Conference Of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council

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CONSULTATIVE STATUS

		NGO Access to the UN

		The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
			Consultative Status
		Department of Public Information
		Non-Governmental Liaison Service
		UN Secretariat
		UN Links

CONGO contribution
to ECOSOC

	The basis for the consultative relationship between the United Nations and non-governmental organizations was set forth most recently following an extensive intergovernmental review that culminated in ECOSOC Resolution 1996/31. This relationship is the principal means through which ECOSOC receives input from NGOs into its deliberations at public meetings and in its subsidiary bodies as well as in UN international conferences and their preparatory bodies. Each year the approximately 2000 NGOs now holding consultative status receive the provisional agenda of ECOSOC. They have certain privileges to place items on the agenda of ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies; they may attend meetings, where they may submit written statements and make oral presentations to governments. The UN Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations Meetings is a standing committee of the ECOSOC. Its mandate is set out in ECOSOC Resolution 1996/31. The main tasks of the committee are the consideration of applications for consultative status and requests for reclassification submitted by NGOs the consideration of quadrennial reports submitted by NGOs in General and Special categories the implementation of the provisions of Council resolution 1996/31 and the monitoring of the consultative relationship any other issues which the Ecosoc may request the Committee to consider Consultative status differs from other forms of association NGOs may have with such entities of the UN Secretariat as the Department of Public Information, designed to disseminate information about the United Nations, and the Non-Governmental Liaison Service, designed to disseminate information to and liaise directly with NGOs. Individual UN departments and agencies may establish their own rules for relations with NGOs and NGO committees. In addition, individual UN departments and agencies may establish their own rules for relations with NGOs and NGO committees. Information on applying for consultative status as well as a complete list of NGOs in consultative status is available on the DESA/NGO Section website. The form to designate NGO representatives to ECOSOC can be downloaded here. Application information may also be obtained by writing to: NGO Section, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, DC-1, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10017, USA.