NGOs work related to the UN contains a number of
activities including information distribution, awareness raising, development
education, policy advocacy, joint operational projects, and providing technical
expertise and collaborating with UN agencies, programmes and funds.
Official UN Secretariat relations with NGOs fall into
two main categories: consultations with governments and information servicing
by the Secretariat. These functions are
the responsibility of two main offices of the UN Secretariat dealing with NGOs:
the NGO Unit of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the
NGO Section of the Department of Public Information.
Formal interactions between NGOs and the UN are
governed by the UN Charter and related resolutions of ECOSOC. In February 2003, the Secretary-General also
appointed a High Level Panel of Eminent Persons to produce a practical set of
recommendations as to how the UN's work with Civil Society could be
improved. The final report of the Panel
has been presented to the Secretary-General in June 2004.
Broadly speaking, NGOs may cooperate with the United Nations System in
at least four ways:
1. NGOs may
receive accreditation for a conference, summit or other event organized by the
United Nations. Such accreditation is
issued through the Secretariat preparing the event and expires upon completion
of the event. It entitles NGOs to
participate in the preparation process and in the event itself, thus
contributing to its outcome. For a compilation of all legislation regarding NGO
accreditation and participation in UN Conferences and Summits from 1990 - 2001,
please click here.
2. NGOs may establish working relations with
particular Departments, Programmes or Specialized Agencies of the United
Nations System, based on shared fields of interest and potential for joint
activities complementing the work of the United Nations office in a particular
area. For a list of NGO Focal points
throughout the UN System, please click here.
The NGLS Handbook also provides a wealth of information on Civil Society
engagement throughout the UN system.
3. International NGOs active in the field of economic
and social development may seek to obtain consultative status with the United
Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
For requirements concerning consultative status with ECOSOC, please
contact the ECOSOC NGO Section by clicking the link above.
4. NGOs that have at their disposal regular means of
disseminating information, either through their publications, radio or
television programmes, or through their public activities such as conferences,
lectures, seminars or workshops, and that are willing to devote a portion of
their information programmes to dissemination of information about the United
Nations, may apply for association with the United Nations Department of Public
Information (DPI). Please click here for
additional information.
Whether affiliated with the United Nations system or
not, NGOs can obtain United Nations public information materials from the
United Nations Information Centres in countries of their operations (
www.un.org/aroundworld/unics ) . They can also access the UN information on
the web at www.un.org
Further information on the role of NGOs at the UN can be found on the
Global Policy Forum website
The United Nations is an international organization of self-governed
states founded after the second world war. It was created to maintain
international peace and security. It's goals were to develop friendly relations
among nations and promote social progress to improve standards of life
globally.
One reason why the United Nations
was created was to be a central location where nations could come to discuss
long and
Conservation International
(CI)
Conservation
International (CI) is a field-based, non-profit organization that protects the
Earth's biologically richest areas and helps the people who live there improve
their quality of life. CI uses science, economics, policy, and community
involvement to promote biodiversity conservation in tropical rain forests and
other endangered ecosystems worldwide. It focuses on trying to preserve and
promote awareness about the world's most endangered biodiversity through
scientific programs, local awareness campaigns, and economic initiatives. CI
also works with multinational institutions, provides economic analyses for
national leaders, and promotes 'best practices' that allow for sustainable
development.
Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA)
The
Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) is an independent, international
campaigning organization established in 1984. EIA is committed to investigating
and exposing environmental crime such as the illegal trade in wildlife, illegal
logging and trade in timber species, and the world-wide trade in ozone
depleting substances. Working undercover, EIA has directly brought about
changes in international laws and the policies of governments, saving the lives
of millions of rare and endangered animals and putting a s to the devastating
effects of environmental criminals. EIA is a small organization which relies on
donations from the public, the support of EIA members, the efforts of volunteer
fund-raisers and the support of charitable foundations.
Fern
Fern is a
non-governmental organization (NGO) with charity status. It was created in 1995
by the World Rainforest Movement. NGO representatives from different European
countries make up its board. Fern works closely with many national and
international NGOs and advocates changes in European Union activities to
achieve the sustainable management of forests and respect for the rights of
forest peoples. Fern also co-ordinates NGOs working in this field.
Ford Foundation
Founded in
1936, the Ford Foundation operated as a local philanthropy in the State of
Michigan until 1950, when it expanded to become a national and international
foundation. Since its inception it has been an independent, non-profit,
non-governmental organization. The Foundation works mainly by making grants or
loans that build knowledge and strengthen organizations and networks. It has
provided slightly more than $10 billion in grants and loans. These funds derive
from an investment portfolio that began with gifts and bequests of Ford Motor
Company stock by Henry and Edsel Ford. The Foundation no longer owns Ford Motor
Company stock, and its diversified portfolio is managed to provide a perpetual
source of support for the Foundation's programs and operations. The goals of
the Ford Foundation are to (1) strengthen democratic values; (2) reduce poverty
and injustice; (3) promote international cooperation; and (4) advance human
achievement. Program officers in the United States, Africa, the Middle East,
Asia, Latin America and Russia explore opportunities to pursue the Foundation's
goals, formulate strategies and recommend proposals for funding.
Forest Policy and Environment Group (FPEG) of the
Overseas Development Institute (ODI)
The
Forest Policy and Environment Group (FPEG) of the Overseas Development
Institute (ODI) strives for a broader, more livelihood-oriented approach to the
importance of trees and forests, focusing especially on institutional, policy
and socio-economic aspects of sustainable forest management and conservation as
well as on the interface between forests and other land-uses.
Forest
Trends
Beginning in
1996 a small group of leaders from forest industry, donors and environmental
groups began to meet to consider the array of challenges facing the cause of
forest conservation and decided to create a new organization - Forest Trends -
to expand the work of bridging traditional divides and promoting market-based
approaches to forest conservation. The mission of Forest Trends is to maintain
and restore forest ecosystems by promoting incentives that diversify trade in
the forest sector, moving beyond exclusive focus on lumber and fiber to a
broader range of products and services. Forest Trends seeks to accelerate the
evolution of economic systems in which (1) commerce sustains forest ecosystem
services; (2) markets recognize the multiple services and values that forests
provide society, and reward companies that manage forest ecosystems in a
sustainable fashion; and (3) local communities receive an equitable share of
the benefits generated from forest-based commerce.
Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific
International
The Foundation
of the Peoples of the South Pacific International (FSPI) is a network of eleven
NGO members who work together to achieve similar goals. Each member is a
national development agency, with its own Board of Directors, and can operate
singularly and independently. FSPI does not control the independent operations
of its members and enforces only management and ethical responsibilities of
membership. The eight island members of FSPI are local development NGOs
dedicated to integrated rural development in their countries. They include FSP
Fiji, Foundation for People and Community Development Inc. in Papua New Guinea,
FSP Kiribati, O le Siosiomaga Society in Samoa, Solomon Islands Development
Trust, Tonga Trust, Tuvalu Association of Non-Government Organizations and FSP
Vanuatu. Their programs are defined by the needs identified from their
grassroots constituencies and they work in close partnership with local and
national governments as well as other local and international NGOs to achieve
the priority rural development aims of their countries.
Friends
of the Earth (FOE) International
Friends
of the Earth’s International Program, aims to protect the global environment
and local communities by opposing the activities of international institutions
and corporations that threaten the planet's future, and by promoting
environmentally sound alternatives. The International Program is a federation
of autonomous environmental organizations from all over the world.
Genetic Resources Action International (GRAIN)
Genetic
Resources Action International (GRAIN) is an international non-governmental
organization, established in 1990, to help further a global movement of popular
action against one of the world's most pervasive threats to world food and
livelihood security: genetic erosion. GRAIN is registered in Spain as an
international, non-profit foundation. It has offices in Barcelona and in Los
Baños, the Philippines. As wholly autonomous organization, GRAIN is financed by
grants from NGOs, governments and intergovernmental organizations. The
organization is governed by a Board composed of dedicated individuals —
scientists, grassroots field workers, development NGOs and policy makers —
acting in their personal capacity.
Global Forest Watch (GFW)
Global
Forest Watch is an international data and mapping network that combines
on-the-ground knowledge with digital technology to provide accurate information
about the world's forests.
Greenpeace
Greenpeace
is one of the world's pre-eminent environmental NGOs, with offices in 39
countries. Greenpeace has campaigned on a range of environmental issues
including nuclear testing, whaling, commercial exploitation in Antarctica and a
variety of forestry issues.
International Alliance of the
Indigenous-Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forests (IAITPTF)
The
International Alliance of the Indigenous-Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forests
(IAITPTF) is the worldwide network of the organizations of Indigenous and
Tribal Peoples living in tropical forest countries, namely in Africa, Asia, and
the Americas. The Alliance was founded in 1992, during a conference of
indigenous peoples in Malaysia, where the Charter of the Alliance was approved.
International Ecotourism Society
The
International Ecotourism Society was founded in 1990 to foster a true sense of
synergy between outdoor travel entrepreneurs, researchers and conservationists.
International
Institute of Rural Reconstruction
The
International Institute of Rural Reconstruction is a non-governmental
organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of the rural poor in
developing countries through rural reconstruction: a sustainable, integrated
and people-centered development strategy generated through practical field
experiences.
International Institute for Sustainable Development
(IISD)
For
development to be sustainable it must integrate environmental stewardship,
economic development and the well-being of all people – not just for today but
for countless generations to come. This is the challenge facing governments,
non-governmental organizations, private enterprises, communities and
individuals. By applying tools such as policy research, information exchange,
analysis and advocacy, the International Institute for Sustainable Development
(IISD) meets this challenge by advancing policy recommendations on
international trade and investment, economic instruments, climate change,
measurement and indicators, and natural resource management to make development
sustainable. By using Internet communications, IISD covers and reports on
international negotiations and brokers knowledge gained through collaborative
projects with global partners, resulting in more rigorous research, capacity
building in developing countries and a better dialogue between North and South.
International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR)
The
International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) is an international
organization established by treaty in November 1997, dedicated to improving the
social, economic, and environmental benefits of bamboo and rattan. INBAR connects
a global network of partners from the government, private, and not-for-profit
sectors in over 50 countries to define and implement a global agenda for
sustainable development through bamboo and rattan.
IUCN - The World Conservation Union
IUCN - The
World Conservation Union was founded in 1948 and brings together 78 states, 112
government agencies, 735 non-government agencies, 35 affiliates, and some
10,000 scientists and experts from 181 countries in a unique worldwide
partnership. IUCN's mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies
throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to
ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically
sustainable. Within the framework of global conventions IUCN has helped over 75
countries to prepare and implement national conservation and biodiversity
strategies. IUCN has approximately 1000 staff, most of whom are located in its
42 regional and country offices while 100 work at its Headquarters in Gland,
Switzerland.
Iwokrama
International Center for Rain Forest Conservation and Development
The Iwokrama
International Center for Rain Forest Conservation and Development is an
autonomous international conservation, research and development organization
formed by agreement between the Government of Guyana and the Commonwealth
Secretariat. Iwokrama is responsible for the management, conservation and
sustainable development of about 360,000 hectares of pristine tropical forest,
which Guyana has dedicated to the international community to be used to
demonstrate how tropical forests can provide economic benefit while conserving
biodiversity. The Centers mission is to promote the conservation and the
sustainable and equitable use of tropical rain forests in a manner that will
lead to lasting ecological, economic and social benefits to the people of
Guyana and to the world in general, by undertaking research, training and the
development and dissemination of technologies.
Native Forest Network (NFN)
The
Native Forest Network (NFN) is a global, autonomous collective of forest
activists, indigenous peoples, conservation biologists, and non-governmental
organizations. It functions on a consensus basis and is non-violent,
non-hierarchical, and non-patriarchic. Furthermore, NFN is non-discriminatory
on the grounds of race, gender, sexual orientation, culture, class, or species.
The mission of the Network is to protect the Earth's remaining native forests,
be they temperate or otherwise, to ensure they can survive, flourish, and
maintain their evolutionary potential. NFN's goals are to (1) ensure the
maintenance of biodiversity and ecological integrity; (2) recognize the rights
of indigenous people and forest dwellers and to ensure that cultural values of
ecosystems are identified and protected; and (3) maintain the ecological
productivity of natural and modified ecosystems for the benefit of all species,
including humans.
Plant A
Tree Today (PATT) Foundation, Ltd.
PATT
(Plant-A-Tree-Today) Foundation's mission is to react to problems caused by
deforestation, raise awareness of environmental issues and the role forests
play, take action against climate change, educate children on these issues and
to plant more trees. PATT currently works in Asia to campaign for better
environmental practices, implement tree plating projects as well as provide
funding for partner projects, set up school tree nurseries and provide
environmental education, and fund community development projects in rural
communities focused on tree planting.
Rainforest Action Network (RAN)
The Rainforest
Action Network (RAN) works to protect the Earth's rainforests and support the
rights of their inhabitants through education, grassroots organizing, and
non-violent direct action. RAN is a non-profit, member-based organization. RAN
accomplishes its mission through dynamic, hard-hitting campaigns that work to
bring corporate and governmental policies into alignment with popular support
for rainforest conservation. RAN works in alliance with environmental and human
rights groups around the world, including indigenous forest communities and
non-governmental organizations in rainforest countries.
Rainforest Alliance
The Rainforest
Alliance is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the
conservation of tropical forests for the benefit of the global community. Its
mission is to develop and promote economically viable and socially desirable
alternatives to the destruction of this endangered, biologically diverse
natural resource through education, research in the social and natural
sciences, and the establishment of cooperative partnerships with businesses,
governments, and local peoples.
Rainforest Foundation, UK
The mission of
the Rainforest Foundation is to support indigenous people and traditional
populations of the world's rainforests in their efforts to protect their
environment and fulfil their rights by assisting them in securing and
controlling the natural resources necessary for their long term well- being and
managing these resources in ways which do not harm their environment, violate
their culture or compromise their future; and developing means to protect their
individual and collective rights and to obtain, shape and control basic
services from the State.
Robin Wood
In Germany in
1982, a dozen environmentalists came together because they could no longer just
sit back and watch the forests perish. They called themselves 'Robin Wood',
inspired by the legendary character. Initially Robin Wood focused on the topic
of acid rain. Thus several chimney stacks were scaled and 'occupied' by
adventurous environmentalists and decorated with banners of protest and
warning. Meanwhile, further issues have been adopted: Robin Wood is campaigning
against the destruction of tropical rain forests, against the wasteful use of
energy and increasing levels of rubbish, and we are working for a reasonable
transport policy. Whether Robin Wood is climbing the roof of some major power
supply company or expressing its opinion to the government unignorably on an
enormous banner, Robin Wood activists can be seen there in their leisure time.
The majority of the organization's work - whether spectacular events,
information stands, lectures or publications - is carried out by unpaid
volunteer workers. In specialized work, public relations and administration,
they work hand in hand with officers of the organization. Important decisions
are all made in a grassroots democratic manner, and elected regional
representatives meet regularly to decide on group policy and activities.
Taiga Rescue Network (TRN)
The
Taiga Rescue Network (TRN) is working to support local struggles and strengthen
the cooperation between individuals, NGOs and indigenous peoples and nations
concerned with the protection, restoration and sustainable use of the world's
boreal forests by means that ensure the integrity of natural processes and
dynamics. The goals of TRN are to protect old-growth northern forests, promote
sustainable forest management in the boreal zones, ensure indigenous rights and
local control of resources, and reduce industrial extraction and overall
consumption of boreal forest products. TRN is an instrument to be used by its
participants to strengthen their work on all levels. The Network provides
guidance and ensures skill sharing, information exchange, co-ordination and
increased knowledge. It works towards education and the implementation of
projects and maintains the regional overview of project activities. TRN unites
a wide variety of groups, cultures, languages, experiences and interests. A
guiding principle is to learn from each other, benefit from each other's
diversity and strengthen cooperation and collaboration on international level.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
The
Nature Conservancy, a non-profit organization founded in 1951, is the world's
largest private international conservation group. Working with communities,
businesses and individuals, the organization protects millions of acres of
valuable lands and waters worldwide. The mission of the Nature Conservancy is
to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the
diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to
survive.
TRAFFIC
TRAFFIC
is the wildlife trade monitoring program of the World Wide Fund For Nature
(WWF) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN). TRAFFIC's mission is to ensure
that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of
nature. The TRAFFIC Network works in co-operation with the Secretariat of the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES). It also collaborates with a wide range of other partners, including
the IUCN Species Survival Commission, many governments and other organizations.
Tropical Forest Foundation (TFF)
The
Tropical Forest Foundation (TFF) is a non-government organization committed to
promoting sustainable forest management throughout the tropical world. TFF
seeks to achieve its goals by supporting and promoting reduced impact logging
(RIL) strategies in recognition of the crucial role RIL has in the achievement
of sustainable forest management and forest certification. The activities of
TFF include collecting and disseminating information, conducting training
programs, carrying out RIL research and demonstration, and developing
guidelines, training materials, and technical procedures manuals in support of
RIL. TFF now has field programs in Brazil, Indonesia, and Guyana.
Tropical
Forest Trust (TFT)
To help address
forest loss worldwide, a number of major European companies trading in tropical
wood products have come together to form the Tropical Forest Trust (TFT). The
TFT members believe that they can help influence forest management in the
tropics to ensure greater forest conservation. They are aware that trade in
tropical wood from poorly managed forests can directly drive forest
destruction, but believe that wood harvested from well managed forests will
help to conserve forests and the wealth of species they support. TFT seeks to
make a positive contribution to forest conservation by encouraging their
suppliers to use wood that comes from forests that are third party certified or
from forests that are clearly progressing towards certification by the Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC). In addition, TFT funds specific projects that are
designed to achieve certification. It has sponsored projects in Cambodia and
Lao PDR, and is funding a major forest management project in Vietnam.
Village Development Trust (VDT)
Village
Development Trust (VDT) is an indigenous non-government organization that has
been working in Papua New Guinea and throughout the South Pacific since 1990.
It has become recognized as a leader in the fields of eco-forestry and conservation.
Its work has evolved over this time to include a series of courses and
workshops, professional field support services, education aids, and model
projects that emphasize an integrated approach to the issues of conservation
awareness, environmental protection, and the practical sustainable development
of village resources.
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
Since 1895, the
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has worked from its Bronx Zoo headquarters
in New York City to save wildlife and wild lands throughout the world. WCS
uniquely combines the resources of wildlife parks in New York with field
projects around the globe to inspire care for nature, provide leadership in
environmental education, and help sustain the Earth's biological diversity.
Today, WCS is at work in 53 nations across Africa, Asia, Latin and North
America, protecting wild landscapes that are home to a vast variety of species
from butterflies to tigers.
World Forestry Center (WFC)
The World
Forestry Center (WFC) is a non-profit educational institution located in
Portland, Oregon, USA. The Center's mandate is to educate the general public,
from pre-school children through adults, about forestry and forest policy
issues, and to promote the adoption of sustainable forest management. The
Center operates a museum, conference facilities and two demonstration forests,
and undertakes a large number of educational activities with schools and youth
groups. WFC also administers an international research fellowship program
involving young to mid-career forestry professionals.
World Rainforest Movement (WRM)
The World
Rainforest Movement (WRM) is an international network of citizens' groups of
North and South involved in efforts to defend the world's rainforests. It works
to secure the lands and livelihoods of forest peoples and supports their
efforts to defend the forests from commercial logging, dams, mining,
plantations, shrimp farms, colonization and settlement and other projects that
threaten them. The WRM International Secretariat is headquartered in
Montevideo, Uruguay, while its European Office is based in Moreton-in-Marsh,
United Kingdom.
World Resources Institute (WRI)
The
World Resources Institute (WRI) provides information, ideas, and solutions to
global environmental problems. Its mission is to move human society to live in
ways that protect the Earth's environment for current and future generations.
The WRI program meets global challenges by using knowledge to catalyze public
and private action. Particular objectives are (1) to reverse the rapid
degradation of ecosystems, assuring their capacity to provide the goods and
services on which human well-being depends; (2) to halt the changes to the
Earth's climate caused by human activity; (3) to catalyze the adoption of
policies and practices that expand prosperity while reducing the use of
materials and generation of wastes; and (4) to guarantee people's access to
information and decisions regarding natural resources and environment.
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
The
goal of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is to stop, and eventually
reverse, the worsening degradation of the planet's natural environment, and
build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. WWF is working to
achieve this goal through (1) preserving genetic, species, and ecosystem
diversity; (2) ensuring that the use of natural resources is sustainable both
now and in the longer term, for the benefit of all life on Earth; and (3)
promoting action to reduce pollution and wasteful consumption to a minimum. WWF
now operates in over 100 countries, supported by nearly five million people
worldwide. Its initials and famous Panda logo have become a powerful rallying
point for everyone who cares about the future of the planet and wants to help
shape it in a positive way.
Religion is a sociological device used to protect its
members, and it offers them a common system of belief. Religion, whether it is
Christianity, Taoism, Judaism, or Hinduism is a set of commonly shared beliefs
which bring many people together. Religions usually teach a code of morality
with an emphasis on a higher supernatural entity. They give examples and role
models for people to follow. Religion, although having nearly the same
definition as a cult, has a positive connotation.
Fifty years after the founding of the United Nations,
transnational associations --commonly referred to as international
non-governmental organizations or INGOs -- have become major players on the
international scene. The emergence during the past two decades of these
organizations is one of the most striking global phenomena of the late 20th
century. Although still inadequately recognized by some scholars of
international relations, INGOs have become a significant third force in
international systems, paralleling, although not yet equaling, the expanding
role of inter-governmental organizations in the political sphere and the rapid
globalization of business in the economic sphere. As the UN Secretary-General
himself has recently said, "NGOs are an essential part of the legitimacy
without which no international activity can be meaningful".
INGOs
are the transnational organizational manifestations of what is now increasingly
called "civil society" -- which, in the words of UN
Under-Secretary-General Nitin Desai, is "the sphere in which social
movements organize themselves around objectives, constituencies, and thematic
interests". Civil society, thus defined, is itself composed (in the
language of Agenda 21 of the UN Conference on Environment and Development) of
"major groups" who reflect those various interests.
The
new importance of INGOs is derived specifically from several significant
changes in human society. These changes include:
1) the enormous
expansion of non-governmental organizations at local and national levels,
particularly in the countries of the Third World but also in the transitition
states of the former Soviet bloc. The gradual process of development and the
accelerating process of democratization have steadily liberated human capacities
from long-standing economic, political and social constraints. Just as, in the
economic sector, private enterprise is becoming increasingly important, so in
civil society newly empowered citizens are organizing themselves spontaneously
and massively to promote their individual and common welfare.
2) At the
international level, the United Nations has entered a period of growing
importance, fostered, on the one hand, by the end of the Cold War and, on the
other, by the growing realization that national governments by themselves can
no longer cope with a growing array of global problems such as preserving the
integrity of the natural environment, eradicating diseases, controlling
narcotics and many other threats to human security and well-being. Step-by
step, therefore, the intergovernmental organizations which comprise the UN
family are being asked to take on new responsibilities. The concept of
"global governance" (although certainly not yet "global
government") is now widely accepted.
3)
An integral part of these changes has been the impressive breakthroughs in
communication technologies in recent years. Immediate and direct contact among
individuals and their organizations anywhere in the world is now feasible, and
there is every indication that instant accessibility to all kinds of
information will continue to spread rapidly.
These
three elements - the growth of citizen organizations at all levels of society,
the imperative need for global action on global problems, and the remarkable
ease of instant communication - have been major building blocks in the
expansion of non-governmental organizations at the global level and have led to
the increasing relationship between them and the UN family. As
Under-Secretary-General Desai has put it, "NGOs... no longer simply have a
consumer relationship with the United Nations. They have increasingly assumed
the role of promoters of new ideas, they have alerted the world community to
emerging issues, and they have developed expertise and talent which... have become
vital for the work of the United Nations, both at the policy and operational
levels".
This
changing relationship is the topic of this paper, which is offered as a
contribution by the Union of International Associations to the general
reexamination of the global multilateral system now under way upon the occasion
of the 50th anniversary of the United Nations' creation in 1945. It seems
fitting that the UAI (Union des associations internationales) should make such
a contribution, since it is the oldest (established in 1910) independent centre
of documentation and publication on international NGOs. Both of the study's
authors are members of the UAI Executive Council and represent the UAI to the
United Nations.
The
authors have drawn on the UAI's substantial archives. More importantly,
perhaps, they have drawn heavily on the experience of their own personal
participation in INGO activities, each over nearly 40 years, as well as on the
information and ideas provided by many other individuals who have been
involved, in one way or another, in the connections between the international
inter-governmental system and the international NGO world. We are grateful to
them, and we honour their contribution on a roll deposited with the UAI
headquarters.
In
examining these issues, the authors have chosen to concentrate on what seem to
them the most important. Before 1990, the literature on INGO/UN relations was
rather slim; in the years since then it has vastly increased. Readers of this
report who seek data on questions only briefly touched on this paper, or who
are interested in INGO relationships with members of the UN system other than
the UN itself, will therefore find the attached list of h a useful source of
additional information.
As a background to the issues discussed in this paper,
it may be helpful to offer a very brief sketch of UN/INGO relations as they
have developed over the past 50 years.
Article 71 of the UN Charter may be seen as the
starting point for INGO involvement with the UN, Its inclusion in the document
adopted in San Francisco came about largely, it is generally agreed, because
the United States Government, eager to build public support for the new world
body, included a substantial number of NGO leaders in the U.S. delegation to
the conference. Reflecting their influence, Article 71 provides that the UN
Economic and Social Council could establish "suitable arrangements for
consultation" with INGOs.
After
taking some initial interim steps, ECOSOC did establish such arrangements at
its tenth session by Resolution 288B (1950) which created a three-category
system of NGO recognition with different privileges of consultation accorded to
each category. In 1968 this system was somewhat modified by ECOSOC Resolution
1296, although the essential provision of three categories of consultative
status remained unchanged. Resolution 1296 continues in force today as the
"charter" of official UN/NGO relationships in the central field of
policymaking, although a UN Working Group is currently considering its
modification (A companion resolution, 1297, deals with the NGO relationship in
the field of dissemination of information about the United Nations).
Another
important moment in the history of NGO/UN relationships was the creation in
1948 of the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Status
with the Economic and Social Council, commonly known as CONGO. For nearly 50
years this coordinating body has served as a watchdog of NGO interests in the
consultative system and as a framework for NGO cooperation in a number of
fields of common interest.
In
1972, NGO interaction with the UN system was markedly intensified with the UN
Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm. NGOs were attracted to this
event in large numbers, many of them without previous connection to the world
body. Two important NGO initiatives at Stockholm were the NGO Forum held
parallel to the official conference and the NGO daily newspaper which provided
immediate (and often critical) coverage of negotiations which otherwise would
have been much less open to public scrutiny, The Stockholm pattern was
repeated, and expanded, at all the subsequent UN conferences of the 70s and
80sþon population, food, women, habitat, science and technology, etc.
Of
particular significance was the Second World Women's Conference held in 1985 in
Nairobi, where some thousands of NGOs -- mostly women's organizations, but by
no means exclusively so -- came to manifest their determination that the UN
Conference would lead to meaningful and lasting progress in establishing
women's rightful roles and responsibilities. This display of woman power was
not lost on the governmental delegations.
With
the 1990s, the NGO connection with the UN moved even more dramatically into the
limelight. The precipitating event was the 1992 UN Conference on Environment
and Development (UNCED) -- a conference at which, to a degree far higher than
ever before, the involvement of NGOs was actively sought by the UN organizers
of the official conference. The traditional boundaries of the established
consultative system -- including its screening processes and criteria -- were
essentially ignored, and hundreds of organizations not previously associated
with the UN were encouraged to make their voices heard. In turn, the NGO role
in implementing the objectives of the conference was given important emphasis
in the agenda adopted at Rio.
The
subsequent world conferences of the 90s have to a large extent followed the
UNCED model, and it would now be inconceivable for the UN to plan any global
event without the active involvement of the non-governmental sector.
Secretary-General Boutros Boutros Ghali, addressing NGO representatives at the
UN in September 1994, made this very clear when he said:
"I
want you to consider this your home. Until recently, these words might have
caused astonishment. The United Nations was considered to be a forum for
sovereign states alone. Within the space of a few short years, this attitude
has changed. Non-governmental organizations are now considered full
participants in international life".
The
underlying reasons for this profound change have been suggested earlier. But
transformation of the UN/INGO relationship has not come easily. Disputed issues
have emerged during the past five years and some remain unresolved today.
Before
examining these issues, however, it is important to recall the variety of
relationships which have developed over the years and the benefits -- to both
the UN and the NGOs -- that the experience of earlier decades has made
indisputable. From the UN point of view,
1) NGOs can
provide expert knowledge and advice, both to the decision-making bodies of the
UN and to the Secretariat which implements UN decisions;
2) NGOs can
present the views of important constituencies whose voices may not be
adequately represented by national delegations but whose views are important to
informed decision-making;
3) NGOs can be
major channels for dissemination of information to their members, thus helping
to fill the knowledge gap left by the inadequate coverage given by the media to
UN developments;
4) NGOs can
build support for UN programs by carrying out educational activities directed
at the wider public (the promotion of various "days" proclaimed by UN
agencies e.g., World Food Day - is one example) or by raising funds (e.g., for
UNICEF);
5) In some
cases close cooperation with NGOs is indispensable to UN agencies in carrying
out their missions; the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, for example,
contracts and cooperates extensively with NGOs in the majority of refugee
situations. And the UNDP has designated certain NGOs as executing agencies for
projects which it funds.
Of
course the INGO/UN relationship has not been a one-way street; non-governmental
organizations serve their own purposes when they urge UN action or educate the
public about UN activities. And the UN framework has also proved of value as a
mechanism around which to build cooperation among themselves.
Despite the many ways in which the non-governmental
world interacts with the intergovernmental world, the consultative relationship
has remained at the heart of the interaction. And with the early 90s, and
especially following UNCED, the existing pattern of this relationship came
under increasing scrutiny. In 1993, therefore, ECOSOC created a special Working
Group to re-examine the relationship, and its report is expected in 1996.
A
central issue, of course, is which organizations shall be accorded status at
the UN. On this question, the starting point is the criteria set out in
Resolution 1296 which provides, inter alia:
"The
organization shall be concerned with matters falling within the competence of
the Economic and Social Council... The aims and purposes of the organization
shall be in conformity with the spirit, purposes and principles of the Charter
of the United Nations... The organization shall undertake to support the work
of the United Nations and to promote knowledge of its principles and
activities... The organization shall be of representative character and of
recognized international standing... The organization shall have an established
headquarters, with an executive officer. It shall have a democratically adopted
constitution... which shall provide for determination of policy... by a representative
body... The basic resources of the organization shall be derived in the main
part from contributions of the national affiliates... or from individual
members."
Resolution
1296, as previously noted, also includes provisions for classifying organizations
into three categories. Category I organizations are large, representative
bodies with interest and competence in a broad range of topics; Category II
comprises those with competence in only some of the ECOSOC issues; while
organizations listed on the Roster are those who can make occasional useful
contributions to the work of the Council. Each category has different rights,
with the ability to intervene much greater at the top than at the bottom.
The established
practice, for an organization seeking accreditation in accordance with these
standards has been for it to submit an application to ECOSOC's Committee on
Non-Governmental Organizations. Once approved by the Committee, ECOSOC's
subsequent approval has, in most cases, been pro forma (The same procedure has
been followed with respect to the quadrennial reports which each accredited
organization is required to submit. On the basis of these reports, or lack of
them, the Committee can recommend to ECOSOC the removal of organizations not
meeting the criteria).
Amnesty International, a worldwide human rights
organization, is concerned about the grave lack of respect for the basic human
rights of people with mental disabilities in Bulgaria and is encouraging your
office to assist the Bulgarian government in implementing reform of its mental
health care system, in line with standards of international law and
professional best practice.
In response to
the findings documented in Amnesty International's report, Bulgaria: Far from
the eyes of society, Systematic discrimination against people with mental
disabilities (AI Index: EUR 15/005/2002) and Amnesty International's concerns.
Amnesty International is one of the best known human
rights organizations despite being only 40 years old. The organization has
received the Nobel Peace Prize as well as the United Nations Human Rights
Award. Its focus initially was on prisoners of conscience; today, its mandate
includes human rights in general and address "non-state actors" as
well. Information is key to its mission and its strategy the organization
gathers, collates and disseminates information while maintaining an ostensibly
neutral stance with regard to political and economic systems. This research
considers the use of information in promulgating the organization's mission and
the role of information in the organization's success.
Amnesty
International was organized in the 1960s during the Cold War in response to
political prisoners. Specifically, two Portuguese students were sentenced to
seven years in prison for raising a toast to freedom; this was the event that
sparked the formation of the organization. During its early years, Amnesty
International focused on letter writing campaigns and publicity designed to
focus the attention of the media and influential individuals and institutions
on political prisoners. The organization was credited with leading to better
treatment and, in some cases, the release of some prisoners, and Amnesty
International was careful to maintain a stance that kept it separate from
government a
Amnesty International or AI is a worldwide,
non-governmental organization, which campaigns for internationally recognized
human rights, as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and
other international human rights standards (Amnesty International 2005). In
particular, AI campaigns to free all prisoners of conscience, ensure fair and
prompt trials of political prisoners, abolish the death penalty, torture and
other cruel treatment of prisons, end political killings and forced
disappearances, oppose all kinds of human rights abuses and increase awareness
of human rights abuses all over the world (Wikipedia 2005). In the pursuit of
its goals, AI sends research teams to investigate claims of human rights
abuses, publicizes its findings and mobilizes its members to lobby against the
abuses by writing to the government officials concerned, protests,
demonstrates, organizes fund-raisers, educates the public about the offense
and, often, all of these. Working primarily on the local level, Ai notifies
each of its more than 7,000 local groups and more than 1 million members,
including 300,000 in the US alone, in 150 countries. These members write
protest letters to the concerned government officials. Ai observers a
neutrality policy called the "country rule," which forbids members
from becoming active in their own nation to protect mistreatment and prevent
political disloyalties from affecting coverage
AI members come
from all shades of cultural, political and religious beliefs but are united by
a common goal of working for the promotion of human rights in the world
(Amnesty International 2005). It is a democratic, self-governing movement,
whose major policy decisions are made by an International Council, composed of
representatives from all national sections. Funds come primarily from these
national sections and local volunteers, not from governments. Since its
founding, AI has defended more than 44,600 prisoners in hundreds of countries
and for which it was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977 (Wikipedia 2005).
The work of AI relates to the ideas and ideals of Machiavelli
on how a prince or ruler should govern his people and maintain his power.
Machiavelli writes that a ruler should be feared more than loved, but not hated
(1992) and should not worry about the infamy of cruelty in his efforts at
keeping his people united and loyal to him. He teaches that showing too much
mercy often allows disorders to continue and breed killings, which lead to the
suffering of the entire population. He also stresses that the good ruler does
not have to be trustworthy: rulers of mighty accomplishments are not always
worthy of trust but manipulate his people through guile and often surpass those
who are loyal to their subjects. His view of the ideal ruler is one who reacts
to the situation in such a way as to gain or keep power, which means he should
employ the most self-serving methods to accomplish
The World Bank (1990) defines NGOs as (1) non
commercial institutions, (2) which are private entities (not associated with
any national government), (3) non profit, (4) which work with developing
countries to alleviate suffering, promote the interests of the poor, protect
the environment, participate in community development, and provide basic
community services. The focus of the World Bank is far too narrow and
restrictive. First, the definition omits commercial institutions, such as
transnational corporations, which exert enormous influences in international
relations, and are recognized by some experts in the field as NGOs (Barnaby,
1988). Second, it omits organizations whose focus extends beyond developing
countries, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross. Such
organizations are recognized by the United Nations and others as NGOs (Glossop,
1987).
International non-governmental organizations or INGOs
-- have become major players on the international scene. INGOs have become a
significant third force in international systems, paralleling, although not yet
equaling, the expanding role of inter-governmental organizations in the
political sphere and the rapid globalization of business in the economic
sphere. As the UN Secretary-General himself has recently said, "NGOs are
an essential part of the legitimacy without which no international activity can
be meaningful".
A.XH
MS in Communication