Committee on NGOs

29^th Meeting (AM)

Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations Considers Reports, Suspensions,

Reinstatements, Withdrawals, Change of Name Requests of Accredited NGOs

Substantial Increase of Applications, Growing Backlog

Requires Improved Working Methods, Additional Resources, Members Say

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), while taking note of seven quadrennial reports and approving its provisional agenda for 2014, recommended suspensions, withdrawals and name changes of accredited organizations.

The 19-member Committee recommends general, special or roster status on the basis of an applicant’s mandate, governance and financials, among other criteria.  Once accredited, NGOs can attend meetings of the Economic and Social Council and enjoy different levels of benefits, depending on their status.  Those with general and special status can speak during meetings, with the former also allowed to propose agenda items.  NGOs with roster status are more restricted, requiring the Secretary-General’s permission to address meetings.

In pursuant to Economic and Social Council resolution 2008/4, the Committee decided to recommend to the Council the suspension for the period of one year 154 organizations, listed in document E/C.2/2013/CRP.12, on the basis that they had not submit their quadrennial reports.  The Committee also decided to reinstate status to 43 organizations, as listed in document E/C.2/2013/CRP, following the receipt of their quadrennial reports.

Further, the Committee recommended the withdrawal of consultative status for 159 organizations, listed in document E/C.2/2013/CRP.14, with continued outstanding reports.  As well, 45 organizations were recommended for removal from the list of organizations for consideration, as they had not responded to questions, despite three reminders to do so.

In addition, the Committee took note of two organizations requesting a change of name, but postponed a name change requested by one group, pending responses to questions posed by Committee members.

During the meeting, the Committee also addressed the increases in workload, with several delegates saying it was challenging to address all the applications.  Technical and staff problems had affected workflow, resulting in a delay reviewing cases and a growing backlog, the delegate of Turkey pointed out.  There were concerns, as well, that large numbers of organizations applying for the first time could end up being deferred.

Members stressed that the Committee had a great responsibility towards the United Nations and civil society.  Further, an increase in workload required an increase in resources and time.  With approximately 200 more applications than the previous session, a thorough comprehensive discussion of working methods was needed rather than a piecemeal solution, the United States’ representative said.

The Committee approved its provisional agenda for its 2014 session, as contained in document E/C.2/2013/L.1.  Under its terms, the Committee approved the dates 27 January 2014 to 5 February 2014 and 14 February 2014, and for the 2014 resumed session the dates 19 to 28 May 2014 and 6 June 2014.

The Committee introduced the Report of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations on its 2013 resumed session, which would be finalized in the coming week and scheduled to be approved on 7 June.

Participating in today’s proceedings were representatives of Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Cuba, India, Israel and Venezuela.

A representative of Tunisia participated as an observer.

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations will meet again at 10 a.m. on Friday, 7 June, to adopt the report on its current session.

Quadrennial Reports

The Committee took note of the following seven new quadrennial reports submitted by non-governmental organizations:

Report E/C.2/2013/2/Add.21 — 15 NGOs:  African Peace Network; African Women's Development & Communication Network (FEMNET); Al Zubair Charitable Foundation; American Planning Association; American Psychological Association; Antonio Restrepo Barco Foundation; Arab Network for Environment and Development, Canadian Federation of Agriculture; Carter Center, Inc.; The Cesvi Fondazione; The Charitable Institute for Protecting Social Victims; Child Welfare League of America; Chinese Society for Sustainable Development; Community and Family Services International; and Development Promotion Group.

Report E/C.2/2013/2/Add.22 — 14 NGOs:  China Society for Promotion of the Guangcai Programme; Environic Foundation International; Hunter College Center for Community and Urban Health; Indigenous Peoples Survival Foundation; International Association "Znanie"; International Association for Democracy in Africa; International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property; International Federation of Hard of Hearing People; IT for Change; Norwegian Refugee Council; Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra; Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child; Sudan Council of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA); and Voices of African Mothers, Inc.

Report E/C.2/2013/2/Add.23 — 15 NGOs:  Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW); China NGO Network for International Exchanges (CNIE); The Geneva Infant Feeding Association; Global Eco-Village Network; Grupo Ecologico Sierra Gorda; International Council of Environmental Law; International Prisoners Aid Association; International School Psychology Association; Japanese Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning; Nigerian Army Officers' Wives Association; Red de Educacion Popular Entre Mujeres (REPEM); Union Arabischer Mediziner in Europa; World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action; World Association of the Major Metropolises; and World Family Organization.

Report E/C.2/2013/2/Add.24 — 13 NGOs:  Arab Council for Childhood and Development; Arcidonna Onlus; Association for Solidarity with Freedom-Deprived Juveniles; Globetree; Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association; International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children; Movimiento Cubano por la Paz y la Soberania de los Pueblos; National Union of the Association of Protection of Motherhood, Childhood and Families; Solar Cookers International; The Fund for Women in Asia, Inc.; Women in Media and Entertainment; Women's Association for a Better Aging Society (WABAS); and World Rehabilitation Fund, Inc.

Report E/C.2/2013/2/Add.25 — 15 NGOs: Africa and Middle East Refugee Assistance – AMERA; Akina Mama Wa Afrika; American Correctional Association; Egyptian Center for Women's Rights; Fondation Guilè; Human Relief Foundation; International Alert; International Association of Soldiers for Peace; International Family Therapy Association; International Federation of Industrial Energy Consumers; International Longevity Center; Malaysian Medical Relief Society; National Bar Association; Wales Assembly of Women; and World Council for Psychotherapy.

Report E/C.2/2013/2/Add.26 — 7 NGOs:  Association des volontaires pour l’assistance au developpement en Guinèe; Association tunisienne de la communication et des sciences spatiales; Fonds E7 pour le developpement energetique durable; Les Enfants de Frankie; Union de l'action fèminine; Vie Montante International (VMI); and the Woiyo Kondeye.

The Committee also took note of additional quadrennial reports submitted by the following NGOs:

Report E/C.2/2013/CRP.11 — 33 NGOs:  Africa-America Institute; American Indian Law Alliance; Coalition gaie et lesbienne du Québec; Colombian Confederation of NGOs; Habitat for Humanity International; International Corrections and Prisons Association for the Advancement of Professional Corrections; Japan Fellowship of Reconciliation; Victim Support Europe; Academy of Mining Sciences ; Alan Guttmacher Institute; Arab Commission for Human Rights; Asian Women in Cooperative Development Forum; Association haïtienne d’aide aux enfants nécessiteux et au relèvement des communes de l’Artibonite; CARAM — Asia Berhad; Centre for Human Rights and Peace Advocacy; Comité pour les relations internationales de jeunesse de la communauté française de Belgique; European Intermodal Association; Fondation Mohammed V pour la solidarité; Fondazione Giovanni e Francesca Falcone; Foundation for the Child and the Family; International Academy of Ecology and Life protection Sciences; International Association for Media and Communication Research; International Association of Penal Law; International Federation for Human Rights Leagues; International Paralympic Committee; Médecins sans frontières (international); National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty; Pan European Forest Certification Council; Peace Parks Foundation; Press Council; Research Centre for Feminist Action; World Association of Girl Guides & Girl Scouts; and World Energy Council.

Change of Names

The Committee took note of the following requests by NGOs to change their names, as contained in document E/C.2/2013/CRP.9:

From National Committee for UNIFEM, Japan (Special 2007) to Japan National Committee for UN Women.

The Committee postponed action on one request for a change of name by the following NGO (document E/C.2/2013/CRP.10):

From Suzanne Mubarak Women’s International Peace Movement (Special 2007) to End Human Trafficking Now.

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For information media • not an official record