Monitoring Policy Making at the United Nations |
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NGOs NGO Participation in the
Proceedings of the General AssemblyBy Rosalind W. Harris
International Information Service
November 11, 1998 Statement presented at the CONGO meeting on access.
In response to Article 71 of the UN Charter the ECOSOC developed a set of "arrangements" for consultation with NGOs which were first set forth in resolution 288 B(X) of 27 February 1950. Two lengthy reviews have been conducted by ECOSOC to consider the functioning of the system established in 1950. The first culminated in resolution 1296(XLIV) of 23 May 1968. The most recent review, 1994-96, resulted in resolution 1996/31 of 25 July 1996.
The basic system establishes procedures for selected NGOs to participate in the legislative process of the inter-governmental bodies associated with ECOSOC. It indicates the commitment of NGOs to the goals of the UN and responsibility of the secretariat to facilitate NGO participation. NGO Res. 1996/31 elaborates on the criteria for selecting NGOs; opening the opportunity to broader categories such as national NGOs. Although leaving the original system essentially intact it also elaborates on the participation of NGOs in major conferences both those convened by ECOSOC and those convened by the General Assembly, referring only to conferences convened by the United Nations.
Over the years many of the issues defined as economic and social have been placed on the agenda of the General Assembly. NGOs concerned with such issues have urged that formal "arrangements" be made for their participation in the relevant bodies of the GA. The ad hoc committee which reviewed Res. 1296 was also asked to explore possibilities for widening NG participation in all areas of the UN. The Secretary-General's survey of arrangements and practices for the interaction of NGOs in all activities of the UN system is a contribution to this exploration. The report covers NGO relationships with inter- governmental bodies, with field operations and with information dissemination. In the latter two instances the collaboration is between NGOs and UN staff representatives and perhaps a national government.
In order to move ahead with the arrangements for relationships with the General Assembly and its constituent members the following proposals might be considered. They are based on the existing res. 1996/31 which provides a useful working model that has been adapted to the changed circumstances of recent years.
A proposal to facilitate NGO participation in the work of the Main Committees of the UN General Assembly by adopting the following arrangements:
Non-governmental organizations granted general and special consultative status and those on the Roster by ECOSOC may designate authorized representatives to sit as observers at public meetings of the Main Committees and their subcommittees. Such representatives may obtain relevant committee documents at the meetings.
Statements and documents relevant to the work of the Main Committees may be submitted by non-governmental organizations granted general and special consultative status and those placed on the Roster by ECOSOC to the Secretary- General to be made available, if deemed appropriate, to the members of the Main Committees.
Non-governmental organizations granted general and special consultative status and those placed on the Roster by ECOSOC may be given, in accordance with established United Nations practice and at the discretion of the chairperson and the consent of the body concerned, an opportunity to briefly address the Main Committees and their subcommittees.
A proposal to standardize arrangements for NGO participation in Special Sessions of the General Assembly which would save time and energy on the part of delegates, secretariat and NGO representatives. It appears that in the near future there will be no global conferences of the type which have occurred in the past 25 years. Special Sessions of the General Assembly will, essentially, replace the conferences. The General Assembly could agree to apply the arrangements so carefully drafted in Part VII of the ECOSOC resolution 1996/31, to Special Sessions of the General Assembly. Part VII, entitled "Participation of Non-Governmental Organizations in International Conferences Convened by the United Nations and Their preparatory Bodies" is, in fact, the codification of United Nations' practices during recent decades. It provides for admitting NGO representatives as observers to the preparatory sessions and the conference as well as giving a procedure for accrediting NGOs which do not have consultative relations.
This could be done by adopting a resolution or decision along the following lines:
Recalls ECOSOC resolution 1996/31 concerning consultative relationships between the United Nations and non-governmental organizations
Decides that Part VII of resolution 1996/31 entitled "Participation of Non- Governmental Organizations in International Conferences Convened by the United Nations and Their Bodies" shall apply to Special Sessions of the General Assembly.
