Suspending 2017 Session, Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations Postpones Consideration of 33 Applications
The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations today suspended its 2017 resumed session pending one final day of work next month when its report will be finalized for adoption.
It also decided to postpone its consideration of 33 applications of non-governmental organizations pending their submission of written responses and recommended that the Economic and Social Council close consideration of applications which had not responded to the Committee’s last three reminders.
During the half-day session, the Committee approved the dates 29 January to 6 February and 22 February, and 21 to 31 May and 11 June for the 2018 regular and resumed sessions, respectively. It also approved the provisional agenda for its 2018 session (document E/C.2/2017/L.1). The Committee’s draft report was introduced by Rapporteur Farid Jabrayilov (Azerbaijan).
In closing remarks, Committee Chair Jorge Dotta (Uruguay) commended the subsidiary body’s work in approving a total of 181 applications, noting that out of 164 new applications considered, 124 were recommended status. For the first time, the session had been broadcasted, allowing for more transparency with civil society and providing them with a better understanding into what the Committee expects. Underscoring the need for further efficiency, he recommended the Committee organize a meeting on working methods prior to its next session.
Action on applications was postponed because Committee members requested further information from the candidates about, among other items, details of their respective organizations’ projects, partners, expenditures, sources of funding and possible contribution to the work of the United Nations.
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 will reconvene on 12 June to conclude its work.
Deferred Applications
The Committee postponed its consideration of requests for consultative status from the following 33 organizations pending their responses to questions posed by members:
International Non-Olympic Committee (India) — as the representative of India requested additional information of the group’s organizational structure.
International Human Right Organization (Pakistan) — as the representative of Pakistan requested additional detail on the group’s projects with Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
International Non-Olympic University (India) — as the representative of India requested further clarification on whether the group was registered with his country’s educational organizations.
Pak Women (Pakistan) — as the representative of Pakistan requested further detail on the group’s projects.
RESDAL Red de Seguridad y Defensa de América Latina Asociación Civil (Argentina) — as the representative of Venezuela requested an updated copy of the group’s financial statement.
Social Services Trust (India) — as the representative of India requested additional information on the group’s grants and if it was planning to expand its operations abroad.
The Arab Council for Supporting Fair Trial (Egypt) — as the representative of Cuba requested clarification on the organization’s relationship with the Government, and the representative of South Africa requested additional details on its projects.
The New Woman Foundation (Egypt) — as the representative of India requested further information on the group’s sources of income, and the representative of South Africa requested additional detail on regional projects.
The Voice Society (Pakistan) — as the representative of Pakistan requested details the organization’s activities across the country.
Anti-Corruption Foundation (Russian Federation) — as the representative of the Russian Federation requested additional information on the organization’s sources of income.
Asia Center for Human Rights (Republic of Korea) — as the representative of China requested clarification regarding the group’s contribution to the Winter Olympics.
Bahrain Center for Human Rights (Denmark) — as the representative of the Russian Federation requested additional information on the group’s advisory board.
Christian Solidarity International (CSI) (Switzerland) — as the representative Nicaragua requested a list of organizations with which it worked in the Central American nation.
Database Center for North Korean Human Rights (NKDB) (Republic of Korea) — as the representative of Cuba requested additional information on the group’s projects.
European Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Limited (Belgium) — as the representative of Pakistan requested additional information on the group’s reports, and the representative of Cuba requested clarification on its operation and donations.
Global Forum for Media Development (Belgium) — as the representative of Cuba requested additional information on the group’s work.
Global Network of Sex Work Projects Limited (Scotland) — as the representative of Nicaragua requested additional information on the group’s work and current projects.
Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) Limited (Ireland) — as the representative of India requested the organization provide details on its projects carried out with United Nations funding.
Hokok Coalición Internacional Contra la Impunidad (Spain) — as the representative of Israel requested information on whether the group was working to promote the Sustainable Development Goals.
International Dalit Solidarity Network (Denmark) — as the representative of India requested information on the group’s activities in other countries and its partners.
International Gulf Organization FZ-LLC (Switzerland) — as the representative of Iran requested additional details on the group’s human rights education projects.
Jeunesse Etudiante Tamoule (France) — as the representative of Turkey requested information on the group’s publications, and the representative of India asked if it had offices in India.
Muslim Hands (United Kingdom) — as the representative of Israel asked about the organization’s projects in the Middle East, and the representative of India asked whether it carried out activities in India.
NDLH International Network of International Diplomacy, International Law and Human Rights (Norway) — as the representative of the Russian Federation requested additional details on the group’s work, and the representative of China requested additional information on its partners.
Peace Brigades International (United Kingdom) — as the representative of China requested further information on how the group selected volunteers to carry out its work.
Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Inc. (United States) — as the representative of China requested further detail on the group’s “relationship-building” events.
Stichting Pro Papua (Netherlands) — as the representative of Iran requested additional detail on the group’s grassroots projects and methods of implementation.
The Andrey Rylkov Foundation for Health and Social Justice (Russian Federation) — as the representative of the Russian Federation requested the group’s sources of data to present its reports and additional detail regarding its cooperation with Canadian organizations.
US Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (United States) — as the representative of the Russian Federation asked which projects the group had carried out with funding from the Open Society organization and the State Department Bureau of Democracy.
United Sikhs (United States) — as the representative of India requested further details on the group’s collaborations and its future plan of implementation.
We Care for Humanity (United States) — as the representative of Cuba requested an up to date presentation of the group’s budget, including a breakdown of projects.
Youth RISE (Resource, Information, Support, Education) Limited (United Kingdom) — as the representative of China requested details on the group’s projects in combating drug use among youth.
Right Livelihood Award Foundation (Sweden) — as the representative of the Russian Federation asked whether the group was fully aware of the history of the White Helmets organization, which was one of its awardees, and whether it was sure the White Helmets had not participated in the use of chemical weapons in Syria.
Closure of Applications
The Committee decided to close, without prejudice, a number of deferred applications of groups that had not responded to the subsidiary body’s last three reminders as of 31 May 2017.