In Interactive Dialogue Session, Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations Defers Status of 2 Entities

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations today deferred action on the application of two organizations for special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, as it held a question and answer session with those entities.

The 19-member Committee vets applications submitted by non-governmental organizations, recommending general, special or roster status on the basis of such criteria as the applicant’s mandate, governance and financial regime.  Organizations enjoying general and special status can attend meetings of the Council and issue statements, while those with general status can also speak during meetings and propose agenda items.  Organizations with roster status can only attend meetings.

Interactive Dialogue

A representative of Sheikh Eid Bin Mohammad Al Thani Charitable Association (Qatar) said that the organization marked the twentieth anniversary of its foundation this year and its work was purely humanitarian and non-political.  Its humanitarian and charity programmes reached 35,000 families, seeking to pull them out of poverty by providing food, shelter and medical services.  Outside Qatar, it worked with local partners, which were evaluated and approved by the group’s board, in 50 countries.  Its staff might travel outside the country in cases of natural disasters.  Details on its activities in 2012 would be provided as soon as they were available, but the entity had such information only in Arabic.

Israel’s delegate said that most of his delegation’s questions had not been completely answered and he would wait for the uploading of answers on the Committee’s website.  He sought a financial statement explaining its $9 million deficit.

The organization’s representative said that its financial situation had since improved, promising to provide more information.

The Committee postponed action, pending further information.

A representative of Zaka Rescue and Recovery (Israel) said that the organization provided assistance to victims of natural disasters, and it would help victims regardless of their nationality or race.

To Sudan’s delegate, who asked about details of its activities, regions it worked, the status of registration, and the financial condition, he said that the entity’s activities were not based in a certain region and it extended assistance to people affected by tsunami in Japan, an earthquake in Haiti, and a typhoon in the Philippines.

To Venezuela’s delegate seeking further clarification about its partnership with the State of Palestine, he said it stayed out of politics and it did not form ties with Governments.

To Nicaragua’s delegate, who asked about the group’s relationship with United Hatzalah, he said that there was no merger between the two.

Sudan’s delegate requested written answers to those questions.

The representative of the United States asked if her counterpart from Sudan was seeking written answers to questions posed by delegations other than Sudan.  It would be more adequate if Sudan sought written response to its own questions, not those asked by others.

Israel’s delegate said the non-governmental organization had supplied written answers, and those questions should not be raised again.

Sudan’s delegate said that he requested written answers to the questions posed today by other Committee members, and he himself wanted to receive an update on the financial status because the figures provided by the entity were old.

The Committee postponed action, pending further information.