Committee recommends 44 NGOs for consultative status with ECOSOC

Concluding a three-week session, the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) has recommended the approval of 44 applications submitted by NGOs seeking consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

By the end of the first part of its 2001 session last Friday, the Committee had also reviewed a total of 52 applications deferred from previous sessions and considered 47 new applications as well as 4 requests for reclassification. NGOs can apply for consultative status under the "general, "special" or "roster" categories, according to requirements spelled out in a 1996 ECOSOC resolution.

NGOs in the general category must be "concerned with most of the activities of the Economic and Social Council and its subsidiary bodies." The special classification refers to those "which have a special competence in, and are concerned specifically with, only a few of the fields of activity covered by the Council." The roster category concerns NGOs which "can make occasional and useful contributions to the work of the Council or its subsidiary bodies."

General status NGOs can propose items for the Council's agenda, attend and speak at meetings and circulate statements. Those enjoying special status can attend meetings and circulate statements, while those with roster status can only attend meetings. General and special status organizations must report every four years on their activities in support of the United Nations.

During the just-ended session, which ran from 7 to 25 May, the Committee heard the representatives of 19 NGOs and approved requests of three others to be heard at ECOSOC'S high-level segment. However, it was unable to consider 47 applications due to lack of time.

In other action on Friday, the Committee recommended that the Council adopt a draft decision authorizing the Committee to resume its 2001 session from 14 to 25 January 2002, in order to complete its work.