IDSN and 257 other NGOs issued a statement for the meeting between the ECOSOC NGO Committee and accredited NGOS, raising concern over the “practices of the Committee that have inappropriately blocked the participation of some NGOs, in particular human rights NGOs, through procedural tactics including perpetual and repetitive questioning of applicants. In addition, we are deeply concerned by the Committee having acted in direct contradiction of the procedural rights of NGOs explicitly or implicitly required under resolution 1996/31 providing them with an opportunity to respond (as required under paragraph 56) to initiatives to close applications or withdraw accreditation.”
Please find the full statement below
Joint NGO statement for meeting between the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs and accredited NGOs
(Delivered 22 June 2018 – New York)
Thank you Mr. Chair
I am delivering this statement in the name of 258 NGOs. We welcome that the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs has convened this meeting with ECOSOC-accredited NGOs, and we look forward in the future to seeing a similar meeting take place before each session of the Committee, as required by paragraph 61(a) of resolution 1996/31.
We consider the relationship between the UN and NGOs to be one that should evolve in the direction of safeguarding and encouraging the right of NGOs to participate in UN processes.
The Committee on NGOs plays a vital role in ensuring NGOs that work in line with ‘the spirit, purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations’ have access to UN spaces.
However, we are concerned by practices of the Committee that have inappropriately blocked the participation of some NGOs, in particular human rights NGOs, through procedural tactics including perpetual and repetitive questioning of applicants. In addition, we are deeply concerned by the Committee having acted in direct contradiction of the procedural rights of NGOs explicitly or implicitly required under resolution 1996/31 providing them with an opportunity to respond (as required under paragraph 56) to initiatives to close applications or withdraw accreditation. In recent times, the Committee has indefensibly denied some applicants and ECOSOC-accredited organisations the opportunity to defend themselves against accusations of terrorist sympathies. Indeed, certain actions of the Committee have been characterized by some States, UN officials and NGOs as constituting a form of reprisal against NGOs seeking to cooperate with the UN.
We encourage the Committee on NGOs to consider the following changes to ensure that NGO applications for ECOSOC accreditation and other matters are considered in an objective, fair and expeditious manner:
The Committee should provide guidelines explaining the grounds on which applications for accreditation are assessed. These would assist both Committee members in the questioning of applicants and applicants in understanding Committee processes. The process of developing such guidance or guidelines should be open to all interested stakeholders including representatives of civil society, the High Commissioner for Human Rights and relevant Special Procedures.
Member States of the NGO Committee should ensure that NGOs always have the opportunity to respond to any objection to their obtaining consultative status, as explicitly required by resolution 1996/31, paragraph 15, and similarly to respond to any intention to suspend or withdraw status.
The Committee should allow applicants the right to participate in the daily Q&A sessions via videoconferencing, thus providing the opportunity for immediate responses to members’ concerns and speeding up the process of accreditation.
The Committee should allow one or more NGO speakers to make a general statement to the Committee on NGOs at the start of every open session, as per many historical precedents including most recently in June 2016.
In addition, Observer States should attend NGO Committee sessions and engage actively on behalf of NGO applicants, including in making statements.
Thank you Mr. Chair.
ECOSOC-accredited NGOs:
Access Now
Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights
ADC Memorial
African Hope Committee Inc.
African Trade Center
African Views
Agricultural Missions, Inc.
Al-Haq
Alkarama Foundation
Alliance for Democracy in Laos
Al Mezan Center For Human Rights
Amman Center for Human Rights Studies (ACHRS)
Amis des Etrangers au Togo (ADET)
Amnesty International
Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI)
Article 19
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development
Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC)
Asociación Española para el Derecho Internacional de los Derechos Humanos
Associação Projecto Criar
Association Congolaise des Femmes Diplomées des Universités Association de Solidarité d’Aide et Action Enfance Mali – Jiguiya Ton
Association du developpement et de la promotion de Droit de l’Homme
Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
Association for the Prevention of Torture
Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID)
Association of War Affected Women
Association of World Citizens
Australasian Centre for Human Rights and Health Inc.
Baptist World Alliance
Barnabas Charity Outreach
Brot für die Welt: Bread for the World
Bytes For All, Pakistan
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
Casa Generalizia della Societa del Sacro Cuore
Center of Civil Initiatives Support
Centre for Civil and Political Rights (CCPR)
Centre for Human Rights and Peace Advocacy
Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS)
Child Rights Connect
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)
CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation
COC Netherlands
Collectif Sénégalais des Africaines pour la Promotion de l’Education Relative à l’Environnement
Community Legal Centres Queensland
Concepts of Truth, Inc.
Conectas Direitos Humanos
Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO)
Congregation of the Mission
Congregations of St. Joseph
CREDO ACTION
DefendDefenders (the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project)
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
Dianova International
Diligent Care for Creative Intelligence Development (DICIDE)
Ecoforum of NGOs of Uzbekistan
Edmund Rice International
Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights
Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities International, Inc.
Families of the Missing
Federatie van Nederlandse Verenigingen tot Integratie van Homoseksualiteit (COC Nederland)
Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas, Inc.
FIACAT (International Federation of Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture)
Freedom House
Freedom Now
Forum for Women and Development (FOKUS)
Front Line Defenders
Fundacion Estudio e Investigacion de la Mujer
Geneva for Human Rights
Girls Education Mission International
Global Aid Hand
Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Global Welfare Association (GLOWA)
Graduate Women International
Gray Panthers
Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Council of North and South America
GROoTs
Human Rights Advocates
Human Rights Council of Australia
Human Rights House Foundation
Human Rights Now
Human Rights Sanrakshan Sansthaa
Humanists UK
IDHEAS Litigio Estratégico en Derechos Humanos
Instituto Qualivida
International Alliance of Women
International Commission of Jurists
International Council of Jewish Women (ICJW)
International Council of Women
International Federation for Home Economics
International Federation of Business and Professional Women
International Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers
International Federation on Ageing
International Federation of Women Lawyers, Nigeria
International Humanist and Ethical Union
International Institute for Child Protection
Institut Jules-Destrée (The Destree Institute)
International Justice Resource Center
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA)
International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR)
International Movement for Advancement of Education Culture Social & Economic Development (IMAECSED)
International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA)
International Organisation of Good Templars
International Partnership for Human Rights
International Planned Parenthood Federation South Asia Region (SAR)
International Presentation Association
International Service for Human Rights
International Society of Doctors for the Environment
Inwelle Study and Resource Centre
Irene Menakaya Schools
Jammu Kashmir Welfare Alliance
JANASADHANA
Jubilee Campaign USA
Katahati Institute
Labrique
Le Projet Imagine
Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany (LSVD)
The Light Millennium
Ligue pour la solidarité congolaise
Manhattan Multicultural Counseling, Inc.
Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria
Medical Women’s International Association
MINBYUN-Lawyers for a Democratic Society International Solidarity Committee
The Mongolian Gender Equality Center
Moremi Initiative for Women’s Leadership in Africa
Mother of Hope Cameroon
Muslims for Progressive Values
Nazra for Feminist Studies
National Council of Women of the United States, Inc.
National Space Society
Network of Rural Women Producers Trinidad and Tobago
New Future Foundation Inc.
Norwegian Human Rights Fund
Ohaha Family Foundation
Okogun Odigie Safewomb International Foundation
Omega Research Foundation
OSMTH Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem
Pacific Women’s Watch (New Zealand)
Pan Pacific and Southeast Asia Women’s Association (PPSEAWA)
Peace Brigades International Switzerland
Project 1948
RAFUDESC, Benin
Red Educación Popular entre Mujeres America Latina y el Caribe (REPEM)
Refugee Council of Australia
Regional Public Foundation Assistance for the Elderly “Dobroe Delo”
Réseau International des Droits Humains (RIDH)
RFSL, the Swedish Federation for LGBTQ Rights
ROADDH/WAHRDN
Rwenzori Center for Research and Advocacy
Sahkar Social Welfare Association
Save Cambodia
Schools Without Borders
SERVITAS Cameroon
She Wins Mexico
Sisters of Charity Federation
Society for the Advancement of Global Understanding
Society of Catholic Medical Missionaries
Society to Heighten Awareness of Women and Children Abuse
Soroptimist International
The Southern Diaspora Research and Development Center (SDRDC)
South Sudanese Christian Women Mission for Peace
Stree Mukti Sanghatana
Syrian Network for Human rights (SNHR)
Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM)
Tabernacle Worship and Prayer Ministries
To Love Children Educational International Foundation
TRIAL International
Union of International Association
United Religions Initiative
United Methodist Church–General Board of Church and Society (UMC-GBCS)
Unitarian Universalist Association United Nations Office
Unspoken Smiles Foundation
USA Mali Charitable Association of NYC
Validity Foundation
Widows for Peace through Democracy
World Federalist Movement-Institute for Global Policy
Women Federation for World Peace
Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC)
Women’s Intercultural Network
Women’s International Zionist Organisation (WIZO)
World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)
World Union for Progressive Judaism
YWCA
Non-ECOSOC-accredited NGOs:
Academia Mexicana de Derecho Internacional
Action Based Leadership Empowerment (ABLE-NGO)
Action pour l’Education et la Promotion de la Femme
African Heritage Women In Education and Empowerment (AHWEE)
African Programme for the Economic and Social Development (PADES)
Akahata A.C.
Anchor of Hope, Inc.
Bahrain Centre for Human Rights
BDS
Black Women’s Blueprint
BlueLink Foundation
Centro de Justicia y Paz
CFC
CHESA Tanzania
Child Rights International Network (CRIN)
Coalition of African Lesbians
Community Empowerment for Rehabilitation and Development (CEFoRD-South Sudan)
Congo Action Now
Colonie des Pionniers du Développement (CPD)
Collectif des femmes pour la protection de l’environnement et de l’enfant
Danish Refugee Council
Darabbar Sahitya Sansad
DMARCO Organization
East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN)
EMPOWERHOUSE
Facilitate Global
Family Empowerment and Youth Re-orientation Path-initiative (FEYReP)
Fontaine-ISOKO
Gender and Energy Network, Ghana
Global Bersih
Global Peace and Development Organization
Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR)
Guyana RainBow Foundation
Helpline Foundation for the Needy Abuja
Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly – Vanadzor
Immigrant Council of Ireland
Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights
International Association of World Peace Advocates
International Centre for Justice and Human Rights
International Dalit Solidarity Network
Jammu lashmir Human Rights Movement
Jerusalem Center for Women
Journalists and Writers Foundation
Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and the Rule of Law
KULU-Women and Development, Denmark
Lulu Community Empowerment Project
Management Consultancy and Training Services (MCTS)
Migrantes
Moroccan Association for Women’s Rights
Movement of Women and Girls for Peace and Security in Burundi
Namibia Diverse Women’s Association (NDWA)
National Rural Women’s Coalition (Australia)
Nkomo Organization Inc.
Paramount Young Women Initiative
Peaceever TV International Media Group Inc.
Plataforma Internacional contra la Impunidad
Professional Women Empowered
Project on Organizing, Development, Education and Research (PODER)
Project Swarajya
Public Verdict Foundation, Russia
Oghoghon Global
Oyu Tolgoi Watch
Refugee Law Project
Sakhi Charchowghi Trust
Sexual Rights Initiative
Sijelei Women and Youth Empowerment
Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Solace Initiative
Steps Without Borders NGO
Sustainable Fish Farming Initiative (SFFI)
The Tibet Bureau
THOMI AFRICA
Transgender Europe
UgoSunday Foundation
Unión Latinoamericana de Mujeres (ULAM)
Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights
Women Advancement and Youth Research Foundation
The Voice of Libyan Women
Women4nonviolence in Peace+Conflict Zones
Women’s Freedom Forum, Inc.
World Council of Peoples for the United Nations
World Uyghur Congress
Yemen Organization For Defending Rights & Democratic Freedom
Youth Women for Action
Zimbabwe Election Support Network
Zonta International