Concluding Regular Session, Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations Recommends Status for 124 Entities, Defers 176 Others

Subsidiary Body Also Elects Delegate of Sudan Vice-Chair from African Group

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations today concluded its regular session with the adoption of its report, in which it recommended that the Economic and Social Council grant consultative status to 124 of the 330 applicants it considered during its session.

By the report (document E/C.2/2015/L1.1/Rev.1), adopted without a vote, the Committee also recommended that the Economic and Social Council defer 176 applications for further consideration when it resumed its session, slated to be held in May, and close 29 applications after the non-governmental organizations in question had failed to respond to queries over two consecutive sessions.  It also took note of one non-governmental organization that had withdrawn its application.

Among its other recommendations was that the Council grant two of the five requests for reclassification of consultative status, while taking note of five requests for a name change and also of 172 of the 210 quadrennial reports before it.  It further took note of the requests from two non-governmental organizations to withdraw their consultative status.

Also today, the Committee elected, by acclamation, the representative of Sudan as its Vice-Chair from the African Group.

The 19-member Committee, elected on the basis of equitable geographical representation, has been a standing body of the Economic and Social Council since its establishment in 1946.  It 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.