Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations Defers Action on Eight Applicants, While Recommending Status Upgrade for Another
Members Review Quadrennial Reports
The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations today deferred action on 10 applications for special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, while recommending an upgrade to general consultative status for an existing one — International Eurasia Press Fund based in Azerbaijan — thereby allowing it to speak during meetings and propose agenda items.
The 19-member Committee vets applications submitted by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), recommending general, special or roster status on the basis of such criteria as the applicant’s mandate, governance and financial regime. Organizations enjoying special consultative status can attend Council meetings and issue statements, while those with roster status can only attend meetings.
A request for reclassification from roster to special consultative status was deferred for the Philippines-based World Council for Curriculum and Instruction. Action on several applications was postponed because Committee members sought more information from the candidates about, among other things, details of their projects, budgets, partners, expenditures and funding sources.
The Committee took note of 22 new quadrennial reports submitted by accredited organizations, while postponing action on one deferred report.
In addition, note was taken of threeorganizations requesting a name change: e8 to Global Sustainable Electricity Partnership/Partenariat mondial pour l’électricité durable; Myochikai (Arigatou Foundation) to Arigatou International; and Mouvement Mondial des Mères International/Make Mothers Matter International to Make Mothers Matter — MMM. Action was postponed on a name change request by Alliance Defense Fund to Alliance Defending Freedom, pending responses to questions posed by Committee members.
The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations will meet again at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 30 January, to continue its session.
Action Postponed
The Committee postponed consideration of the following 10 organizations:
Zala briviba (Latvia) — as China’s representative said that the organization had refused to accept its request in 2012 that it delete the link on its website to the “Free Tibet” organization, and asked that it do so now;
Zoological Society of London (United Kingdom) — as China’s representative asked that it use the correct United Nations terminology for Taiwan Province of China;
Collectif des Familles de Disparu(e) en Algerie (Algeria) — as Pakistan’s representative questioned if the organization had in fact registered properly; Sudan’s representative asked why the organization focused on Algeria, and sought more information on its activities in that country; and China’s representative asked why 60 per cent of the organization’s expenditures were for administrative purposes. Belgium’s representative objected to the singling out of the organization’s activities in Algeria;
Freedom Now (United States) — as Cuba’s representative asked for a detailed, up-to-date list of its activities in Cuba from 2011 to 2014, and China’s representative asked that the organization answer its question from Tuesday about what was meant by “prisoner of conscience”. The United States’ representative said the organization had already answered the Chinese representative’s question, by saying that it adhered to the definition set by Amnesty International;
Global Network for Rights and Development (GNRD) (Norway) — as Israel’s representative sought clarification on its relationship with a similar organization registered in Switzerland, whether a specific person of the Swiss organization’s staff had worked at the Norwegian organization in the past, and whether the Norwegian organization was in fact the same as the Swiss organization. Sudan’s representative objected to asking specific questions about a particular individual at an organization seeking accreditation, as it was not within the Committee’s purview to do so. India’s representative asked for the names of the organization’s new Executive Board, saying the answer could address the question posed by Israel’s representative;
Women’s Division of the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church (United States) — as the Committee agreed to transmit to the organization questions members had posed on Tuesday;
Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (YCSRR) (Canada) — as the Committee debated whether to transmit to the organization questions posed by representatives of Morocco and Sudan on Tuesday. Morocco’s representative asked about the organization’s membership and activities in Morocco, and for clarification on its budget;
Congres national des Armeniens Occidentaux (CNAO) (France) — as the representative of the Russian Federation said that his delegation was satisfied with the answers provided by the organization to previous questions and would support the application. The representative of Turkey said that his delegation was not satisfied with the answers submitted and posed new questions regarding whether the entity had branches in additional countries, including Turkey. The representative also asked about the organization’s planned activities for 2014-2015. The representative of Armenia said that the Turkish delegation was not asking constructive or impartial questions with regard to this NGO;
Freedom Now (United States); and
Human Life International (United States).
Reclassification
The reclassification of International Eurasia Press Fund (Azerbaijan) to general consultative status followed expressions of support for the request by the representatives of Sudan, Israel, Morocco and China.
The Committee also postponed the reclassification of from roster to special consultative status of World Council for Curriculum and Instruction (Philippines) — as the representative of China requested that it use the standard United Nations terminology with regard to Taiwan and asked why the NGO referred to the “Taiwan Chapter” on its website.
Quadrennial Reports
The Committee took note of the new quadrennial reports containing submissions by the following non-governmental organizations:
Report E/C.2/2014/2 — 15 NGOs: Abdul Momen Khan Memorial Foundation (Khan Foundation) 2009-2012; Academy for Mobilizing Rural-Urban Action through Education 2009-2012; ADALAH — Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel 2009-2012; Adolescent Health and Information Projects 2009-2012; Adventist Development and Relief Agency 2009–2012; Advocates for Youth 2009–2012; African Business Roundtable 2009–2012; African Citizens Development Foundation 2009–2012; African Wildlife Foundation 2009–2012; African Women Empowerment Guild 2009–2012; African Women’s Association 2009–2012; Agrenska Foundation (Grosshandlare Axel H. Agrens Donationsfond) 2009–2012; The Albert Schweitzer Institute 2009–2012; All India Movement for Seva 2009–2012; and All-China Environment Federation 2009–2012.
E/C.2/2014/2/Add.1 — 15 NGOs: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority 2009-2012; American Association of Jurists 2009-2012; American Bar Association 2009-2012; The American Jewish Committee 2009-2012; American Society of International Law 2009-2012; American Society of the Italian Legions of Merit 2009-2012; Anglican Consultative Council 2009-2012; Arab Organization for Human Rights 2009-2012; Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Organization 2009-2012; Asia-Pacific Human Rights Information Center 2009-2012; Association for Women’s Career Development in Hungary 2009-2012; The Association of the Bar of the City of New York 2009-2012; Associazione Amici dei Bambini 2009-2012; Associazione Casa Famiglia Rosetta (ACFR) 2009-2012; and Australian Catholic Social Justice Council 2009-2012.
E/C.2/2014/2/Add.2 — 14 NGOs: B.A.B.E. - Be Active, Be Emancipated 2009‑2012; Bangladesh Mahila Parishad 2009-2012; Bar Association for International Governmental Organizations, Inc. 2009-2012; Benevolent Community Education and Rural Development Society (BERDS CO) 2009-2012; Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies 2009-2012; Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (CIVIC) 2009-2012; Canadian Voice of Women for Peace 2009-2012; Caucasian Feminist Initiative 2009‑2012; Center for Inquiry 2009-2012; The Center for Migration Studies of New York 2009-2012; Center for Organisation Research and Education 2009-2012; Center for Practice-Oriented Feminist Science (PROFS) 2009-2012; The Center for Reproductive Rights, Inc. 2009- 2012 and Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development 2009-2012.
E/C.2/2014/2/Add.3 — 15 NGOs: Centre des dames mourides 2009-2012; Centro de Estudio y Formacion Integral de la Mujer 2009-2012; Centro de Investigacion Social, Formacion y Estudios de la Mujer 2009-2012; Centro Nazionale di Prevenzione e Difesa Sociale 2009-2012; Centro Regional de Derechos Humanos y Justicia de Genero 2009-2012; Charity Foundation for Special Diseases 2009-2012; The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries 2009-2012; Christian Children’s Fund 2009-2012; Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants 2009-2012; Coalition Against Trafficking in Women 2009-2012; COBASE — Cooperativa Tecnico Scientifica di Base 2009-2012; Committee for Hispanic Children and Families 2009-2012; Confederation of Business Women of Russia 2009-2012; Congregation of Our Lady of Mount Carmel — Carmelite NGO 2009-2012; and The Consortium for Street Children 2009-2012.
E/C.2/2014/2/Add.4 — 14 NGOs: Corporacion Colombia Unida por el Respeto al Adulto Mayor (COR PRO ADULTO MAYOR)/Corporation Colombia United for the Respect of the Elder 2009-2012; Corporate Accountability International 2009-2012; Cultural Survival 2009-2012; December Twelfth Movement International Secretariat 2009-2012; Dhaka Ahsania Mission 2009-2012; Doha International Institute for Family Studies and Development (DIIFSD) 2009-2012; The Dui Hua Foundation 2009-2012; EastWest Institute 2009-2012; The English International Association of Lund (Sweden) 2009‑2012; Environment Action Association 2009-2012; Environmental Protection and Conservation Organisation 2009-2012; Equality Now 2009-2012; The European Institute 2009-2012; and The European Law Students’ Association (ELSA) 2009-2012.
E/C.2/2014/2/Add.5 — 15 NGOs: Action internationale pour la paix et le développement dans la région des Grands Lacs 2009-2012; Association des Badinga du Congo — ABADIC 2009-2012; Association Mauritanienne pour la santé de la mère et de l’enfant 2009-2012; Association of African Women for Research and Development 2009-2012; Association Points-Coeur 2009-2012; Association pour l’action sociale et le développement 2009-2012; Benin Rural Assistance (BRA) 2009-2012; Centre Africain de Recherche Industrielle (CARI) 2009-2012; Centre d’études diplomatiques et stratégiques 2009-2012; Centre de Developpement Agro-Pastoral de Djolu 2009‑2012; Centre National d’Information sur les Droits des Femmes et des Familles (CNIDFF) 2009-2012; Les Centres d’Accueil de l’Espoir (CAES) 2009-2012; Emmaus International Association 2009-2012; Federation Europeenne des Centres de Recherche et d’Information sur le Sectarisme (FECRIS) 2009-2012; and Fondation Européenne pour le développement durable des régions 2009-2012.
E/C.2/2014/2/Add.6 — 15 NGOs: European Solidarity Towards Equal Participation of People 2009-2012; Fairleigh Dickinson University 2009-2012; Family Care International 2009-2012; Family Welfare in Brazil Civil Society (BEMFAM) 2009-2012; Fazaldad Human Rights Institute 2009-2012; Federation of American Scientists 2009-2012; Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas (FAWCO) 2009-2012; Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine (FPU) 2009-2012; Felix Varela Center 2009-2012; Feminist League 2009-2012; Feminist Majority Foundation 2009-2012; Femmes Autochtones du Quebec, Inc./Quebec Native Women, Inc. 2009-2012; Fondazione Opera Campana dei Caduti 2009-2012; Fondazione San Patrignano 2009‑2012; and The Foundation for Preventing Youth Violence (FPYV) 2009-2012.
E/C.2/2014/2/Add.7 — 7 NGOs: Fondation pour la Promotion de la Sante et le Developpement de la Recherche (FOREM) 2009-2012; Fondation Surgir 2009-2012; Genève pour les droits de l’homme: formation internationale 2009-2012; Organisation de defense de l’environnement au Burundi 2009-2012; Organisation Mondiale des associations pour l’éducation prénatale 2009-2012; Regards de Femmes 2009-2012; and Synergie Developpement et Partenariat International (SYDEPI — SYFODIP) 2009-2012.
E/C.2/2014/2/Add.8 — 14 NGOs: The Foundation for the Refugee Education Trust 2009-2012; Friends of Africa International, Inc. 2009-2012; Fundacion de Ayuda y Promocion de las Culturas Indigenas Rosa Collelldevall 2009-2012; Fundacion Intervida 2009-2012; General Conference of Seventh Day Adventists 2009‑2012; Gherush92 — Committee for Human Rights 2009-2012; Girls Learn International, Inc (GLI) 2009-2012; Girls’ Power Initiative (GPI) 2009-2012; Global Helping to Advance Women and Children 2009-2012; Global Rights 2009-2012; Global Volunteer Network Foundation 2009-2012; Global Youth Action Network 2009‑2012; Greek Council for Refugees 2009-2012; and Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Council of North and South America 2009-2012.
E/C.2/2014/2/Add.9 — 15 NGOs: Green Cross International 2009-2012; Habitat International Coalition 2009-2012; ICVolunteers 2009-2012; Indian Federation of United Nations Associations 2009-2012; Indigenous World Association 2009-2012; Institute for International Economic Cooperation and Development 2009-2012; Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc 2009-2012; Haiti Mission 2009-2012; Help for the Andes Foundation 2009-2012; Hong Kong Women Professionals and Entrepreneurs Association 2009-2012; Human Rights Advocates Inc. 2009-2012; Human Rights Watch 2009-2012; Human Security Initiative Organization 2009-2012; Initiatives of Change International 2009-2012; and Institute for Policy Studies 2009-2012.
E/C.2/2014/2/Add.10 — 15 NGOs: Institute for Security Studies 2009-2012; Institute of Cultural Affairs International 2009-2012; Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children 2009-2012; Inter-American Housing Union 2009-2012; International Academy of Architecture 2009-2012; International Architects Designers Planners for Social Responsibility 2009-2012; International Association of Applied Psychology 2009-2012; International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) 2009-2012; International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics 2009-2012; International Association of Medical Colleges (IAOMC) 2009-2012; International Association of Science Parks 2009-2012; International Association of University Presidents 2009-2012; International Association of Women Judges 2009-2012; International Bridges to Justice 2009-2012; and International Confederation of Christian Family Movements 2009-2012.
E/C.2/2014/2/Add.11 — 13 NGOs: International Council For Caring Communities, Inc. 2009-2012; International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment 2009-2012; International Council of Jewish Women 2009-2012; International Council on Management of Population Programmes 2009-2012; International Development Enterprises (India) 2009-2012; International Federation for Home Economics 2009-2012; International Federation of Building and Wood Workers 2009-2012; International Holistic Tourism Education Centre 2009-2012; International Initiative for Peace 2009-2012; International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences 2009-2012; International Movement for Fraternal Union among Races and Peoples 2009-2012; International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 2009-2012; and Iranian Elite Research Center 2009-2012.
E/C.2/2014/2/Add.12 — 15 NGOs: International Organization for the Right to Education and Freedom of Education (OIDEL) 2009-2012; International Peace and Development Organization 2009-2012; International Research Centre for Environmental Structures “Pio Manzu” 2009-2012; International Road Transport Union 2009-2012; International Shinto Foundation (ISF) 2009-2012; International Social Science Council 2009-2012; International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics 2009-2012; International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies 2009-2012; International Telecommunication Academy (ITA) 2009-2012; International Union of Architects 2009-2012; International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific 2009-2012; International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs 2009-2012; International Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations 2009-2012; Italian Centre of Solidarity 2009-2012; and Jaime Guzman Errazuriz Foundation 2009-2012.
E/C.2/2014/2/Add.13 — 15 NGOs: Jammu and Kashmir Council for Human Rights (JKCHR) 2009-2012; Justice for Girls Outreach Society (JFG) 2009-2012; Latin American and Caribbean Continental Organization of Students 2009-2012; Latin American Federation of Associations of Relatives of Disappeared Detainees 2009-2012; Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada 2009-2012; League of Women Voters of the United States 2009-2012; Learning for a Sustainable Future 2009-2012; Mata Amritanandamayi Math 2009-2012; Mauritius Council of Social Service 2009-2012; Mbororo Social and Cultural Development Association 2009-2012; Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development 2009-2012; MINBYUN — Lawyers for a Democratic Society 2009-2012; MiRA Resource Center for Black Immigrant and Refugee Women 2009-2012; Narcotics Anonymous World Services 2009-2012; and National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials 2009-2012.
E/C.2/2014/2/Add.14 — 15 NGOs: The National Association of Realtors 2009‑2012; National Board of Catholic Women of England and Wales 2009-2012; National Council of Women of Canada 2009-2012; National Council of Women of Malta 2009-2012; National Council on Family Relations 2009-2012; The National Union of Jurists of Cuba 2009-2012; Native Women’s Association of Canada 2009-2012; Netherlands Association of Women’s Interests, Women’s Work and Equal Citizenship 2009-2012; New Humanity 2009-2012; The Nigerian Institute of Homeopathy 2009-2012; Nonviolence International 2009-2012; Nour Foundation 2009-2012; Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development 2009-2012; Open City International Foundation, Inc. 2009-2012; and Open Society Institute 2009-2012.
E/C.2/2014/2/Add.15 — 14 NGOs: Organization for International Economic Relations 2009-2012; Osservatorio per la Comunicazione Culturale e l’Audiovisivo nel Mediterraneo e nel Mondo 2009-2012; Oxfam GB 2009-2012; Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women’s Association 2009-2012; Passionists International 2009-2012; Pasumai Thaayagam Foundation 2009-2012; Pathways to Peace 2009-2012; Peace Worldwide 2009-2012; Penal Reform International 2009-2012; People with Disability Australia, Inc. 2009-2012; Philippine Human Rights Information Center, Inc. 2009‑2012; Qatar Charitable Society 2009-2012; Reach Out to Asia (ROTA) 2009-2012; and Refugee Council of Australia 2009-2012.
E/C.2/2014/2/Add.16 — 14 NGOs: Rotary International 2009-2012; Russian Peace Foundation 2009-2012; S.M. Sehgal Foundation (India) 2009-2012; Sign of Hope e.V. — Hoffnungszeichen 2009-2012;; Sisterhood Is Global Institute 2009-2012; Sisters of Charity Federation 2009-2012; Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur 2009-2012; Smile of a Child 2009-2012; Society to Support Children Suffering from Cancer (MAHAK) 2009-2012; Summer Institute of Linguistics 2009-2012; Susila Dharma International Association 2009-2012; Swedish NGO Foundation for Human Rights 2009-2012; Tamana Association 2009-2012; and Tarumitra 2009-2012.
E/C.2/2014/2/Add.17 — 14 NGOs: Therapy Center for Dependent Individuals (KETHEA) 2009-2012; Triglav Circle 2009-2012; UNANIMA International 2009-2012; Union of Arab Jurists 2009-2012; Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) 2009-2012; Union of Ibero American Capitals — Intermunicipal Financial and Economic Centre for Advice and Co Operation 2009-2012; Unitarian Universalist Association 2009-2012; United Nations Association of Mauritius (MUNA) 2009-2012; United States Federation for Middle East Peace 2009-2012; Vida y Familia de Guadalajara A.C. 2009-2012; Vietnam Peace and Development Foundation 2009-2012; Virtue Foundation 2009-2012; Volontariato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo 2009-2012; and WaterAid 2009-2012.
E/C.2/2014/2/Add.18 — 17 NGOs: Watson Institute for International Studies 2009-2012; Women Environmental Programme 2009-2012; Women in Dialog 2009-2012; Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York 2009-2012; Women’s Board Educational Cooperation Society 2009-2012; Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counseling 2009-2012; Women’s Education and Culture Foundation 2009-2012; Women’s Federation for World Peace International 2009-2012; Women’s Learning Partnership for Rights, Development, and Peace 2009-2012; World Association of Former United Nations Interns and Fellows 2009-2012; World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) 2009-2012; World Family of Radio Maria NGO 2009-2012; World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations 2009-2012; World Lung Foundation 2009-2012; World Political Forum (WPF) 2009-2012; World Resources Institute 2009-2012; and World Water Council 2009‑2012.
E/C.2/2014/2/Add.19 — 7 NGOs: China Family Planning Association 2009-2012; Mani Tese ’76 2009-2012; Women’s Missionary Society of the African Methodist Episcopal Church 2009-2012; World Council of Credit Unions, Inc. 2009-2012; Yad Sarah 2009-2012; Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council (YRITWC) 2009-2012; and Zenab for Women in Development, Inc. 2009-2012.
E/C.2/2014/2/Add.20 — 2 NGOs: Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations — Special consultative status granted in 1996; suspended from July 2013 to July 2014 2008-2011; and Global Action Plan International, Inc — Special consultative status granted in 2000; suspended from July 2013 to July 2014 2008‑2011.
E/C.2/2014/2/Add.21 — 1 NGO: Fondation Connaissance et Liberte/Fondasyon Konesans ak Libete — Special consultative status granted in 2008; suspended from July 2013 to July 2014 2009-2012.
The Committee postponed action on the quadrennial reports contained in document E/C.2/2014/CRP.2.
Interactive Dialogue
A representative of Freedom Now (United States)informed the Committee that her organization worked worldwide on behalf of prisoners of conscience. Responding to a question posed by the delegation of Cuba, the representative said that her organization did not have any projects in Latin America nor did it plan to have any projects in that region in the future. Responding to a question from the delegation of China, the NGO representative said her organization defined a prisoner of conscience as an individual who was imprisoned because he or she had exercised their fundamental rights enshrined in international law.
The representative of China asked why the NGO focused exclusively on activities within developing and not developed countries.
The representative of Pakistan asked how the organization defined which cases were most urgent when determining which ones it would take up. He also asked how the organization selected the geographical areas in which it worked.
The representative of Sudan asked how the NGO coordinated with official authorities and civil society within countries when it selected cases. He also asked if the organization visited prisoners and their families, and how it determined that a country lacked a developed civil society and was in need of the organization’s expertise. He noted that the organization had not answered questions that were previously posed with regard to its activities in Africa.
The Committee then deferred the application.
A representative of Human Life International (United States) told the Committee that her NGO advocated for the rights of women and children around the world. Responding to a previous question, she reported that she did not know why her organization’s application had been denied in the 1990s. She said that since then, the NGO had continued to grow and was now working in 98 different countries.
The representative of Cuba noted that the NGO had submitted information about its plans for projects in her country and questioned whether the organization had established links with religious or governmental authorities in Cuba prior to developing its projects.
The representative of Sudan asked a question about the organization’s budget process and whether it had any activities in Africa.
Israel’s representative asked about the NGO’s position on gay marriage.
The NGO representative said her organization had sent educational materials to the Archdiocese of Havana and shared best practices with religious leaders there, but did not have an office in Cuba.
The Committee then deferred the application.