Committee on NGOs

29^th & 30^th Meetings (AM & PM)

Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations Recommends Consultative Status

 

for Nine More Organizations, Suspends Resumed Session

 

Intends to Request Additional Meeting Time to Adopt Report

 

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations today suspended its 2010 resumed session when it ran out of time to complete consideration of its report; it agreed to ask the Committee on Conferences for additional meeting time in order to wrap up its business for the year.

It was explained by the Secretariat that a response to such a request would take at least one week and that approval for additional meeting time was not guaranteed.  She recalled that the Committee had similarly requested additional time in January 2009 and had been granted it, but on an exceptional basis.

Among issues that delayed action today, Romania’s delegation asked for clarification on the question of Rule 50 of the Rules of Procedure as it applied to action on the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC).  He requested the Secretariat to confirm, for the record, whether the motion for adjournment of debate, as put forward yesterday by the delegation of Egypt, referred to the request for immediate action made by the United States delegation, or meant that the debate on the substance of the group’s request for consultative status was to be postponed.

Responding, the Secretariat confirmed that the action requested by Egypt under Rule 50 referred exclusively to the adjournment of debate on the motion put forward by the United States delegation, not whether to grant consultative status or not.  The delegate from Romania then said that, as per the definition of “adjournment” consistent with the interpretation of Rule 50, it meant that, following the result of the Egyptian motion for adjournment of debate, the Committee decided to postpone the action requested by the United States delegation until it could be taken up again at a future Committee session, and not to close or bypass the debate on the United States request.  He then requested, for the record, that the decision to adjourn the debate on the United States call for action on the IGLHRC application be properly reflected in the Committee’s Report among the other formal decisions taken by the Committee.

Today, the Committee recommended consultative status for 9 non-governmental organizations, postponed a decision on 34, and closed 12 applications, without prejudice.  In the course of the session, begun last Monday, the Committee recommended status for a total of 55 organizations and closed 15 applications.  Work is ongoing to clarify a series of benchmarks critical to the decision to close an application.  None of the Committee’s recommendations are formally sent to the Economic and Social Council until the session’s report is adopted.

General, special or roster status with the Council is granted in accordance with such criteria as the applicant’s mandate, governance and financial regime.  Organizations enjoying general and special consultative status can attend the Council’s meetings and circulate statements.  Those with general status can also speak at meetings and propose items for the Council’s agenda.  Non-governmental organizations with roster status can only attend meetings.

Prior to consideration of the report as whole, the Committee adopted the revised provisional agenda for its 2011 session and reached consensus on part I and a corrigendum from the January session, which includes annexes.

It was agreed that a paper entitled “Outcome of the deliberations of the NGO Committee on methods of work”, elaborated during informal consultations at the Committee’s 2010 session, would so be reflected in the report, as orally revised.   Similarly, proposals by the delegations of Egypt and Burundi, which had emerged during formal Committee meetings, would also be duly reflected.

A draft resolution submitted by India, would have the Economic and Social Council ask all non-governmental organizations with consultative status to furnish the names of individuals who would be their designated authorized representative every year, and the Secretary-General to ensure that only those representatives were provided with grounds passes.  It would have asked the Secretariat to inform the organizations of the implication of misuse of ground passes.  The Committee agreed to add the issue to the agenda of its informal working group.

Special consultative status was recommended today for the following organizations:

Centre for Development Strategy, a national organization in Nigeria which provides information, communication and educational services as a veritable tool in achieving strategic and effective behavioural change;

Fundación Democrática Italo-Americana, a national organization from Argentina that provides assistance for childbirth, education and health needs;

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;

Association des jeunes pour le développement 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;

Bridges International, a national organization in Sudan that creates and strengthens relations between nations, civilizations and religions;

Maarij Foundation for Peace and Development, a Sudan-based international organization that conducts literacy and education services in post-conflict zones and provides relief assistance to needy populations; and

Rissho Kosei-kai, a Japan-based international organization which tries to contribute to world peace by ensuring every individual’s human dignity, in accordance with Buddhist principles.

Roster status was recommended for:

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 — after a proposal by the representative of the Russian Federation.

Celtic League, an international organization based in Ireland that supports the struggle of the Celtic Nations through peaceful means — after a proposal by Egypt.

Pending receipt of answers to delegates’ questions, the Committee again postponed its consideration of applications submitted by:

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 — after Burundi’s representative asked additional questions regarding its objectives and activities.

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 — after Egypt’s delegate asked for information on its participation in events held by the Human Rights Council and proof of establishment of its headquarters in Switzerland.

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 the representative of Burundi asked about the reliability of the organization’s information and its approach to Governments.

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 delegate noted that the organization had not provided answers to questions regarding its finances and membership.

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 — after the representative of Egypt asked that the organization clarify statements made and provide additional information on its finances.

Assyrian Aid Society, a national organization in Iraq which assists Assyrians in unexpected crises through immediate mobilization — after Egypt requested that it clarify statements made regarding its members, provide a detailed budget breakdown, elaborate on its position on respecting the principles of the Charter, and elaborate on activities in Iraq.

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 noted that several questions had not been answered.

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 Egypt’s representative asked for additional information regarding its activities.

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 — as India’s delegate asked that the organization provide its registration documentation.

Amuta for NGO Responsibility, a national organization in Israel that works to advance vigorous discussions on the reports and activities of human rights and humanitarian non-governmental organizations in the framework of the Arab-Israeli conflict — as the delegate of Egypt asked several additional questions regarding the organization’s membership, projects, political affiliation and finances.  Both the delegates of Egypt and Cuba also asked that the organization elaborate on its position regarding international law.

Association of World Reindeer Herders, a Norway-based international organization, which seeks to promote professional, cultural and commercial contact between the world’s reindeer herders — after China asked if the organization had participated in the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in any way.

Bridging the Gulf, an international organization based in the Netherlands that supports initiatives in the Gulf region in the areas of human security, human rights, women’s rights and the development of civil societies — after Qatar asked for information on its contacts in and activities in the Gulf region, Egypt asked for details on its cooperation with other organizations and China requested clarification on the name with which it was applying for status.

Bureau international pour le respect des droits de l’homme au Sahara Occidental, a national organization from Switzerland, which aims to take part in the efforts towards the global fight for human rights — as Pakistan asked how the organization maintained independence in its decision-making process, Egypt requested information regarding its headquarters, finances and planned contributions to the Council, and Qatar asked that it elaborate on its sources of information.

Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation, a national organization in Canada, which works to address poverty and homelessness in Ontario and Canada — after the delegate of Egypt asked how the organization maintained its independence in light of Government funds received.

Centrum Mot Rasism, a national organization from Sweden, seeking to work against racism, discrimination, xenophobia, homophobia, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, anti-ziganism and afro-phobia — as Burundi asked how it collects information on other countries, Cuba asked that it define the term “afro-phobia”, and Egypt asked that it elaborate on its activities and its definition of the terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity”.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide, a United Kingdom-based national organization, seeking to pursue freedom of religion for all — after China requested information on its affiliations and Sudan asked if it maintained contacts with its former umbrella organization.

Coordinadora Española para el Lobby Europeo de Mujeres, a national organization in Spain, seeking to coordinate women non-governmental organizations in Spain to promote and develop the equality of rights and opportunities for women — after the delegate of India asked for information on its lobbying activities and related expenditures, and Egypt’s delegate asked the organization to provide information on several questions posed.

Council for American Students in International Negotiations, a United States-based national organization, striving to generate discussion on, and knowledge about, international issues at universities across America — as Egypt’s delegate asked how the organization’s activities, aims and objectives would contribute to the work of the Council, India’s delegate asked for detailed information on its activities, finances and participation in United Nations events, and China’s delegate asked for clarification regarding its application.

The Committee postponed further the consideration of applications pending responses from the following organizations:

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;

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;

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;

Mediators beyond Borders, an international organization based in the United States that brings together experienced mediators to volunteer their skills worldwide;

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;

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

Behnam Daheshpour Charity Organization, an international organization based in 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.

Associazione Nazionale Volontarie Telefono Rosa, a national organization in Italy, which provides legal and psychological assistance to women in trouble;

Athletes United for Peace, a United States-based international organization, which promotes peace, education and friendship through programmes and events for youths;

British Humanist Association, a national organization in the United Kingdom, which campaigns for equality for people with non-religious beliefs;

Center for Global Community and World Law, a United States-based international organization that conducts project-based research, education and consultation to promote the establishment of a peaceful, just and sustainable global society;

Association des femmes tunisiennes pour la recherche et le développement, a national organization in Indonesia that aims to develop critical and constructive thinking on the status of women and promote women’s rights;

Great Tao Foundation of America, a national organization based in the United States which disseminates the ethical principles of Tao in order to improve the lives of individuals, and seeks to promote harmony and peace on the family, community, national and international levels; and

World Toilet Organization, a Singapore-based international organization that increases awareness of good sanitation practices and generates action for better sanitation through network sharing.

The Committee closed the following applications without prejudice, as the organizations had not responded to questions for two sessions after having received three reminders:

Academy of Fine Arts and Literature, a national organization in India which supports literary and cultural activities in the South Asia region;

Asian Farmers Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA), an international organization based in the Philippines which endeavours to be a strong lobby and advocacy group for farmers’ rights and development;

Christian Solidarity International, an international organization based in Switzerland that provides help to victims of disaster and religious repression and victimized children;

European Foundation for Democracy, a national organization in Belgium to promote universal human rights, freedom of conscience, individual liberty, and pluralism of peaceful ideas throughout the world;

Family Reorientation Education & Empowerment, a national organization in Nigeria to educate and empower the people of the Niger Delta Region and the Nigerian nation in general;

NAFSA: Association of International Educators, a national organization in the United States providing training and professional development opportunities for international educators;

National Committee for Furtherance of Jewish Education, a national organization in the United States, which seeks to create and administer educational and youth programmes and advocate for the rights of children, women and the disadvantaged;

Organisation Africaine Des Experts, an international organization in Moroccoseeking the improvement of competences and common knowledge;

Orphans International Worldwide, a United States-based organization helping orphaned or abandoned children to grow into solid citizens of the world;

Peace Action, Training and Research Institute of Romania, an international organization based in Romania which promotes peacebuilding and constructive conflict transformation;

Sœurs Unies a l’Œuvre, a national organization in Benin to work for the promotion of the economic, social and cultural rights; and

Oromo Menschenrechts und Hilfsorganisation, an international organization based in Germany which strives to bring awareness of human rights abuses in Ethiopia to the public and support the promotion of Oromo culture and traditions.

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For information media • not an official record