The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations continued its 2022 session today, recommending 4 entities for special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council and deferring action on 95 others, pending their response to additional questions posed by Committee members.

The 19-member Committee considers applications for consultative status and requests for reclassification submitted by non-governmental organizations. 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.

Action on several applications was postponed because Committee members requested further information from the candidates about, among other items, details of their organizations’ activities, partners, expenditures and sources of funding.

The Committee also held a question-and-answer session, in which the representative of the Autonomous Non-Profit Organization of promotion the development of international relations in the framework of the BRICS group “International Alliance of BRICS Strategic Projects” had the opportunity to respond to delegates’ questions in-person.

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations will meet again at 10 a.m. on Friday, 2 September, to continue its session.

Special Consultative Status

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

The Malala Fund (United States);

International Rice Research Institute (Philippines);

John Retreat Center Cameroon (Cameroon); and

G. A. T. – Grupo Português de Activistas sobre Tratamentos de VIH/SIDA – Pedro Santos (Portugal).

The Committee postponed action on the applications of the following organizations:

Tai Studies Center (United States) — as the representative of the Russian Federation asked for information on financial support provided by one of the organization’s partners and the joint projects between them;

The Assembly of Representatives of the Peoples Living on the Territory of the Republic of Tatarstan” Regional Public Organization (Russian Federation) — as the representative of the United States asked for concrete examples of how the organization intends to contribute to the work of the Council;

The Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (United States) — as the representative of Türkiye, noting that the organization receives a substantial amount of its income from Government grants, asked if it has mechanisms in place to ensure its independence;

The Bar Human Rights Committee (United Kingdom) — as the representative of China, noting that one of the organization’s key activities is human rights investigation, asked for the group’s exact methods in conducting the same, along with information regarding its activities carried out overseas;

The Center for Justice and Accountability (United States) — as the representative of China asked for details concerning cooperative projects with certain countries, along with information regarding any collaboration with Governments in this regard;

The Global Energy Association on Development of International Research and Projects in the Field of Energy (Russian Federation) — as the representative of the United States asked for information on its sources of funding for 2022 and 2023 and details of specific projects to be funded over that period;

The Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime (Switzerland) — as the representative of Türkiye asked for more information concerning its project to develop an “organized crime vulnerability assessment tool”, including its scope, funding and current status;

The ONE Campaign (United States) — as the representative of China, noting that the group works to combat disease and hunger in Africa but mostly has a presence in North America, asked how its resources are deployed and if the organization has a permanent office in Ghana;

Tom Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice (United States) — as the representative of Cuba asked for up-to-date, disaggregated information on its sources of funding;

Transitional Justice Working Group (Republic of Korea) — as the representative of Cuba asked for more information on its administrative expenditures and why the same are so high;

Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV) (Türkiye) — as the representative of Greece asked for further information on the process and substance of its annual independent audit;

Türkiye Gençlik Vakfi (Tügva) (Türkiye) — as the representative of Greece asked for a description of its selection process for volunteers, their responsibilities and involvement;

United for Human Rights (Switzerland) — as the representative of China requested that its references to Taiwan be corrected to “Taiwan, province of China”;

Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights (United States) — as the representative of the Russian Federation requested information about its partners in the Russian Federation, and China’s representative asked for more information about “An affirmation of feminist principles”, a document it co-created during the sixty-fifth session of the Commission on the Status of Women, and information on its contributions to the work of the Commission on the Status of Women and the Economic and Social Council;

Verein Euro Mea (Switzerland) — as Cuba’s representative asked for more information on its partners and the specific support they have provided, including in terms of medical assistance;

Vithu Trust Fund (United Kingdom) — as the representative of India asked for further clarification on its selection criteria for proposals from needy organizations, and whether it has issued any invitations for such proposals;

Youth for Human Rights International (United States) — as the representative of China asked that its references to Taiwan be corrected to “Taiwan, province of China”;

Österreichischer Rat Für Nachhaltige Entwicklung - Österreichischer Nachhaltigkeitsrat für soziale, ökologische und ökonomische Angelegenheiten (Austria) — as the representative of Greece asked for clarification on the activities of the role of the spokesperson for sustainability in Austria and on whose behalf the organization serves as a spokesperson.

“Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment” NGO (Armenia) — as the representative of Türkiye asked it to clarify its response with respect to the various organizations of which it is a member and that have consultative status with the Economic and Social Council;

"Mission Armenia" Charitable Non-governmental Organization — as the representative of Türkiye asked for an overview of its work providing legal assistance and services to refugees and asylum seekers, specific examples of recent projects, their funding, and possible outcomes;

Adyan Association (Lebanon) — as the representative of Israel asked for details on which Governments fund the organization and how it maintains impartiality in light of that engagement;

Arab Media Union (Egypt) — as the representative of India asked for clarification on how its mission, scope, goals and activities differ from those of its parent organization;

Asia Pacific Transgender Network (Thailand) — as the representative of the Russian Federation asked for detailed information on how its leadership is appointed;

Association Tous pour l’integration des migrants au Maroc (Morocco) — as the representative of the Russian Federation asked for the organization’s status during its stated participation in United Nations activities and the way in which it was accredited to participate;

Association de l’Alliance Nationale des Chourafa Naciryiene et leurs cousins, chargés des affaires de la Zaouia Naciria (Morocco) — as the representative of Nicaragua asked for information regarding the nature of its collaboration with governmental and non-governmental institutions;

Associação Nacional de Juristas Evangélicos — ANAJURE (Brazil) — as the representative of Cuba asked for more information regarding the means and sources of information the organization used to identify religious conflicts as a threat to the preservation of peace in Latin America;

Assyrian Documentation Centre (Afghanistan) — as the representative of Türkiye asked for more information regarding how it chooses its partners and how it ensures the accuracy and veracity of the information it receives from concerned entities;

Charity Organization "International Charity Foundation "Global Ukraine" (Ukraine) — as the representative of Nicaragua asked for information on the costs of each project detailed in its 25 May response;

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation (India) — as the representative of China asked for more examples of how the organization can contribute to the work of the Commission for Social Development;

Habilian Association (Iran) — as the representative of the United States asked what portion of the organization’s total expenditures are dedicated to victim support;

Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation (Iran) — as the representative of the United States, noting that the organization sells certain products, asked what products are being sold through what kind of market and what role the group plays in that process;

Instance démocratique pour la citoyenneté et les droits de l'homme (Morocco) — as the representative of China asked for a more detailed financial statement;

International Anti-Terrorism Movement (India) — as the representative of Nicaragua asked for more details on the nature of its projects related to social matters and for the organization to provide a list of the same;

International Human Rights Organization (Pakistan) — as the representative of Pakistan asked the organization to make certain corrections on its application and to provide a list of the alleged human rights violations that it is monitoring in Pakistan;

Life Bliss Foundation (Singapore) (Singapore) — as the representative of India asked for information regarding the organization’s relationship with Swami Nithyananda;

Mwatana Organization for Human Rights (Yemen) — as the representative of Bahrain pointed out that no response was received to question 2, and following up on question 1, asked it to provide the current composition of its board of trustees;

Non-Governmental Organization «Association of Wives and Mothers of Soldiers Participating in Ato» (Ukraine) — as the representative of China asked it to elaborate on the 19 branches which have entered into a relationship with its headquarters, and on its decision-making mechanism;

ONG L’Ange Gardien (Benin) — as the representative of the Russian Federation asked for additional information on the principles of its cooperation with members of other organizations, voting rights of its members, and the mechanisms set out in its statutes to make decisions or suggestions;

Palestinian Association for Human Rights (Witness) (Lebanon) — as the representative of Israel asked how the organization maintains its impartiality given that most of its funding comes from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF);

Persatuan Penganut Nithyananda Sangha Malaysia (Malaysia) — as the representative of India asked for its audited financial statements for 2017;

Pusat Komas SDN. BHD. (Malaysia) — as the representative of Israel asked for clarification on where it conducts its operations and whether it has operations outside Malaysia;

Solidariteit/Solidarity (South Africa) — as the representative of Burundi asked for clarification on its main focus areas;

The Union of Non-governmental Associations "The International Non-governmental Organization "The World Union of Cossack Atamans" (Kazakhstan) — as the representative of Cuba asked for a disaggregated list of its donors;

The Voice Society (Pakistan) — as the representative of Pakistan asked whether there has been any movement or effort to procure local funding or whether the organization will continue to rely on foreign funding;

Zam Zam Foundation (Sri Lanka) — as the representative of Pakistan asked for clarification on whether donations received for one of its projects are from within Sri Lanka or from outside the country, as well;

de Centre Idriss El Fakhouri des Etudes et de Recherches en Sciences Juridiques Oujda (Morocco) — as the representative of the Russian Federation asked for a clear response on how its leadership is selected, particularly a detailed description of its selection procedure and how applicants put forward their applications;

ALQST Human Rights (United Kingdom) — as the representative of Bahrain asked for a list of its partner non-governmental organizations and joint projects carried out with them;

ASOCIACION ENRAIZADOS EN CRISTO Y EN LA SOCIEDAD (Spain) — as the representative of Cuba asked for detailed information about a specific project of the organization, including where it is conducted, its aim and financing;

Action League for Palestinians of Syria LTD (United Kingdom) — as the representative of China asked for a list of the academic researchers it works with, the institutions they are from, and the working relations between the organization and the researchers, including whether their work is paid or voluntary;

American Center for International Labor Solidarity (United States) — as the representative of Cuba asked for more detailed information on its projects, particularly the countries where they are carried out, and how they are funded given the high level of resources allocated to salaries and benefits; as well as disaggregated information on funds dedicated to projects carried out in the 60 countries referred to in its submitted documents;

American Sociological Association (United States) — as the representative of China asked the organization to make certain corrections concerning Taiwan and to provide information regarding the interaction between certain departments within the organization and their funding;

Arab-European Center of Human Rights and International Law (AECHRIL) (Norway) — as the representative of Bahrain asked for clarification regarding its assertion that it holds programmes with official bodies;

Associazione European Federation for Freedom of Belief (Italy) — as the representative of Cuba asked for detailed, disaggregated information on its sources of funding;

Associazione Luca Coscioni per la libertà di ricerca scientifica (Italy) — as the representative of China asked for more details, including financial support, related to its activities and projects to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities;

Assyrian Aid Society of America Inc. (United States) — as the representative of Türkiye asked for information on the contributions it and its sister organization would make to the work of the Economic and Social Council;

Autonomous Non-Profit Organization of promotion the development of international relations in the framework of the BRICS group “International Alliance of BRICS Strategic Projects" (Russian Federation) — as Estonia’s representative asked for a description of its members’ fields of expertise and information on how they apply to become members;

Avaaz Foundation (United States) — as the representative of the Russian Federation asked for clarification on difference between members of the group and the individuals making donations, and how they participate in the work of the organization;

Bahrain Center for Human Rights (Denmark) — as the representative of Bahrain requested a complete answer to question B in the questionnaire, and clarification on membership to the organization, particularly whether only individuals or both individuals and organizations can become members;

C.A.R.E Scandinavia — Citizens Against Radicalism & Extremism (Denmark) — as the representative of Israel asked it to elaborate on its work in Egypt;

Christian Solidarity International (CSI) (Switzerland) — as the representative of the Russian Federation asked for a list of countries where it operates and the number of projects that have been carried out in those countries;

Common Good Foundation Inc. (United States) — as the representative of China asked for more information on its side events, how they are organized and the results from those activities;

Congres mondial Amazigh — CMA (France) — as the representative of Libya requested details on its projects and to what extent they have helped the organization reach its goals;

Cooperazione Internazionale Sud Sud (Italy) — as the representative of Israel, noting that some of the funding it receives is from Governments and international organizations, asked it to elaborate on its ability to operate in an impartial and independent manner;

Coptic Solidarity (United States) — as the representative of China requested details on its affiliated organizations, their working methods and structure, including in relation to the entity;

De Regenboog Groep (Netherlands) — as the representative of the Russian Federation asked for a complete list of countries where it operates;

Disability:IN (United States) — as the representative of China asked it to correct its references to Taiwan, noting that Taiwan is a province of China and not a country, and pointing out that any “illegal flag” should not be used;

Eduactive Società Cooperativa (Italy) — as the representative of Greece requested updated information on its latest projects, especially the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on them;

Emberi Méltóság Központ (Hungary) — as the representative of Mexico asked for clarification on its sources of funding, including on Governments or non-governmental organizations that have financed it in the past, and requested a courtesy translation in English of the document it provided to the Committee;

Eurazijos žalos mažinimo asociacija (Lithuania) — as the representative of the Russian Federation asked for a complete list of its projects carried out in the Russian Federation, and not just those under way, as well as a list of its partner organizations who have contributed to the implementation of projects;

Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor (Switzerland) — as the representative of Bahrain asked for a list of workshops and training programmes it organized in 2020 and 2021 including dates, locations, partners and sponsors;

European Foundation for South Asian Studies (Netherlands) — as the representative of China, noting that 44 per cent of its capital comes from the director, asked for further information on the director’s means, as well as an explanation and financial statements with respect to that part of its income;

European Interreligious Forum for Religious Freedom (EIFRF) (France) — as the representative of China asked for more information on its cooperation network, including the network’s structure and decision-making;

Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (Belgium) — as the representative of Israel asked for further information on its prospective projects and activities for the remainder of 2022 and beyond;

Foundation for a Drug-Free World (United States) — as the representative of Cuba asked for detailed information about the sources of philanthropic contributions it receives and whether those resources are linked to specific programmes;

Fundació Josep Irla (Spain) — as the representative of Israel asked it to be more specific in describing its primary areas of interest within the mandate of the Economic and Social Council;

Global Detention Project (Switzerland) — as the representative of China asked for more details on its adviser’s selection standard in relation to the information it provides, and whether there is an academic support team to ensure the accuracy of its data;

Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) Limited (Ireland) — as the representative of Bahrain asked it to elaborate on the term length of its advisory board members, and to provide an updated list of those members;

Harm Reduction Australia Limited (Australia) — as the representative of the Russian Federation asked for details on its selection procedure for members of its administration, how they submit their candidacies and the criteria for selection;

Hellenic Institute of Cultural Diplomacy — Non-profit Civil Association (Greece) — as the representative of Türkiye asked for details on its cooperation with its branches abroad, an explanation of how each country president is assigned, and concrete examples of projects or activities carried out with those branches;

Hokok Coalición Internacional Contra la Impunidad (Spain) — as the representative of Israel asked it to specify which United Nations entities it works with, and provide details on the nature of such cooperation;

IFEX (Canada) — as the representative of India asked for its criteria for reviewing and admitting general members;

Ilankai Thamil Sangam, Inc. (United States) — as the representative of India asked for its audited financial statements for 2021;

International Action Network for Gender Equity and Law (United States) — as the representative of China asked for more details on its network of lawyers, law firms and bar associations, as well as a full picture of the group’s structure and its members;

International Dalit Solidarity Network (Denmark) — as the representative of India asked for details on the policy framework for the elimination of caste discrimination, its activities undertaken in that regard and the selection criteria and selection procedure for its ambassadors, including who selected them;

International Human Rights Commission La Commission Internationale des Droits de l'homme Mezinárodní komise pro lidská práva — nadacní fond, ve zkrácené forme IHRC - nadacní fond (Czech Republic) — as the representative of Estonia, noting that the organization’s offices abroad are called consulates and that consulates can only be established by States, asked it to explain how an international organization can establish a consulate in contravention of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations;

International Young Catholic Students (France) — as the representative of China asked for more examples of its projects and a list of countries where those projects have been conducted;

International Youth Federation (United Kingdom) — as the representative of Pakistan asked for more details on the status and the nature of the group’s relationship with other organizations listed on its website;

Interregional non-governmental human rights organization "Man and Law" (Russian Federation) — as the representative of Nicaragua asked for detailed information on the selection of its board members, as well as the requirements and conditions for candidature;

The European Institute for International Law and International Relations (France) — as the representative of Cuba asked for clarification on its membership, noting a discrepancy in information provided with respect to organizations as members, and China’s representative asked for more details about its projects carried out in Africa and financial expenditures related to them;

Life Bliss Foundation, Inc. (United States) — as the representative of India asked for further explanation about its membership and a working link to its website;

Merciful Souls (Al-Qolub Al-Rahima) (Israel) — as the representative of China asked for details on its cooperation, correspondence or memos with State organs;

Migrant Clinicians Network Inc. (United States) — as the representative of Cuba asked the organization to elaborate on the personal gifts it receives as financing;

Mnemonic non-profit entrepreneurial company (Germany) — as the representative of the Russian Federation asked about its mechanisms which allow the organization to operate in Syria;

Muslim Hands (United Kingdom) — as the representative of Israel, citing several other organizations, asked it to elaborate on its affiliation with those groups;

National Committee on BRICS Research (Russian Federation) — as the representative of the United States requested a list of Russian international experts, think-tanks, non-governmental organizations, ministries and agencies that have helped develop educational courses for the group’s educational programme referenced in its June response, as well as a list and description of educational materials created for youth initiatives.

The representative of the Russian Federation asked the Secretariat to confirm that the Committee is not asking about the individual composition of organizations regarding its experts or leaders for any organization concerned.

The Chair asked the United States delegation to repeat its question.

The representative of the United States said it requests the organization to provide a list of Russian and international experts, think-tanks, non-governmental organizations, ministries and agencies that have helped develop educational courses for the organization’s educational programme as referenced in its response in June, as well as a list and description of educational materials created for youth initiatives.

The representative of the Russian Federation, said the Committee does not, in its questions to organizations, ask about individuals who are not part of an organization’s board. He noted that the questionnaire does include a question on the name of the leaders or directors of the organization. He asked the United States to remove its question on any aspects linked to individuals who are not part of an organization’s leadership, in accordance with that understanding.

The Committee Chair asked the United States delegation to reformulate its question in a manner that excludes reference to individuals.

The representative of the United States confirmed that it would reformulate the question accordingly. She pointed out that the Russian Federation requested at the Committee’s session in May regarding a list of individuals working on every project in a very sensitive environment where non-governmental organizations work, noting it as an inconsistency in how the Russian Federation has posed questions regarding other applications.

The representative of the Russian Federation said his delegation has posed questions not about individuals, and only about organizations. Individuals not part of the leadership are not subject to requests for information, he said.

The representative of the United States, recalling the Committee meeting in May, said that the question of the Russian Federation was not within the purview of the Committee because the context in which it was asked was a sensitive one where non-governmental organizations do have the right to work through an umbrella or one convenor. Asking for a listing of specific non-governmental organizations, whether individuals or a group, in some contexts is not within the purview of the Committee and is a question of politicizing and misusing 1996/31.

The Committee Chair confirmed that questions are not posed to individuals other than those requested in application form.

The representative of Cuba asked the Committee to not turn its technical work into a political discussion. He questioned the focus of a particular delegation, noting that it does not need to present itself as a defender of non governmental organizations when its practice does not support its argument.

The representative of the Russian Federation asked delegations to abide by its agreed-upon principles and to not adopt a partial approach, recalling that there were disagreements on the same issue last year, adding that the question last year related to organizations and not individuals. He said the United States is positing itself as a defender of non-governmental organizations asking questions which should not be asked in the Committee.

The representative of the United States reiterated that it would reformulate its question. Noting the inconsistency in the approach of some delegations, she said it is unfortunate that the Committee tasked with increasing the voice of civil society in the United Nations has doubled the number of deferred applications in the last 10 years.

The representative of the Russian Federation said there are questions within reason and sometimes questions put forward to try to block a non-governmental organization. This is not a particularly judicious approach, he said. Noting the politicization in the Committee’s work, he said the United States has already deferred the applications of 33 cases of older applications and around a dozen cases of the newer applications.

The representative of Cuba, noting that political discussions bring the Committee nowhere, said it should perform its technical task of reviewing applications. If one delegation has posed questions to 10 per cent of non governmental organizations listed under consideration, it has no moral ground to present itself as the champion of those organizations at the United Nations.

The Chair, noting that the Committee has exceeded the time allocated to it, proposed that the Committee end its meeting.

The representative of the United States said “it is not about numbers”, but about using the role of the Committee to evaluate non-governmental organizations on their validity. More than half of the deferred applications are by non governmental organizations working on human rights issues and deferred by those delegations seeking to not politicize the Committee, she pointed out.

The Chair confirmed that the question would be reformulated as agreed.

The representative of Cuba asked the United States to repeat the question to be posed to the organization and in a way that is not politicized.

The representative of the United States said the question as was initially intended reads: “Please provide a list of Russian and international think-tanks, non-governmental organizations, ministries and agencies that have helped develop educational courses for the organization’s educational programme referenced in its response in June. Please provide a list and description of educational materials created for youth initiatives.”

The Chair said the Committee will continue its consideration of applications for consultative status and requests for reclassification deferred from previous sessions.

Interactive Discussion

In response to the delegate of Estonia’s request for more information, the representative of the Autonomous Non-Profit Organization of promotion the development of international relations in the framework of the BRICS group “International Alliance of BRICS Strategic Projects" said that the organization is made up of a group of experts and specialists working to improve international relations in a number of areas. It works to promote partnerships at the international level which are set up among BRIC countries and United Nations missions, for sustainable development. It works closely with civil society and aims to set up partnerships through sports, innovation and enterprises, among other areas. All its projects are focused on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, taking into account current and future issues, and has genuine results through international cooperation. Its experts include “diplomaed experts”, and representatives of non-governmental organizations and universities, he said, adding that there are a number of possibilities for cooperation. For example, the organization publishes announcements on its website, inviting individuals to submit their experience and curricula vitae. The relevant department makes the decision after a several stage process, he said, noting that the decision-making process is set forth in its statutes. Any updates are posted on the organization’s website.

The representative of the United States then asked that the information, including specific examples mentioned, areas of projects that the experts have worked in, how they have engaged and where they have engaged using their area of expertise, be provided in writing.

The representative of Estonia, referring to the organization’s website and the logos of other organizations that appear therein, asked about its affiliated organizations and its relations with those groups.

In response, the organization’s representative said he was unable to answer the question, noting that the group does have partners who work in related fields particularly to achieve sustainable development. The organization will send a list of its projects at a later date. He described the organization’s engagement with a specific entity as an example. Pointing out the politicization in the Committee’s work, he urged the Committee to open its doors to civil society organizations and confirmed that further information will be provided in writing.

Source: United Nations