Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations

Note: Complete coverage of today's meetings of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations will be available Tuesday, 20 May.

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) opened its 2025 resumed session at UN Headquarters today, recommending entities for special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council and deferring action on others.

The 2025 regular session is expected to consider 258 new applications for consultative status and 356 applications deferred from previous sessions of the Committee.  The Committee will also review new quadrennial reports and the session’s recommendations will be sent to the Economic and Social Council for its approval during Council’s management segment from 10 to 11 June 2025.

Wook-Jin Chang, Chief of the NGO Branch, said that the inclusion of civil society in important meetings is more critical than before.  “Over the past several years, applications for consultative status have remained consistently near 1,000 annually — five times the volume received a decade ago,” he added.  Today, nearly 6,500 non-governmental organization hold consultative status with Economic and Social Council.

“However, our staffing and resources have remained unchanged for more than a decade,” he also stated.  Due to liquidity constraints, the long-awaited resources have not been made available.  The office has also been unable to fill several vacancies, impacting its ability to process and present applications of non-governmental organizations in a timely manner.  This has resulted in a deep backlog, he warned.

In the discussion that followed, many speakers emphasized the importance of civil society participation within the UN system, with the delegates from India and Israel emphasizing the need to create an inclusive space for non-governmental organizations.  Türkiye’s delegate said that the role of civil society is indeed growing, and their participation is vital as long as their objectives are aligned with the Charter of the United Nations.

Several other speakers made proposals on improving the Committee’s working methods and efficiency, with Algeria’s delegate stating that non-governmental organizations which are not clearly eligible should not be put on the list of consideration.  “China supports improving the Committee’s working methods to keep up with the times but the aim of which should not be to lower the standards of NGOs applying for consultative status,” added China’s delegate.  In recent years, a “certain member of the Committee” has repeatedly posed difficult questions for organizations from China and other developing countries, politicizing the process, she added.

Other Member States also warned against politicization, with the representative of the United Kingdom adding that politized deferrals and repeated questions continue to obstruct civil society’s access to the UN.  “This pattern of arbitrary blocking over such a sustained period” is contrary to fostering meaningful collaboration with civil society and the UN.  Cuba’s delegate also warned against politicizing this process.

Next, the representative of Azerbaijan, taking to the floor in regard to the non-governmental organization Christian Solidarity International, said the organization in its responses stated that it respects State sovereignty, but its own records contradict that.  A Christian Solidarity International panellist recently tried to “discredit the legitimate measures of a sovereign State”, he added.  He requested the Committee give careful consideration to this non-governmental organization’s non-compliance.  “No further communication or response is needed from them at this point,” he added.

Türkiye’s delegate said that Christian Solidarity International is carrying out politically motivated actions against Azerbaijan.  Pakistan’s delegate echoed concerns made against Christian Solidarity International, emphasizing that politically motivated actions by a non-governmental organization is contrary to the principles outlined in the Charter of the United Nations.

On the other hand, Armenia’s delegate expressed deep concern over attempts to discredit Christian Solidarity International — whose work, she said, is dedicated to advancing human rights all over the globe.  Attempts to bluntly censor and silence civil society will have chilling effect.  Upholding the fundamental values of the United Nations in regard to its collaboration with civil society is a key duty of this Committee.  “No measures must be taken to restrict civil society space within the United Nations system,” she said.

Special Consultative Status

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations recommended the Economic and Social Council grant special consultative status to the following entities:

African Transport and Logistics Supportive Foundation;

Aids for Women, Adolescents, and Children International Organization;

Alliance Africaine pour la Gouvernance Participative (AAGP);

Alliance For Reproductive Health Rights;

Altar Relief Foundation;

Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar LLC(G);

Asia Philanthropy Circle Ltd;

Asido Ohieku Foundation;

Association Mauritanienne pour l'Aide aux enfants pauvres;

Association for Dalit Women Advancement of Nepal;

Association pour la citoyenneté, le développement et la solidarité au Sahel;

Associação Data Privacy Brasil de Pesquisa;

Child Care Association;

Child’s Destiny and Development Organisation (CHIDDO);

Civil Society Network on Migration and Development;

Coordinadora Latinoamericana y del Caribe de Pequeños Productores de Comercio Justo;

Corporación Makaia Asesoría Internacional;

CrimsonBow Sickle Cell Initiative;

EEGAI (Guarantee) Limited;

Federation of Entrepreneurs;

Foyer de l'humanite pour un futur meilleur (FHFMasbl); and

Fundación Barranquilla+20.

The Committee postponed consideration of the following organizations:

“Azerbaijani students and Alumni Platform” Public Union — as the representative of Armenia asked the organization to provide a list of specific countries and a partners it has collaborated with the last two years;

“Sancaq Media Group” Məhdud Məsuliyyətli Cəmiyyəti — as the representative of Türkiye asked how the organization ensures its financial sustainability;

African Belt and Rroad Development initative — as the representative of the United States requested an updated financial statement and a list of all key projects;

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of China — as the delegate of the United States asked the organization to provide a list of funding sources since its inception;

Association Impact pour le Développement — as China’s delegate requested additional details and explanation on how the non-governmental organization maintains its independence;

Association des jeunes entrepreneurs du Cameroun — as the delegate of Cameroon requested additional information of its contributions and specific amounts of contributions of individual members;

Ban Animal Trading South Africa — as Cameroon’s delegate asked for a list of financial contributors;

Center for Peace Advocacy and Sustainable Development — as Türkiye’s delegate requested further elaboration on the impartiality of the Organization;

Chinese Doctors Association — as the representative of the United States requested a list of funding sources for projects from the inception of the organization;

Dr. Reddy’s Foundation — as Pakistan’s delegate requested additional information on its work on persons with disabilities;

Environment Conservation Society — as Pakistan’s delegate requested information on how the organization maintains independence when it receives funding from the Government;

Environment and Food Foundation — as Cameroon’s delegate requested details of its financials for 2024; and

Environment and Social Development Organization — as India’s delegate requested additional information on budget and financing.

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