Concluding First Week of Resumed Session, Non-Governmental Organizations Committee Postpones Action on 4 Groups Seeking Special Consultative Status
The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations today deferred action on the applications of four entities seeking special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council.
The Committee also postponed consideration of three organizations whose applications for reclassification had been deferred from previous sessions, while postponing an application from an entity with consultative status that had merged with another organization without such status.
The Committee recommended that the Council reinstate the consultative status of 30 organizations, while recommending suspensions for 128 and requesting that consultative status be withdrawn for 128 other organizations.
The Committee also took note of the new quadrennial reports for the period 2012 to 2015 and reviewed a series of deferred quadrennial reports.
During the session, members of civil society were given the opportunity to present on the work of their organizations and answer questions posed by Members. The non-governmental organizations whose applications were deferred were asked to respond to questions in writing.
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.
The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations will meet again at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 30 May, to continue its session.
Special Consultative Status
The Committee postponed consideration of the following four organizations:
Vang Pao Peace Institute (United States) — as the representative of China requested the organization’s planned activities in support of its programmes for peaceful transitions to democratic institutions.
We Care for Humanity (United States) — as the representative of India requested further information about how the group’s partnership classifications work and for more details about the responsibilities of the organization’s ambassadors.
World Learning Inc. (United States) — as the representative of Nicaragua requested more details about the organization’s projects in Nicaragua that are funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The representative of the United States stressed that the information had been previously provided to the Committee, while the representative of the Russian Federation expressed concern about the trend of one Committee member questioning the legitimacy of another member’s request. The representative of Israel suggested that the Committee attempt to move forward with its work in a spirit of solidarity, while the representative of Greece recalled that in the past, it was considered acceptable for members to ask for clarification. The representative of Cuba recalled that it was within the right of Committee members to ask for further clarification on questions, while the representative of South Africa requested a list of local partners for the organization’s activities in Africa.
Youth RISE (Resource, Information, Support, Education) Limited (United Kingdom) — as the representative of Nicaragua requested further information about any events the organization may have held within the United Nations.
Reclassifications
The Committee then took up applications from organizations whose applications for reclassification had been deferred from previous sessions.
The Committee postponed consideration of the following three organizations:
International Campaign to Ban Landmines (Switzerland) — as the representative of Turkey noted that the organization had changed its name, which meant that it should first apply for a name change before applying for a reclassification.
Universal Peace Federation (United States) — as the representative of Turkey requested further information about other organizations it had partnered with to promote interfaith dialogue.
Widows for Peace through Democracy (United Kingdom) — as the representative of Turkey requested updated information on the organization’s current financial situation.
Mergers
The Committee then took up applications from organizations with consultative status that had merged with other organizations without such status, deciding to postpone the following organization:
Social Service Agency of the Protestant Church in Germany (Germany) — as the representative of Cuba requested more information about the organization that did not have consultative status, including its financials, registry information and other normal documents.
Review of Quadrennial Reports
The Committee then took note of the new quadrennial reports for the period 2012 to 2015 containing submissions by the following non-governmental organizations:
Report E.C.2/2017/2/Add.24. — nine non-governmental organizations: Association Graines de Paix; Coordination Francaise du Lobby Europeen des Femmes; Fondation Connaissance et Liberte / Fondasyon Konesans ak Libete; Fonds pour le développement énergétique durable; Organisation Mondiale des Experts-Conseils Arbitres; Stiftung Brot fuer Alle; Tour Opération et Initiatives; Union Internationale des Huissiers de Justice et Officiers Judiciaires; and Vie Montante International (VMI).
Report E/C.2/2017/CRP.17 — 15 non-governmental organizations: African Women’s Development & Communication Network (FEMNET); Alulbayt Foundation; The Lebanese Welfare Association for the Handicapped; Rehab Group; SustainUS, Inc.; Tabitha Cumi Foundation; Talented Girl Students Trust (TGST); The Bread of Life Development Foundation; The Federation of Women Groups; The International Legal Foundation, Ltd.; The Sant Nirankari Mandal, Delhi; The Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance; Thin and High; Tlachinollan; Grupo de Apoyo a los Pueblos Indios de la Montaña; and Training for Women Network.
Report E/C.2/2017/CRP.18 — 13 non-governmental organizations: American Civil Liberties Union; UPR Info; USA Mali Charitable Association of NYC; Union Arabischer Mediziner in Europa; United Nations Association of China (UNA-China); Universal Networking Digital Language Foundation; Unnayan Onneshan; VDE Prüf- und Zertifizierungsinstitut GmbH; VIVAT International; Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund, Inc.; Voice of Change International; Voices of African Mothers, Inc.; and Vojenský a špitální Rád svatého Lazara Jeruzalémského–Bohemia.
Regarding the Universal Peace Federation, the representative of Turkey requested more information on the conferences the organization had held focused on peace, security and development.
Regarding the United Methodist Church-General Board of Global Ministries, the representative of Iran requested a list of partner organizations.
Report E/C.2/2017/CRP.19 — 15 non-governmental organizations: Volontari nel Mondo – FOCSIV; Voluntary Service Overseas; WOOMB International Ltd; Wahine Maori Queensland Inc.; Women and Children First UK; Women’s Consortium of Nigeria; Women’s Forum Fighting against the Violence on Women / Stree Atyachar Virodhi Parishad; Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights; Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom; Won-Buddhism Women’s Association; Word of Life Christian Fellowship; World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action; World Association of Girl Guides & Girl Scouts; World Barua Organization (WBO); and World Family Organization.
Report E/C.2/2017/CRP.20 — 15 non-governmental organizations: World Human Dimension; World Organization of Governance and Competitiveness; World Space Week Association; World Welfare Association; World Wide Fund for Nature International; World Youth Alliance; World Youth Foundation; Worldwide Network Nigeria: Women in Development and Environment; Yachay Wasi, Inc.; Yakutia-Our Opinion; Young Men’s Hebrew Association of the City of New York; Young Professionals Forum; Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action; ZOA Vluchtelingenzorg; and Zayed International Prize for the Environment.
Report E/C.2/2017/CRP.21 — 13 non-governmental organizations: Aland Islands Peace Institute, The; Art of Living Foundation; Asociación para el Desarrollo “Foro Rural Mundial”; Bharat Sevashram Sangha; Cesvi Fondazione; Climate Institute; Community and Family Services International; Corporación Excelencia en la Justicia; Corporation of Opportunity and Jointly Action Opcion-OPCION CORPORATION; Daya Pertiwi Foundation; Development Promotion Group; Femmes Afrique Solidarité; and The International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations (ILEP).
Regarding the American Psychological Association, the representative of Turkey requested more information on the organization’s parallel events of a recent conference.
Regarding the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs of the World Council of Churches, the representative of Turkey requested more information on the organization’s programmes related to gender equality.
Report E/C.2/2017/CRP.22 — 14 non-governmental organizations: Dignity - Danish Institute Against Torture; Dutch Council for Refugees / VluchtelingenWerk Nederland; Earth Day Network, Inc.; Environic Foundation International; Fondazione Giovanni e Francesca Falcone-Foundation Giovanni e Francesca Falcone; Frathekk Foundation Common Initiative Group (FRA.FO-CIG); Fundacion Instituto Psicopedagogico Uruguayo; Humane Society of the United States; Hunter College Center for Community and Urban Health; ICT for Peace Foundation; ICW Global Comunidad Internacional de Mujeres viviendo con VIH-SIDA., Asociación Civil; IT for Change; Institute for Multicultural Communications Cooperation and Development, Inc; and International Federation of Hard of Hearing People.
Regarding the Federacion de Asociaciones de Defensa y Promocion de los Derechos Humanos, the representative of Cuba asked for more information on the workshop held in Panama in 2012.
Report E/C.2/2017/CRP.23 — 14 non-governmental organizations: Islamic Relief USA; Islands First, Inc.; Korean Assembly for Reunion of Ten-million Separated Families; Local Action Organization; Mother Child Education Foundation; Mountain Women Development Organization (MWDO); NCCI (NGO Coordination Committee for Iraq); National Centre for Sustainable Development; National Space Society; Nature Conservancy; Nigeria Model United Nations Society; Noble Institution for Environmental Peace; Non-Governmental Organisations’ Coordinating Committee; and Painted Children UK Limited.
Regarding Médecins sans Frontières (International), the representative of the Russian Federation said that the organization was not authorized to work in Syria, and asked how they were working there without the authorization of the Government of Syria.
Report E/C.2/2017/CRP.24 – 14 non-governmental organizations: Public Health Institute; Reality of Aid Network; Red de Educacion Popular Entre Mujeres (REPEM); Restoration and Healing; Sakyadhita; Service for Peace, Inc.; Singapore Institute of International Affairs; Sister to Sister International; Smile of the Child; Somali Women Civil War Survivors; Sveriges Kvinnolobby; Swisscontact, Schweizerische Stiftung für technische Entwicklungs-zusammenarbeit; The Fishermen; and The Peacemaker Corps Foundation.
Regarding US Human Rights Network Inc., the representative of China asked for more information about the organization’s work in support of the Millennium Development Goals.
Report E/C.2/2017/CRP.25 — 13 non-governmental organizations: God’s Harvest Foundation, GHARFO; Initiative for Environment, Health and Social Development; Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy; Oidhaco, Bureau International des Droits Humains-Action Colombie; Palestinian Centre for Human Rights; UMUT Foundation; Vienna Economic Forum; Women Deliver, Inc.; Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management; World Hunger Education Service; World Igbo Congress; World Organization of former students of Catholic Education; and Yugoslav Youth Association Against AIDS-Youth of JAZAS.
Regarding the World Council of Independent Christian Churches and World Vision International, the representative of China said that the website of both organizations considered Taiwan a sovereign nation. He encouraged them to use the United Nations terminology correctly.
Report E/C.2/2017/CRP.26 — 15 non-governmental organizations: Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia; ActionAid; Arab Lawyers Union; Belgrade Centre for Human Rights; Centre for Democracy and Development; China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation; Commission National des Femmes Travailleuses de Guinee - Confetrag/CNTG; Conseil International du Sport Militaire-CISM / International Military Sports Council; Development Innovations and Networks; European Women’s Lobby; Instituto Qualivida; International Council of Scientific Unions; International Planned Parenthood Federation, East and Southeast Asia and Oceania Region (IPPF ESEAOR); International Trade Union Confederation; and JASMAR Human Security Organization.
Report E/C.2/2017/CRP.27 — 15 non-governmental organizations: BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; Non-Aligned Students and Youth Organization; Norwegian Forum for Environment and Development; Plan Suomi Säätio; Resources for the Future, Inc.; Samuhik Abhiyan 2011 – 2014; Self-Help Development Facilitators; Struggle for Change; Turkish Philanthropy Funds; UN Women - Nationell Kommitté Sverige; Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation; World Association of Children’s Friends; World Federation of Therapeutic Communities; and World Federation of United Nations Associations.
Report E/C.2/2017/CRP.28 — nine non-governmental organizations: Africa Culture Internationale; Arab Commission for Human Rights; Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW); Catholic Medical Mission Board, Inc.; Mukono Multi-purpose Youth Organisation; Press Council; Public Fund “Medialife”; US Women Connect; and World Veterans Federation.
Regarding British Overseas NGOs for Development (BOND), the representative of China expressed concern regarding its position on Taiwan and urged the organization to use the correct United Nations terminology.
Next, the Committee took note of the list of 30 organizations listed in report E/C.2/2016/CRP.13 and recommended to the Council that it reinstate their consultative status pursuant to Council resolution 2008/4: Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia; ActionAid; Arab Lawyers Union; BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights; Belgrade Centre for Human Rights; Centre for Democracy and Development; China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation; Commission National des Femmes Travailleuses de Guinee-Confetrag/CNTG; Conseil International du Sport Militaire - CISM / International Military Sports Council; Development Innovations and Networks; European Women’s Lobby; Instituto Qualivida; International Council of Scientific Unions; International Planned Parenthood Federation, East and Southeast Asia and Oceania Region (IPPF ESEAOR); International Trade Union Confederation; JASMAR Human Security Organization; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; Non-Aligned Students and Youth Organization; Norwegian Forum for Environment and Development; Plan Suomi Säätio; Resources for the Future, Inc.; Samuhik Abhiyan; Self-Help Development Facilitators; Struggle for Change; Turkish Philanthropy Funds; UN Women - Nationell Kommitté Sverige; Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation; World Association of Children’s Friends; World Federation of Therapeutic Communities; and the World Federation of United Nations Associations.
Next the Committee took note of the 128 organizations listed in report E/C.2/2016/CRP.14 and recommended their suspension.
The Committee then took note of list of 128 organizations in report E/C.2/2016/CRP.15 and requested that their consultative status be withdrawn.
Deferred Quadrennial Reports
The Committee also took note of the following deferred quadrennial reports submitted by non-governmental organizations in consultative status, contained in document [E/C.2/2017/CRP.10]: AARP (2011–2014); Advocates for Human Rights (2012-2015); Centre for Human Rights (2012–2015); East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (2012–2015); The European Centre for Law and Justice (2011–2014); The Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (2012–2015); Front Line, the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (2012–2015); Human Rights First (2007–2010),(2011–2014); Human Rights Now (2012–2015); International Association for Media and Communication Research (2012–2015); International Bar Association (2011–2014); International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (2012-2015); International Fellowship of Reconciliation (2011–2014); International Humanist and Ethical Union (2012–2015); Medical Women’s International Association (2011–2014); Pax Christi International, International Catholic Peace Movement(2011–2014); Planned Parenthood Federation of America (2011–2014); and Restless Development (2012–2015).
Committee members posed questions related to a number of the reports on that list.
Regarding the 2008–2011 report of Amnesty International the representative of China requested detailed information regarding the organization’s participation and contributions to the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples. On the 2012–2015 report from the same organization, the representative of China requested further clarification on whether information provided by Governments was used in the preparation of the group’s reports.
Regarding the 2007–2010 report of the Armenian Assembly of America, the representative of Turkey requested the organization provide more information regarding its participation in the sixteenth Department of Public Information-Non-Governmental Organization conference. On the 2011–2014 report from the same organization, the representative of Turkey requested more information about the group’s relations with different United Nations agencies during the reporting period.
On the 2012–2015 report of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, the representative of China requested that the organization correct numerous misuses of United Nations terminology on its website.
Regarding the 1998–2001 report of Centrist Democratic International, the representative of China requested that the organization clarify its position on the issue of Taiwan. On the 2002–2005, 2006–2009 and 2010–2013 reports from the same organization, the representative of China requested that the organization provide a clarification and correction to its website regarding the labelling of the country of China.
On the 2007–2010 and 2011–2014 reports of Freedom House, the representative of China asked the organization to indicate whether it recognized Taiwan and Tibet as integral parts of the People’s Republic of China. On the 2011–2014 report of the same organization, the representative of Iran requested that the group provide a list of its activities concerning Millennium Development Goal 2 on gender equality.
Regarding the 2011–2014 report of the Heritage Foundation, the representative of Iran requested the organization provide more information on its participation at the forty-seventh session of the Commission on Population and Development.
On the 2011–2014 report of the Human Rights House Foundation, the representative of China asked whether the organization recognized that Tibet was an autonomous part of his country.
Regarding the 2009–2012 report of the Human Rights Watch, the representative of China asked for more information about the criteria and sources used in the preparation of its materials.
On the 2009-2012 report of the International Commission of Jurists, the representative of China asked for more information about the regional activities of the organization.
Regarding the 2001–2004, 2009–2012 and 2005–2008 reports of the International Press Institute, the representative of China asked the group to make corrections to its website where it referred to its National Committee in Taiwan.
On the 2011–2014 report of the International Service for Human Rights, the representative of China asked if the organization was using information and sources from Governments and relevant agencies.
On the 2012–2015 report of the Iraqi Development Organization, the representative of India asked the organization to clarify the current status of its registration in the United Kingdom, and asked that it inform the Committee if there was a change in status.
Regarding the 2011–2014 report of the Nonviolent Peaceforce, the representative of China asked the organization to clarify its position with regard to Tibet and its relationship to the Dalai Lama.
On the 2011–2014 report of the Redress Trust, the representative of China asked the organization to provide more information on its work with civil society groups and States Parties.
Regarding the 2011–2014 report of Sulabh International, the representative of China asked for clarification of the group’s position on Tibet and its relationship to the Dalai Lama.
Interactive Discussion
The representative of the Global Forum for Media Development said that it was a network of 190 organizations around the world working in journalism training and media reform. “We ourselves preach the gospel of transparency,” he said, encouraging delegates to ask any questions. The organization worked with the United Nations around the world.
The representative of Cuba said that his delegation was satisfied with the responses the organization had provided and asked for more information about the organization’s projects in Syria. Responding, the representative of the Global Forum said that in Syria, the organization’s goal was to empower and train Syrian journalists from all sides.
The representative of Cuba asked follow-up questions about their methods to identify journalists and the current status of funding. The representative of the Russian Federation asked exactly what the group wanted to teach journalists.
Responding, the representative of the Global Forum said that the organization was not telling people what to do; it was a confederation of local groups, the majority of which were based in developing nations. The goal was to make the media more professional, independent, and economically sustainable and credible. Syrian journalists didn’t need lessons from America, he said. The first phase was to identify qualified Syrian journalists and the second was to disseminate their work.
The representative of Cuba said he had some misgivings about the “independence” of the journalists, and asked for a written clarification.
The representative of the Global Forum said that when the organization stopped funding activities in a country, the activities didn’t necessarily stop because the networks they had formed continued.
Deferred Quadrennial Reports
The Committee then continued to take note of the following deferred quadrennial reports submitted by non-governmental organizations in consultative status, contained in document [E/C.2/2017/CRP.10]: The Tandem Project (2011–2014); World Alliance of Young Men’s Christian Associations (2011–2014); and World Safety Organization (2011–2014).
Regarding the 2011–2014 report of the Temple of Understanding, the representative of China asked for clarification about the organization’s position on the Dalai Lama.
On the 2010–2013 report of the World Organisation against Torture, the representative of China requested clarification on whether the group cooperated with any Governments and if yes, which ones.