Tuesday, 1 June.

In other business, the Committee adopted its programme of work for the current session.  It also postponed the election of a vice-chair from the Latin American and Caribbean region.

Following a brief suspension to solidify the lists of organizations it would consider, the Committee recommended special consultative for:

Biogas Sector Partnership Nepal, an NGO that seeks to improve livelihood of communities through promotion of different environment-friendly solutions;

Capital Humano y Social Alternativo, a national organization based in Peru that seeks to contribute to the development of human and social capital;

Miracle Corners of the World, an international organization based in the United States, which empowers global youth — particularly in Africa — to become positive agents of change;

Centre d’accompagnement des alternatives locales de développement, a national organization in Cameroon, which seeks to promote the integrated and participative development of the indigenous;

Coordinadora de la Mujer, a national organization in Bolivia that focuses on creating meeting spaces for several different women organizations and creating a diverse women’s movement;

Kimse Yok Mu, an international organization based in Turkey, which works to improve and spread awareness on social cooperation and responsibility among the youth, elderly, and between the genders;

National Organization of Women’s Association in the Bahamas, a national organization in the Bahamas, promoting the development of women in all aspects of life through championing the cause of women’s issues;

ONG Playdoo - Côte d’Ivoire, an international organization based in Côte d’Ivoire, which provides moral and material assistance to populations in distress;

Academy of Labour and Social Relations, a national organization in the Russian Federation, serving as a multi-disciplinary higher educational and research institution which trains experts within the social and labour sphere;

Pending receipt of additional information, the Committee postponed its consideration of applications submitted by the following NGOs:

Elite Club — a national organization based in Nepal that aims to develop poor and grass-roots level people by organizing and managing the intellectual diversity of society — as Burundi’s representative asked for more information on how the NGO contributed to reducing the gaps between rich and poor, Egypt’s representative asked for more information on the structure of its membership fees, and India’s delegate asked about its finances.

Fundacion Democratica Italo-Americana — a national organization from Argentina that provides assistance for childbirth, education and health needs — as Egypt’s representative asked why the NGO listed its headquarters as Buenos Aires, Argentina, but included a document of registration from Italy and requested further information on its budget and its commercial properties.

Help Old People — an international organization headquartered in Nigeria which cares for millions of elderly people and people with developmental disabilities in rural and semi-urban African societies — as questions were raised on other entities this organization was working within the area of health.

European Union Association in the United States — a United States-based international organization communicating the European Union’s positions in the United States and at the United Nations in the fields of culture, business and international relations — as Burundi’s representative asked if the Union would be coordinating its activities, since the NGO’s activities seemed like a media organization providing outreach for that bloc, and Egypt’s delegate requested more information on what value the organization could add to the Council’s work and how the NGO’s work was being sustained given its current lack of financing.

Global AIDS Alliance — a national organization based in the United States that seeks to halt global HIV/AIDS and mitigate its impacts on poor countries hardest hit by the pandemic — as Cuba requested information on the organization’s work regarding the entrance and exit of persons who are HIV-positive from their countries and Egypt requested details on the organization’s advocacy work in terms of sexuality education and its use of the term “sexual health rights.”

Global Alliance on Accessible Technologies and Environments — a Canada-based international organization which promotes the understanding and implementation of accessibility of the sustainably built social and virtual environments — as Committee members raised question about the organization’s work regarding persons with disabilities, whether the NGO was incorporated or held a not-for-profit status, and whether its work entailed projects in Africa.

Hope International — an international organization based in Switzerland that aims to set up structures to ensure economic and social development with a goal of avoiding domestic or international migrations of populations — as Cuba’s representative asked if the reports referenced in the application referred to young people or some other age group, requested more information on its certificate of registration and asked for more details on its affiliation with Hope organizations in other countries.

Responding to the general nature of these questions, Switzerland’s representative explained that registration was not mandatory under his country’s code.  He also said it was impossible for NGOs to provide a tax status as the Committee requested.

The representative of Egypt said the NGO had nevertheless provided a certificate of registration, something that seemed more like a tax communication from 2006.  He thus requested further proof of existence, suggesting it could even be an electric bill.

International Council for Human Rights — an international organization based in Belgium committed to providing assistance to the United Nations and its affiliated organs in the promotion of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and world peace — as Committee members requested further information on what working group within the United Nations the NGO worked with, what its work with the Human Rights Council entailed, its future activities, including how they would be financed and its donations.

Mediators Beyond Borders — an international organization based in the United States that brings together experienced mediators to volunteer their skills worldwide — as the representative of Cuba requested a detailed description of the groups the NGO works with and an explanation of its procedures when hiring nationals from countries where it carries out activities.  She also requested more information on its activities with respect to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and other delegations asked for more details on the organization’s most recent projects and how it conducts activities in conflict areas, as well as an overview of the its contributions to COP-15.

Mémorial de la Shoah — a national organization in France that transmits and preserves the memory of the Holocaust to subsequent generations by reckoning with issues of genocide and crimes against humanity — as Egypt’s representative requested that the organization complete its responses to questions 14 and 15 and requested a detailed budget breakdown.

Soroptimist International of Europe — an international organization based in Switzerland, working to build a better world for women and children through awareness, advocacy, and action — as China’s representative called for an explanation of its relationship with a specific organization listed on its application and Egypt’s representative asked the organization to elaborate on its reference to gender issues and requested a breakdown of its budget.

Yale International Relations Association — a United States-based international organization that strives to promote critical and constructive dialogue among its members regarding the most pressing international issues — as Burundi’s representative requested more information on the organization’s proposed solutions to overcome world challenges.

Egypt’s representative also asked the NGO elaborate on an unofficial statement it delivered to the Council, citing the contents of that statement.  He also asked for clarification on how its activities had allowed it to achieve its goals, what election monitoring trips it had participated in and conducted and whether it had participated in meetings of the United Nations or its subsidiary bodies and, if so, if it had made any substantial contributions.  He also requested a more detailed budget breakdown.

Assyrian Aid Society — a national organization in Iraq, which assists Assyrians in unexpected crises through immediate mobilization — as Egypt’s delegate asked for the organization to provide a complete address for its headquarters and to explain why it has no running operational costs for those headquarters.  He also asked for explanations on:  the criteria used for defining those in need; a description of such needs; how it protected Assyrians from physical harm; its relationship to Assyrians Without Borders and funding received from that group; and whether the organization had any members within Iraq.  He requested that the organization provide registration documents from 1 August 2003 to present.

Bridges International — a national organization in Sudan that creates and strengthens relations between nations, civilizations and religions — as Burundi’s representative asked for clarification on the meaning of “empowering families and children”, which was listed among the NGO’s aims and goals, as well as more information regarding activities and projects in regions in which it operates.

GGS Institute of Information Communication Technology India — an India-based international organization, working for education for all, poverty alleviation, disarmament, and sustainable development — after Pakistan’s representative requested more information on the organization’s projects on climate change and disarmament, as well as its planned activities for indigenous peoples.

Maarij Foundation for Peace and Development — a Sudan-based international organization that conducts illiteracy and education services in post-conflict zones and provides relief assistance to needy populations — as the representative of Sudan requested more time to review the application and Israel’s delegate asked how the organization planned to bridge the gap between its expenditures and the number of planned projects listed.

South Sudanese Women Christian Mission for Peace — a national organization in Sudan, which promotes and ensures women’s access to public power and decision making positions in all sectors and at all levels — after Sudan’s delegate requested clarification on the exact location of its Headquarters and Egypt’s representative asked for examples of what activities the NGO undertook to achieve its goals and requested further details on its objectives and its members, including on membership categories and applicable fees.

5th Pillar — a national organization in the United States, which aims to set up Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005 service centres to create awareness among citizens of India — after the representative of the Russian Federation requested more detailed information on the NGO’s work and projects and Egypt’s representative sought clarification on the organization’s recent responses to the additional questions of the Committee regarding its membership.

American Bible Society — a national organization from the United States, which makes the Bible available in several languages and formats — after China’s representative said that, despite an agreement to follow United Nations terminology, issues remained regarding the NGO’s website.  She requested that the organization follow up on this and also provide further details on its financial chart, including specific project expenditures.   Egypt’s representative also requested that the NGO elaborate further on its aims and goals.

The Committee postponed further consideration of applications pending responses from:

Centre for Development Strategy, an organization from Nigeria which aims to design, implement and evaluate programmes and activities, mainstreaming gender and pro-poor components, as well as addressing the Millennium Development Goals and confine such programmes within the organization’s policy guidelines;

Give to Colombia, a United States-based international organization which creates, promotes and facilitates alliances between international donors and the private, public, and social sectors, in order to provide enduring and scalable solutions to the most vulnerable sectors and populations of Colombia’s society;

Association de la jeunesse Congolaise pour le developpement, a national organization in Congo, which works to educate and direct youth;

Association des jeunes pour le developpement humain et la protection de l’environnement, a national organization in Congo, which contributes to human development and works to address environmental problems for a sustainable development;

Behnam Daheshpour Charity Organization, an international organization based in the Islamic Republic of Iran, which seeks to distribute received financial and non-financial public donations to needy cancer victims;

Equit Institute, a Brazil-based international organization, which builds knowledge and articulation spaces on the crossroads between gender, trade and development;

NGO’s Computer Literacy Shelter Welfare, Rawalpindi, a national organization in Pakistan, which seeks to build and strengthen sustainable individual family, institutional and community initiatives.

During the Committee’s traditional hour of dialogue with NGOs, a representative of Christian Solidarity Worldwide — a United Kingdom-based national organization seeking to pursue freedom of religion for all — was asked to touch on discrepancies with regard to the organization’s name.  He clarified that his organization was previously a branch of the Switzerland-based Christian Solidarity Worldwide, but broke away in 1997, while maintaining the charity’s name.  He affirmed that his organization had since sought to register within the United Kingdom.

Responding to a question on the organization’s contributions to the Council, he noted that its primary aim was to “be a voice for the voiceless,” particularly with regard to freedom of religion and belief.  It sought consultative status in an effort to become more effective in identifying solutions to current issues.  He also encouraged Member States to become more proactive in promoting freedom of religion and belief.

Answering other questions, he explained that the organization always sought to work within the national legal framework of countries in which it operated and to create partnerships.  He also clarified that the organization was registered as both a corporate body and a charity within the United Kingdom.  With regard to the organization’s finances, he agreed that there was — at one point — a budget deficit on the books, but it had been balanced.  He informed the Committee that he had requested a financial breakdown in writing and that it would be forthcoming.

The Committee postponed further consideration of the NGO’s application pending its submission of written responses to representatives’ questions.

Also answering questions, a representative of Global Afrikan Congress — an organization based in Canada that seeks to function as a resource for information, support and consultation for member organizations working for social justice, good governance, human and democratic rights, economic parity and the restoration of human dignity — said that racism, dispossession and cultural and social disparity were among the consequences of the slave trade, and his organization sought to provide education in these areas with the aim of reclaiming what had been lost.  He explained that the organization was registered in Canada because he was living in that country when the organization was founded.  Despite the location of its headquarters, the organization continued to do work in South Africa and Ghana, among other African countries.

He went on to describe some of the organization’s current initiatives, including one that used sports and another a children’s book as a means of outreach and education.  He hoped that consultative status with ECOSOC would allow his organization to connect with organizations in Africa, so that they could engage, among other things, in DNA investigations to determine where the descendants of slaves came from.

Further consideration of the organization’s application was postponed pending written answers.

Next, a representative of the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) — a global movement against gun violence headquartered in the United Kingdom — acknowledged that his organization occasionally collaborated with Amnesty International.  This typically occurred under the banner of the “Control Arms” campaign, which was a joint initiative with his organization, Oxfam and Amnesty International.  He said it was his organization’s intention to provide some limited funding for individuals and representatives of local organizations working to reduce small arms to travel to upcoming meetings at the United Nations in order to share personal stories and research.

Answering other questions, he said IANSA was an informal voluntary network that did not have a complicated approval process for new members.  It was not so much that members had expertise, but were interested in the topic.  Indeed, most were small grass-roots NGOs from communities that had been affected by gun violence and there was no direction from the organization’s secretary on what the network, which was primarily geared towards information-sharing, should be doing.  It was true that in some regions, such as West Africa, the development of the network had been slightly more structured.

Further consideration was postponed pending written answers.

Also answering questions, a representative of the International Lesbian and Gay Association — a Belgium-based international organization seeking to promote the human rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered individuals — said that, given the time period in which it was created, there was no reference to sexual orientation in the Declaration of Human Rights.  However, times had since changed, subsequently spurring a shift in the way the Declaration was interpreted.

In this regard, he said, the organization’s work was very relevant within the framework of the work of the United Nations on human rights.  He believed that the organization — with its high level of membership — would be the best interlocutor on violations of the rights of gays, lesbians, and transgendered individuals globally, and could monitor the evolution of the respect of human rights for that population.

Answering other questions, he agreed that the organization had made a mistake in not responding in a timely manner to the questionnaire sent by the Committee in 1995 and apologized for any inconvenience caused.  He explained that the organization underwent a cumbersome decision-making process at that time, given a lack of available staff and finances, among other issues.  Additionally, many of the members who received the questionnaire felt that, although the spirit behind the questionnaire was a rightful one, it was important to make clear that the organization did not condone paedophilia in any way.  In this regard, the organization modified its constitution to reflect that important distinction.

Further consideration was postponed pending written answers.

Also speaking during the meeting were the representatives of China, who highlighted how the United Nations-NGO information network had developed into a three-level network with international, regional and national components supporting the Millennium Development Goals, and Chile, which holds observer status in the committee and requested that delegations holding such status be granted access to the Committee’s “paperless conference” website.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. Thursday, 27 May, to continue its consideration of new applications for consultative status.

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