Continuing Its Regular Session, Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations Recommends 30 Entities for Status, Defers Action on 60
The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations today recommended 30 organizations for special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, while deferring action on the status of 60 others.
The Committee also took note of the six requests from organizations wishing to change their names and deferred consideration of one request to do so. Furthermore, the Committee took note of one request from an organization wishing to withdraw its consultative status.
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 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.
Action on a number of applications was postponed because Committee members wanted more information from the candidates about, among other things, details of their respective organizations’ projects, partners, expenditures, sources of funding and relationship with United Nations system actors.
In addition, the Committee deferred consideration of three quadrennial reports from various organizations.
The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations will meet again at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 8 February, to continue its session.
Quadrennial Reports
Continuing its consideration of quadrennial reports submitted by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and deferred from previous sessions, the Committee deferred its consideration of three reports contained in document E.C/2017/CRP.3.
Regarding the 2007–2010 report of World Council of Arameans (Syriacs), the representative of Turkey requested a detailed list of organizations under the group’s supervision.
On the 2011-2014 report of World Jewish Congress, the representative of Iran asked for more detailed information on the organization’s work in support of Millennium Development Goal 3 and its possible impact on Palestinian women and girls.
With regards to the 2011–2014 report of the World Safety Organization, the representative of China requested the group to correct a reference to Taiwan on its website.
Name Change Requests
Turning to other business, the Committee took note of the following requests from organizations wishing to change their names, as listed in document E.C/2017/CRP.4: Bakhtar Development Network Switzerland "BDN Swiss" [Special, 2014] to Action for Development (AfD Suisse); International Federation of Family Associations of Missing Persons from Armed Conflicts [Special, 2006] to Families of the Missing; NeuroCare Ethiopia [Special, 2013] to Global NeuroCare; Stichting Rutgers WPF [Special, 2004] to Rutgers; Women's Division of the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church [Special, 2014] to United Methodist Women; World of Hope International [Special, 2008] to World Organization of Governance & Competitiveness Inc.
Regarding a request from the organization Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute, Inc. [Special, 2014] to change its name to C-Fam, Inc., the representative of Turkey requested information about the group’s work in defence of women’s rights carried out under its new name.
Requests for Withdrawal of Consultative Status
The Committee then took note of one request from an organization wishing to withdraw its consultative status, the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Market Women’s Fund, which had been dissolved (document E.C/2017/CRP.5).
Consultative Status
Returning to its consideration of new applications submitted by groups not yet accredited with the Economic and Social Council, the Committee recommended that special consultative status be granted to the following organizations:
Association Nationale des Echanges Entre Jeunes (Algeria);
Association de lutte contre la pauvreté (Mauritania);
Association pour l'Éducation et la Santé de la Femme et de l'Enfant (Mauritania);
DHRUVH-Social Awareness Forum (India);
DIYNGO Community Based Organization (Kenya);
Dynamic Youth Development Organization (Nigeria);
Foundation for Disabled Women (Nigeria);
Heal The Planet Global Organisation–HTP (Uganda);
Health of Mother Earth Foundation (Nigeria);
Organisation Mauritanienne pour la lutte contre l'extremisme et pour l'appui à l'unité Nationale (Mauritania);
SWASTI (India);
shOObh Group Welfare Society (India);
Congregation of the Mission (Italy);
Drug Policy Australia Limited (Australia);
Guinee Humanitaire (France);
Holt International Children’s Services, Inc. (United States);
Honeypot Village (United Kingdom);
L’Organisation Non Gouvernementale des Cercles Nationaux de Réflexion sur la Jeunesse-ONG CNRJ (France);
Man Up Campaign US Inc. (United States);
National Council of Catholic Women (United States);
National Organization for Global Education Inc. (United States);
Takshila Education Inc. (United States);
The 5 Gyres Institute (United States);
Translators Without Borders – US, Inc. (United States);
EUROGEO (Belgium);
Marin Experimental Teaching, Training and Advising Center (United States);
Observatoire du Crime Organisé (Switzerland).
The Committee postponed consideration of the following organizations:
Association M’zab prévention routière et développement (Morocco) — as the representative of Iran requested more information on its work planned for 2017.
Center for Assistance to Justice and Animation for Development (Cameroon) — as the representative of Nicaragua requested clarification regarding the group’s scope as a national or international organization.
Community Empowerment and Development Initiative, Warri (Nigeria) — as the representative of South Africa asked for more information about the organization’s local partners.
Drishti Foundation Trust (India) — as the representative of India asked for more information about the organization’s projects, including where they had taken place, and for specific details about its work in the area of dental oral hygiene.
Family Policy Institute (South Africa) — as the representative of South Africa asked for specific data about funding received by the group from other NGOs, as well as about its international work, its planned activities for 2017 and its relationship with Governments.
Formation Awareness and Community Empowerment Society Pakistan (Pakistan) — as the representative of Pakistan wished to know which Governments the group had worked with to implement its project aimed at the reduction of radicalization.
Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation (Iran) — as the representative of the United States asked the organization whether it provided services to women, single mothers and their children, persons with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, and other minorities.
Initiative for Youth Awareness on Climate Change (Nigeria) — as the representative of South Africa asked for more information asked about the group’s planned projects, activities and funding, as well as its local partners.
International Centre for Leadership Development Nigeria (Nigeria) — as the representative of South Africa asked for a list of countries in which the organization worked.
J.P. Foundation Inc. (Dominica) — as the representative of Cuba requested more information about the group’s projects in her country, as well as which Cuban organizations it partnered with.
Legal Advice Centre (Kenya) — as the representative of Burundi requested an update on the group’s finances.
Mkokoteni Aid Development Organization (Kenya) — as the representative of Burundi asked for more information regarding the organization’s 2016 projects.
Navjivan Foundation (India) — as the representative of India asked which countries the organization had worked in, as well as where it planned to carry out work in the future.
Niger Delta Budget Monitoring Group (Nigeria) — as the representative of South Africa asked about discrepancies between the organization’s listed income and its expenditures.
Orji Uzor Kalu Foundation (Nigeria) — as the representative of South Africa asked for more information about how the organization intended to deal with its large financial deficit.
Pak Women (Pakistan) — as the representative of India asked for details on the group’s work conducted in the federally administered tribal areas of Pakistan.
Rwenzori Center for Research and Advocacy (Uganda) — as the representative of South Africa asked whether the group worked with Uganda’s Department of Health.
Slum Child Foundation (Kenya) — as the representative of Burundi requested more information on the group’s 2016 activities.
The Arab Council for Supporting Fair Trial (Egypt) — as the representative of the Russian Federation posed a question about one of the organization’s offices, which was located in Syria, and about which local partners it worked with there. In addition, the representative of India also requested further information about the group’s projects across all the countries where it worked.
The Red Elephant Foundation (India) — as the representative of India asked for more information about the group’s “building peace project” and the resulting “peace summit”.
Al-Hasaniya Moroccan Women's Project (United Kingdom) — as the representative of Pakistan asked for more information about which partners the group work with in the implementation of its youth projects.
Alliance internationale pour la défense des droits et des libertés (France) — as the representative of Cuba requested further information about the group’s financing of past and future projects.
American Human Rights Council (United States) — as the representative of Cuba asked whether the organization had conducted visits to, or activities in, countries other than Lebanon.
Comité des observateurs des droits de l'homme (France) — as the representative of Nicaragua asked for more information about the criteria used by the group to carry out its work in Latin America.
Dream Touch for All (Republic of Korea) — as the representative of the Russian Federation requested information about the organization’s work in assisting refugees from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
European Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Limited (Belgium) - as the representative of Mauritania requested more information about the group’s planned event with the European Parliament.
GenderCC - Women for Climate Justice e.V. (Germany) — as the representative of Cuba posed questions about the organization’s independence in light of its Government funding.
Jerusalem Institute of Justice (Israel) — as the representative of Venezuela asked for details on the organization’s 2016 financial statements.
Jeunesse Etudiante Tamoule (France) — as the representative of Turkey requested details on activities, including the results of campaigns.
Malteser International e.V. (Germany) — as the representative of the Russian Federation asked for clarification on the organization’s mandate, including whether the group operated in the eastern part of Ukraine. Furthermore, the representative of Cuba asked for the organization’s response to a question posed by the Committee in December 2016.
Right Livelihood Award Foundation (Sweden) — as the representative of the Russian Federation requested further information on activities related to granting awards.
Rights and Resources Institute Inc. (United States) — as the representative of Nicaragua asked for a more complete list of partner organizations in countries that had been mentioned in the application.
Roads of Success (United States) — as the representative of Cuba requested a list of organizations that provided funding to the group.
SAE International (United States) — as the representative of China asked for a correction on the website, which included Taiwan, and in that regard, requested that the organization use United Nations terminology.
Stichting Pro Papua (Netherlands) — as the representative of Iran asked for the organization’s responses to the Committee’s previous questions. In addition, the representative of South Africa said an attachment that apparently contained the answers had, indeed, not been attached to the relevant website.
White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, Inc (United States) — as the representative of Nicaragua asked if the organization planned to expand activities in other regions.
Youth RISE (Resource, Information, Support, Education) Limited (United Kingdom) — as the representative of South Africa asked if the organization had any relations with Governments in carrying out its activities.
Pak Special Persons Welfare Society (Pakistan) — as the representative of Pakistan asked for a response to the Committee’s previous questions.
Albert Kunstadter Family Foundation (United States) — as the representative of Nicaragua asked for a list of partners in Nicaragua, and the representative of China requested further information on activities in Tibet.
Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e.V. (Germany) — as the representative of China, saying a report on the group’s website contained Taiwan in a list of countries, asked it to correct the error.
Diakonia (Sweden) — as the representative of Cuba requested details on projects and local partners in Cuba. In addition, the representative of China, saying that a report on the group’s website referred to Taiwan as a country, asked it to correct it.
Embajada Mundial de Activistas por la Paz (Global Embassy of Activists for Peace) Corp. (United States) — as the representative of China asked for clarification on membership.
Global Peace Foundation (United States) — as the representatives of Nicaragua and Cuba requested details on projects.
NDLH International Network of International Diplomacy, International Law and Human Rights (Norway) — as the representative of the Russian Federation asked for a list of countries where the organizations operated.
Turning to deferred applications, the Committee recommended that special consultative status be granted to the following organizations:
Centre for Peace, Culture and Environmental Studies (Nigeria);
Women & Community Livelihood Foundation (Nigeria);
Fondazione Proclade Internazionale–Onlus (Italy).
The Committee postponed consideration of the following organizations:
Settlement Services International Incorporated (Australia) — as the representative of China said the group’s website had listed Tibet in a list of countries, asking it to correct the error.
World Learning Inc. (United States) — as the representative of Nicaragua requested information on work with universities in Nicaragua.
Akhil Bharatiya Human Rights Organisation (India) — as the representative of Pakistan asked for details on projects.
Coordination Waï (Eveil) relative à l’unité nationale et la lutte contre l’esclavage (Mauritania) — as the representative of Mauritania asked for outstanding responses to the Committee’s previous questions on regional-level activities and the names of the countries involved.
Creators Union of Arab (Egypt) — as the representative of Cuba requested further information on the group’s decision-making process in the election of the board of directors.
Danjuma Atta Eye Foundation (Nigeria) — as the representative of Azerbaijan asked for details on outreach activities.
Eaglesworth Human Empowerment Foundation (Nigeria) — as the representative of South Africa asked if the group worked with the Department of Health.
Gestos Soropositividade Comunicação e Gênero (Brazil) — as the representative of the Russian Federation asked for a definition of “sexual citizenship”.
Pan African Institute for Entrepreneurship and Community Development (Ltd/Gte) (Nigeria) — as the representative of South Africa asked which African countries the group planned to undertake projects in.
Society for the Widows and Orphans (Nigeria) — as the representative of South Africa asked whether the group had any relations with Governments in the countries in which they work or with the relevant health departments.
Assyrian Aid Society of America Inc. (United States) — as the representative of Turkey asked for further clarification of direct public support revenue, particularly the nature of the financial support.
Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (Denmark) — as the representative of Turkey asked for details on information on interventions to the Human Rights Council and a list of partners.
Fondation Alkarama (Switzerland) — as the representative of Pakistan requested clarification on its statement that it would resubmit its application.
Fundación Acción Pro Derechos Humanos (Spain) — as the representative of Cuba asked for details about the group’s mandate.