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Negotiations on NGOs at the UN - Gobal Policy Forum - NGOs Negotiations on NGOs at the UN
By INTGLIM
May 2001
CONFERENCE ON ILLICIT TRADE IN SMALL ARMS
2nd PrepCom, January 8-19, 2001, New York
3rd PrepCom, March 19-30, 2001, New York
Conference, July 9-20, 2001, New YorkDuring the 3rd PrepCom for the Small Arms Conference, NGOs were barred from sessions doing line-by-line negotiations. It is not yet known if these will be the same conditions for the actual Conference as this will be the decision of Conference President, Ambassador Reyes of Colombia.
The International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) reports that the EU stated, "[the Committee] should now take a decision, which allows for the fullest possible participation of NGOs in the Conference and its preparation", adding "as long as we are working in a plenary format, the sessions should remain open."Canada also provided support for NGOs saying, "we support fullest participation by NGOs in all aspects of this conference." Apparently, a number of governments made strong off-the-record statements about the importance of NGO participation, but said they do not want to derail the discussion at hand by taking time to argue the issue.
Agreement on the modalities of attendance for NGOs was held up by a few member states. Some wanted to make the language on NGO accreditation even more restricted than outlined in the draft proposal by insisting that only "relevant ECOSOC NGOs" be accredited. Governments and UN resolutions have qualified NGO participation with the term "relevant" for years and, historically, NGOs have determined their own relevancy. However, in recent years it has been seen by some that governments are trying to apply their terms for who is relevant or not, thus making such language for NGO participation a growing concern.
A decision was reached on March 22. While it was accepted that ECOSOC NGOs could be accredited to the Conference, other NGOs "relevant and competent to the scope and purpose of the Conference" must apply and are subject to review and acceptance on a no objection basis (A/conf/.192/PC/39). Friday, March 23 NGOs had the morning to make presentations. Fourteen NGOs presented on behalf of other NGOs.
See the IANSA web site for comprehensive information on NGO participation.
Other sources: UN Department of Disarmament Affair's web site on the Small Arms Conference: http://www.un.org/Depts/dda/CAB/smallarms/
Guidelines for NGO accreditation: http://www.un.org/Depts/dda/CAB/smallarms/files/ngoguide.htm
COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN (CSW)
45th Session, March 6-16, 2001, New YorkPreviously, NGO participation in CSW refers to Resolution 1996/31. However, during its 45th session, the G77 introduced language suggesting deleting participation all together. Reportedly, this G77 initiative has been led by Iran who says their objections had to do with the chapeau. No conclusion was reached, but the G77 proposal got rolled into the next session intact. The 45th CSW suspended its session at 4:35am on Saturday, March 17 and decided to reconvene on May 9, 2001.
CSW web site: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/
WomenAction web site: http://www.womenaction.org/
WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM (WCAR)
2nd PrepCom, May 21 June 1, Geneva
Conference, August 31 September 7, 2001, Durban, South AfricaAs of the beginning of May, 407 NGOs had been accredited to the racism conference. However, controversy surrounds challenges to the applications of six NGOs. UNHCHR has come under criticism from some NGOs for not making public the information about organizations denied accreditation.
Human Rights Internet identifies both the blocked NGOs and the countries raising objection:
Centre Tamoul pour les Droits de l'Homme (CTDH)/Tamil Centre for Human Rights (TCHR), France (challenged by Sri Lanka and France)
Human Rights in China (HRIC), United States (challenged by China)
International Campaign for Tibet, United States (challenged by China)
Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, India (challenged by China) The names of the other two NGOs had not been released as of the publication of this update. Applications of 55 more NGOs are still pending consideration.
UNHCHR's web site for WCAR: http://www.hri.ca/racism/
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT (FFD)
3rd PrepCom, May 2-8, 2001, New York
Conference, March 18-22, 2002, Monterrey, MexicoAbout 43 NGOs have been individually accredited to the FFD process. The list of additional NGOs submitted by the Bureau for approval at the May Preparatory Committee is available on the FFD web site.
HIV/AIDS SPECIAL SESSION
June 25-27, 2001, New YorkReportedly, terms for NGO participation in the HIV/AIDS Special Session "keeps changing" and continues to be under debate. There are two processes for civil society participation. One is for members of civil society to participate as part of a government delegation; the second is for NGOs to apply for accreditation. A first round of NGO applications for accreditation has been completed. Consideration of a second list of NGOs has been agreed to and NGOs had until end of April to submit their applications. A decision on newly accredited NGOs is expected in the beginning of May.
General Assembly Resolution A/Res/55/242 decided on a new modality consisting of four round tables during the Special Session. Each round table will consist of 65 participants 48 from member states and 17 from other UN agencies, observers and civil society. UNAIDS says they are consulting with civil society on selection of the NGO participants. ECOSOC meetings consisting of member states, representatives of UN agencies and a limited number of accredited NGOs will also take place during the UNGASS. Also under consideration is the addition of an open-ended participation process consisting of UNAIDS hosting events for civil society outside of the UN premises.
Further information about NGO participation is available on the UNAIDS web site.
A/Res/55/242: http://www.unaids.org/whatsnew/others/un_special/Ares55242-e.pdf
COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS (CHR)
March 16 April 16, 2001, GenevaAn Agence France Presse (AFP) article, written at the beginning of the annual session, reported on the request of 17 states (Algeria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Cuba, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Vietnam) to revise the CHR rules on the accreditation of NGOs to the Commission.
As the session progressed this "like-minded" group of nations continued to push for unprecedented restrictions, but the Bureau (this year's Bureau is Chaired by Argentina and also consists of Portugal, Pakistan, Libya, Romania) did not accept their proposals.
Bureau Chair, Leandro Despouy, has initiated a review of the Commission's working methods including NGO participation. The Bureau, along with the "extended bureau" which consists of regional coordinators (Mexico, India, UK, Latvia and Kenya) will meet three or four times over the coming year and make suggestions on working methods for next year's Bureau. Chairman Despouy has ensured NGOs that they will continue to be included in the Commission and told FIDH they will be consulted in the review process.
UN CHR web site: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/2/chr.htm
The AFP article also takes note of the emerging issue of governmental non-governmental organizations (GONGOs). The Paris-based NGO, International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) has been looking at the issue of whether the opening of the CHR to national organizations has resulted in allowing GONGOs to emerge. FIDH estimates that the number of GONGOs is not excessively high, however, the existence of such groups does have a detrimental impact as it ends up discrediting all NGOs.
World Federalist Movement is also interested in the question of the definition of a GONGO. Clearly, a "governmental non-governmental organization" is a contradiction in terms. While E/1996/31 provides a formula for NGOs' funding, it seems that there needs to be more discussion of this issue in the context of identifying GONGOs. WFM is interested in hearing from other NGOs' on this issue. Send an email to wfm1@igc.org with your thoughts and opinions.
ECOSOC/1996/31: http://www.un.org/esa/coordination/ngo/Resolution_1996_31/index.htm
PREPARATORY COMMISSION ON THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC)
7th PrepCom, February 26 - March 9, New YorkAmong the instruments negotiated at this session, were the Rules of Procedure for the Assembly of States Party, a governmental body that would meet after the Court enters into existence to oversee its work. Rule 88 relates to the participation of observers other than Observer States; the draft rule debated at the PrepCom was very restricted and allowed only NGOs accredited at the Rome Conference to participate in the work of the Assembly. Most delegations objected, and the rule will be reviewed in order to allow other NGOs to participate, including NGOs accredited to the PrepCom, invited by the Assembly and "relevant" ECOSOC NGOs.
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