The Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations
in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations is
an independent, international, not-for-profit membership association
of nongovernmental organizations that facilitates the participation
of NGOs in United Nations debates and decisions. CONGO is most active
in the major UN centers of New York, Geneva, and Vienna, but extends
its work to all regions of the world.
Since its founding in 1948, CONGO has
worked to ensure that NGO voices are heard throughout the international
arena. CONGO's role in mobilizing NGOs to form the first worldwide
NGO forum on human rights in 1968, its role in conceiving forms
of NGO participation in UN world conferences and its advocacy on
behalf of NGOs at UN Headquarters highlight CONGO's major objectives:
to ensure that NGOs are present when governments discuss issues
of global concern at the United Nations and to facilitate NGO discussions
on such issues.
CONGO does not take positions
on substantive matters. However, the Conference does provide, through
special and ad hoc NGO Committees, fora
for discussion of substantive matters by its members and members
of the UN Secretariat, UN delegations, and other experts.
CONGO's membership comprises
national, regional and international nongovernmental organizations
in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social
Council (ECOSOC). CONGO associate membership is open to NGOs associated
with the United Nations system but not holding consultative status.
Members represent a vital range of interests, including human rights,
gender, peace and disarmament, social justice, governance, environment
and sustainable development. CONGO and its members collaborate with
the larger community of nongovernmental organizations through standing
NGO committees, which follow issues of key substantive interest
to NGOs.
