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NGOs NGO Access to Social Summit +5
Draft decision A/AC.253/L.13
September 21,1999
Preparatory Committee Reccomendations of Rules
for NGO Access to the General Assembly Social Summit
4. At the 14th meeting, on 21 September, the Vice-Chairman of the Preparatory Committee, introduced a draft decision entitled "Arrangements regarding participation of non-governmental organizations in the special session of the General Assembly on the implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and Further Initiatives" (A/AC.253/L.13) which he had submitted on the basis of informal consultations.
5. At the same meeting, the Preparatory Committee recommended the draft decision to the General Assembly for adoption (see chap. II, sect.A).
Chapter II
Matters calling for action by the General Assembly or brought up to its attention.A. Draft decision for adoption by the General Assembly
6. The Preparatory Committee for the Special Session of the General Assembly on the implementation of the Outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and Further Initiatives recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of the following draft decision:
Draft Decision IV
Arrangements regarding participation of non-governmental organizations in the Special Session of the General Assembly on the implementation of the Outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and Further Initiatives
The General Assembly:
(a) Decides that representatives from non-governmental organizations may make statements in the Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole of the Special Session;
(b) Decides that given that availability of time, a limited number of non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council may also make statements in the debate of the plenary of the Special Session. The President of General Assembly is requested to present the list of selected non-governmental organizations to the Member States in a timely manner for approval. The president of the General Assembly is also requested to ensure that such selection is made on an equal and transparent basis, taking into account the geographical representation and diversity of non-governmental organizations
(c ) Decides that the arrangements concerning the accreditation and participation of non-governmental organizations in the special session will in no way create a precedent for other special sessions of the General Assembly.
B. Decision adopted by the Preparatory Committee
7. The following decision adopted by the Preparatory Committee at its resumed first session is brought to the attention of the General Assembly:
Decision 5 Accreditation of non-governmental organizations to the special session of the General Assembly on the implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and Further Initiatives
The Preparatory Committee:
(a) Decides that the accreditation of non-governmental organizations should be open to:
(i) All non-governmental organizations enjoying consultative status with the Economic and Social Council;
(ii) All non-governmental organizations that were accredited to the World Summit for Social Development, unless their application for consultative status was rejected by the Committee on Non-Governmental Organisations;
(iii) All non-governmental organizations that have been accredited to the Preparatory Committee, with no further examination of their credentials, unless their application for consultative status was rejected by the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations;
(b) Decides that the accreditation of other interested non-governmental organizations that have not participated in any of the above forums should be examined by a Committee composed of the Bureau of the preparatory body for the special session and the Secretariat by April 7 2000, which would make the appropriate recommendations to the Preparatory Committee at its second session for review and decision, provided that requests for accreditation are accompanied by information on the organization's competence and relevance to the subject of the special session, including the following information, to be submitted by March 2000:
(i) The purpose of the organization;
(ii) Information identifying the programmes and activities of the organization in areas relevant to the subject of the special session and indicating in which country or countries they are carried out;
(iii) Confirmation of the activities of the organizations at the national, regional or international levels;
(iv) Copies of annual or other reports of the organization, with financial statements and a list of financial sources and contributions, including governmental contributions;
(v) A list of the members of the governing body of the organization and their countries and nationalities
(vi) A description of the membership of the organization, indicating the total number of members, the names of member organizations and their geographical distribution;
(vii) A copy of the constitution and/or by-laws of the organization
(c ) Requests the Secretary General to widely inform the community of non-governmental organizations about all available procedures.
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