No country and no organization can take on these immense tasks alone – we need all hands on deck. That includes the nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is calling on NGOs to join this movement by applying for the ECOSOC consultative status by the deadline of 1 June 2020.
Ever since its inception in 1945, the United Nations has been actively engaged with NGOs to advance its ideals and goals. In 1946, only 41 NGOs were granted consultative status by the ECOSOC. But this number has been growing steadily and today, more than 5,000 organizations from all over the world collaborate with ECOSOC. They work in virtually every domain of the UN’s work, from education to health, poverty eradication, human rights, gender equality and indigenous issues.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has recognized the vital role of NGOs in his priorities for the year 2020, where he stressed the importance of engaging civil society as partners to advance the UN’s goals.
Consultative Status is a formal relationship between non-governmental organizations and the United Nations that allows NGOs to participate in the work of the UN. Organizations that are accredited with ECOSOC can participate in many events, including, but not limited to, regular sessions of the Council, its functional commissions and its other subsidiary bodies. NGOs in consultative status may:
- Attend official meetings;
- Submit written statements prior to sessions;
- Make oral statements;
- Meet official government delegations, UN officers and other NGO representatives;
- Organize and attend parallel events that take place during the session;
- Participate in debates, interactive dialogues and panel discussions.