Continuing Resumed Session, Non-Governmental Organizations Committee Recommends Consultative Status to 46 Entities, Defers Action on 85 Others
During its resumed 2022 session today, the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations recommended that the Economic and Social Council grant special consultative status to 46 entities, while deferring action on 85 others — with delegates requesting that they provide additional information on their financial statements, present or past activities, or guarantees of how they maintain independence when using Government funds.
The 19-member Committee considers applications for consultative status and requests for reclassification submitted by non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Once an application has been reviewed and approved by the Committee, it is considered recommended for consultative status. Organizations which were granted 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.
Among those NGOs recommended for special consultative status included were a number that work to promote the rights of vulnerable populations and groups. Images For Inclusion Inc., created in 2017 and based in the United States, undertakes the mission to combine photography and philanthropy to benefit of children, women and vulnerable indigenous peoples who suffer from material deprivation and limited social participation. It strives to visually expose their socioeconomic, cultural and political disadvantages through photo exhibitions, and provides them with opportunities and resources to promote their social inclusion.
Another group recommended was the National Ethnic Disability Alliance (Australia), which aims to advance and protect the interests and human rights of persons with disabilities among asylum-seekers, migrants and refugees. Created in 1995, the organization also aims to contribute to the work of Council and its subsidiary bodies by implementing the Sustainable Development Goals in Australia, focusing on the development of its particular focus group: people with disabilities from immigrant backgrounds who are most often in the grip of poverty.
Lanka Fundamental Rights Organization (Sri Lanka), created in 2018, works to help children who cannot go to school due to financial difficulties, as well as those who are bullied. It further promotes health education, organizes medical camps and assists communities in preserving drinking groundwater, while ensuring adequate transport for children and elders. In addition, the NGO intends to ensure the planting of one million trees and to support the creation of social enterprises.
The Committee can recommend three different consultative statuses to the Council: general, special and roster.
General status is reserved for large international NGOs whose fields of activity cover the majority of activities in the Council agenda, and its subsidiary bodies. These NGOs are authorized to submit written communications and petitions to the Council, and to propose the inclusion of items on the agenda. Special consultative status is granted to organizations working in a specific field and authorizes them to submit written communications and petitions. Roster status is accorded to NGOs working in a more technical and/or restricted way.
The Committee will continue the work of its resumed session at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 31 August.
Special Consultative Status
The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations recommended that the Economic and Social Council grant special consultative status to the following entities:
Images For Inclusion Inc (United States);
Inner Trip Reiyukai International (United States);
Instituto Internacional de Derecho y Medio Ambiente/International Institute for Law and the Environment (Spain);
International Assembly of Roma (United States);
Interpol Center (United Kingdom);
Jacobs-Abbey Global Institute for Leadership Studies Inc. (United States);
Japan Civil Society Network on SDGs (Japan);
Korea Leaders Forum : Caring and Serving People (Republic of Korea);
Les Caribous Libérés (France);
Life of the Children (Republic of Korea);
Manitoba Council for International Co-operation, Inc. (Canada);
Model European Parliament Italia (Italy);
National Center on Sexual Exploitation, Inc. (United States);
National Ethnic Disability Alliance Incorporated (Australia);
National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, Inc. (United States);
Native American Fatherhood & Families Association (United States);
Nouveau Point De Vue (NPDV) (France);
ReflectUS (United States);
Research Institute for Japan`s Globalization (Japan);
SEN Slovensko a Cesko (Slovakia);
Saving the Nations Ministries International (United States);
Seton Hall University (United States);
Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc. (United States);
Sri Lankan Youth Organization Inc. (United States);
Stella's Girls, Inc (United States);
Stichting Fibree (Malta);
Stichting Power To Win (Netherlands);
Street Salvation Ministries, Inc. (United States)
Swedish Organization for Global Health (Sweden);
True Ways International Inc. (United States);
Warming Hands (Republic of Korea);
Workers Center for Racial Justice, NFP (United States);
Bureau international des droits des enfants / International Bureau for Children’s Rights (Canada);
Canadian Medical Association (Canada);
Anukulan (India);
Association for Promoting Sustainability in Campuses and Communities (India);
Caritas India (India);
Engineering Association for Development and Environment (Iraq);
Global Forum for the Defence of the Less Privileged (GFDLP) (Cameroon);
Human Welfare Charitable Trust (India);
Instituto Campanha Nacional pelo Direito à Educação (Brazil);
Kolkata Society for Cultural Heritage (India);
Lanka Fundamental Rights Organization (Sri Lanka);
Mukti (India);
Piramal Swasthya Management and Research Institute (India); and
Prayas Juvenile Aid Centre (India).
The Committee postponed action on the application of the following groups:
International Coordinating Council on Trans-Eurasian Transportation (CCTT) (Switzerland) — as the representative of the United States requested what fees are charged, and what members expect in return for their support of the organization;
National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs of Japan (Japan) — as China’s representative requested the organization to correct its list of partners and refer to Taiwan as a province of China;
New York University (United States) — as China’s representative requested that Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau not be listed as countries, but as provinces of China;
Rescue: Freedom International (United States) — as the representative of India requested it to provide criteria on how partners organizations are determined, and for details on expenditures on special projects and sources of funding;
Rick Hansen Foundation (Canada) — as China’s representative requested that it correct a reference to Taiwan and refer to it as a province of China;
Stichting Deltares (Netherlands) — as the representative of China requested that Taiwan be referred to as a province of China;
The Friendship League of Culture and Sport (Israel) — as Nicaragua’s representative asked how it guarantees its independence when most of its funds come from Government sources;
Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM) (Malaysia) — as the representative of Israel asked for details on a financing gap;
Asian Federation against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), Inc. (Philippines) — as China’s representative asked if it works with a team to verify the accuracy of data it collects in the field;
Association Achbal Maroc culturelle et artistique (Morocco) — as the Russian Federation’s representative requested further information on its international activities;
Child Nurture and Relief Kashmir (Jammu and Kashmir) — as India’s representative asked it to correct the name of its place of origin and the citizenship of its members;
Fondation Youya pour promouvoir l'excellence en la jeunesse africaine (Morocco) — as Nicaragua’s representative asked if it has no fixed headquarters, how it can function;
Girija Prasad Koirala Foundation for Democracy Peace and Development (Nepal) — as India’s representative said he awaited details on its international activities;
Help in Need (Pakistan) — as Pakistan’s representative asked about its member organizations;
L'union marocaine des conseils et association de la société civile (Morocco) — as Nicaragua’s representative requested it to specify its leaders;
WeYouth (Tunisia) — as the representative of Israel requested clarification on contradictory references that it receives no Government funding, but that most of its income stems from a Government agency;
Women Islamic Lawyers’ Forum (Pakistan) — as Israel’s representative requested details on its budget;
Den Norske Helsingforskomité (Norway) — as China’s representative requested details on its work and collaboration with United Nations agencies;
Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (Denmark) — as Israel’s representative questioned its independence as it receives a large part of its funding from the Government;
Fn-Sambandet i Norge (Norway) — as Türkiye’s representative requested details on its activities in 2021;
Gazze Destek Association (Türkiye) — as Israel’s representative requested an explanation of a discrepancy between the funds received and the expenses incurred;
Human Rights Activists (United States) — as the Russian Federation’s representative requested information on whether it maintain partnerships in foreign countries, including Iran;
International Center for the Study, Prevention and Treatment of Multigenerational Trauma Inc. (United States) — as the Russian Federation’s representative requested details on its international activities;
International Organization for Cooperation in Evaluation (Canada) — as the representative of Nicaragua requested a list of its members be sent to the Committee;
Labdaros ir paramos fondas “Nevyriausybinių organizacijų informacijos ir paramos centras” (Lithuania) — as the Russian Federation’s representative requested details on how it intends to ensure its role in coordinating other organizations, and how the membership process works; while the representative of China asked it to clarify the decision-making process;
Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam of Phoenix (United States) — as the representative of the United States asked the organization to clarify its relationship with Swami Nithyananda who has faced charges in India for kidnapping and other abuse;
Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam Temple & Cultural Center (United States) — as the representative of the United States asked the organization to clarify its relationship with Swami Nithyananda who has faced charges in India for kidnapping and other abuse;
Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam of Houston (United States) — as the representative of the United States asked the organization to clarify its relationship with Swami Nithyananda who has faced charges in India for kidnapping and other abuse;
Policy Studies Organization (United States) — as the Russian Federation’s representative requested a list of countries where it is active.
The Aspen Institute, Inc. (United States) — as the Russian Federation’s representative asked why that organization had not responded in time to questions from the Committee during the last two sessions; China’s representative also requested details of its plans in South-East Asia; and Cuba’s representative asked for details on its activities in Latin America;
The Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (United States) — as China’s representative asked if it had received Government funds in recent years; while Cuba’s representative asked why it only accept funds from the United States Government and not from other Governments;
Uluslararası Yardımlaşma ve Kalkındırma Derneği (Türkiye) — as the representative of Israel asked about government funding in the budget and in what proportion;
“The Awakening” A Society for Social & Cultural Development (Pakistan) — as the representative of Pakistan asked for details on its activities;
AKAHATÁ Equipo de Trabajo en Sexualidad y Géneros Asociación Civil (Argentina) — as the Russian Federation’s representative requested information on its work with the Human Rights Council;
Aliança Nacional LGBTI (Brazil) — as the Russian Federation’s representative asked why 97 per cent of its income was spent on a single project;
Arab Organization for Arabization and Communication (Morocco) — as the representative of Bahrain requested it to provide its financial statements for the past two years;
Asociación Civil Grupo SURES (Venezuela) — as the representative of the United States requested details on its project to create a legal clinic;
Afghanistan Green Crescent Organization (Afghanistan) — as the representative of Greece asked for its membership list;
Association de la femme saharienne pour le développement intégré (Morocco) — as Nicaragua’s representative requested that it specify the purpose of its projects for women, as well as its budget;
Association des Marocains victimes d’expulsion arbitraire de l’Algérie (Morocco) — as the representative of Nicaragua asked if the organization is independent from its donors;
Association for Social Solidarity and Empowerment Training Trust (ASSET) (India) — as Pakistan’s representative asked if it received local funding;
Baghbaan (Pakistan) — as India’s representative requested details on a project associated with Australia;
Beijing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (China) — as the representative of the United States asked why the staff budget has fluctuated;
Belarus Fund of Peace (Belarus) — as the representative of the United States requested details on the organization’s financial status and personnel;
Centre for Participatory Democracy (India) — as India’s representative asked for information on beneficiaries, as well as its project budget;
Chanan Development Association (Pakistan) — as Pakistan’s representative requested details on which regions the organization is active;
Chinese Culture Promotion Society (China) — as the representative of the United States asked it to explain how it managed to close its budget shortfall in 2017;
Dhyana Peetha Charitable Trust (India) — as the representative of the United States requested details on how it carries out activities, and how it intends to contribute to the work of the Council;
Dialogue & Development Forum (Yemen) — as Bahrain’s representative requested its financial details for 2020 and 2021;
Diplomatic Mission Peace And Prosperity (Albania) — as Greece’s representative asked for information on activities in 2022 and 2023;
Environmental and Societal Development Foundation (Pakistan) — as India’s representative requested details on projects and funding;
Direct Focus Community Aid (Pakistan) — as Pakistan’s representative asked if the organization has links with the Government;
Fondacioni “Yesilay” (Albania) — as the representative of Greece requested information on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its activities, and if there were any projects planned for the recovery period;
Forum for Development and Human Rights Dialogue (Egypt) — as Türkiye’s representative asked it to specify the nature of its relations with the other partner organizations;
Fundación Venezolana por el Derecho a la Vivienda (Venezuela) — as the representative of the United States requested details on its real estate project;
General Union of Arab Experts (Morocco) — as India’s representative requested a list of the organization’s experts, and information on its fields of activity;
Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (China) — as the representative of the United States asked for details on the role Government officials play in its activities;
Global Village Forum Chakwal c/o Shaheen Degree College Chappar Bazar Chakwal (Pakistan) — as India’s representative requested budget details;
Gramin Vikas Vigyan Samiti (India) — as Pakistan’s representative requested information on its human rights projects;
Human Rights Protection Group and MFP Federation (India) — as the representative of India requested further information on the “green phone” initiative and its impact;
Human Rights Protection Organization (Pakistan) — as Pakistan’s representative asked for details on its legal assistance project;
Humanitarian Aid International (India) — as the representative of Pakistan requested information on channels or modes for crowdfunding activities;
Incentive Care Foundation (Pakistan) — as India’s representative requested its audited financial statements for 2020 and 2021;
India Youth For Society (India) — as Pakistan’s representative asked the organization to list non-violence projects planned for youth and students;
Institute for Integrated Rural Development (India) — as Pakistan’s representative requested information on contradictory statements on its financial links with the Government;
Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (Pakistan) — as Pakistan’s representative asked if the organization should be registered under the society registration act;
Jan Lok Kalyan Parishad (India) — as the representative of Pakistan requested details on its cooperation with international partners;
Lahore Educational and Welfare Society (Pakistan) — as India’s representative requested details on its projects;
Mentor Amiable Professional Society (Pakistan) — as the representative of India asked which Government campaigns it has participated in during the past five years;
Mumbai Smiles Foundation (India) — as Pakistan’s representative asked if the organization has sufficient membership for its work, or relies on volunteers;
Nagrik Foundation (India) — as the representative of Pakistan requested the organization to clarify inconsistencies in its budget; and
Nithya Annamandir Trust (India) — as India’s representative requested information on trustees, as well as a list of its affiliated organizations.
Dialogue with Non-Governmental Organizations
The representative of Parlamento Internacional para los Derechos Humanos (PIDH) (Venezuela) explained that the NGO is now present in 34 countries, where it fights for the human rights of migrants or migrants in detention. The representative of Cuba requested information on its ties to the Governments of the United States and countries in the region. Nicaragua’s representative asked how the organization contributes to the work of the Council. The Russian Federation’s representative requested how the organization is able to carry out its work on $500.
Examination of Requests for Consultative Status
The Committee then postponed action on the application of the following groups:
Nithya Annamandir Trust (India) — as the representative of India requested a legal document concerning a trustee;
Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam (India) — as India’s representative requested clarification on a sole trustee;
Nithya Gnanadhan Trust (India) — as India’s representative asked who controls the organization’s Internet domain;
Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam TCD Trust (India) — as the representative of the United States requested how it is separate from Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam (India);
Nithyananda Foundation (India) — as the representative of the United States asked how it is separate from Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam (India) and Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam TCD Trust (India);
Nithyanandeshwar Devasthanam Trust (India) — as the representative of the United States asked how it is separate from Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam (India) and Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam TCD Trust (India) and Nithyananda Foundation (India);
Organization Tamaynut (Morocco) — as India’s representative requested details on the nature of its funding;
Organization of female conscience renewal (Morocco) — as the representative of India requested details about its activities on women's empowerment in the last five years, as well its latest audited financial statement;
OxYGen Foundation for Protection of Women and Youth Rights (Armenia) — as Türkiye’s representative asked for clarification on its affiliations with other organizations;
Pak Special Persons Welfare Society (Pakistan) — as India’s representative requested details on its 40 members;
The Pakistan Press Foundation (Pakistan) — as the representative of Pakistan asked for a breakdown on the 9.2 million rupees received from each of three entities;
Populous Education Foundation (India) — as Pakistan’s representative requested information on the organization’s revenue-generating activities;
Pouya Institute for Communications and Social Development (Iran) — as the representative of the United States requested substantive information on recruitment practices and membership fees; and
Pro Rural (India) — as the representative of Pakistan asked for details on the organization’s plans for promoting peace and development through conflict transformation training.