Monitoring Policy Making at the United Nations |
| ||||||||||||
Sub-Group Set Up to Consider NGO Access to the GA - Jan 23 1997 "Essy Group" sets up Sub-Group on NGO Consultation
23 January 1997
The General Assembly Open-Ended High Level Working Group on Strengthening the UN System (known as the "Essy Group") established a sub-group on the issue of NGO participation on Thursday 23 January 1997. This action followed "soundings" on behalf of the GA President by Ambassador Ahmad Kamal of Pakistan on December 2, 9 and 11 and action by the General Assembly on December 17. ECOSOC Decision 1996/297 had called for the GA to "examine within the fifty-first session the question of the participation of NGOs in all areas of the work of the United Nations."Amb. Razali Ismail, President of the General Assembly, as Chair of the Working Group, facilitated the beginning of the Essy Group session, held in Conference Room 2 at UN Headquarters, and put the proposal of the sub-group. After statements by a number of delegations, and "hearing no objections," Amb. Razali set up the Sub-Group and he named Amb. Kamal as Sub-Group chair. Kamal had chaired the final negotiations on NGO status in ECOSOC and is widely considered to be one of the most knowledgible delegates on NGO issues.
There was no agreement, however, on the relationship between the sub-group and the Essy Group as a whole, nor on the procedures and mandate of the sub-group. There appears to be substantial differences over how the group will carry out its work and whether it will focus only on NGO relations to the General Assembly or on "all areas of work of the UN" -- a much broader frame that could theoretically include the World Court, the Security Council and other bodies. It is likely, given the political realities of the UN and Amb. Kamal's statements, that the Sub-Group will confine its work to NGOs and the General Assembly. It remains to be seen whether the Sub-Group will break new ground by having consultations with NGOs themselves as it proceeds with its work.
More Information on NGOs and the General Assembly
