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Some critical issues for the NGO Review

A Summary of Issues by International Synergy Institute
(now Information Habitat: Where Information Lives)

June 22, 1994

The following list seeks to identify some of the key areas that have been addressed by the Open-ended Working Group on the Review of Arrangements for Consultations with Non-Governmental Organizations in the first two days of its deliberations. The list should be treated as a very rough first draft; while an attempt has been made to group the issues in a somewhat coherent manner, the order in which the issues have been listed -- both among and within the categories, is not meant to indicate any priority of their importance.

1. Access to documents and information >

    a. Timeliness of access to documents >

    b. Procedures for electronic distribution / availability of documents >

    c. Availability of documents >

    d. Documents / information in languages other than English >

    e. Resources, capacity-building for use of information and communication technology >

    f. Inadequacy of resources, space, etc in NGO Resource Room >

    g. Dissemination of information on NGO Review process >


2. NGO rights and privileges >

    a. Tension between maintenance of existing privileges and elimination of hierarchy / broadening participation >

    b. Uniform / multiple / hierarchical classification of NGOs >

    c. Speaking rights / procedures >

    d. Document distribution rights / procedures >

    e. Access to and participation in informal / negotiating / drafting sessions >

    f. Clarification of status of CSD NGOs / interim procedures pending resolution >

    g. Access to buildings, passes, visitors, adequacy of seating arrangements, etc >


3. Role / participation of national NGOs >

    a. Trust fund to support developing country NGO participation >

      i. Who provides funds, who administers, who decides? >

    b. Implication for international NGOs of national participation >

    c. Regional hearing processes (see under "new modalities") >

4. Strengthening NGO unit / NGO services >

    a. Under-Secretary-General for NGO Affairs? >

    b. Coordination of assorted NGO-related units >

    c. Enhancement of information and communication resources and capacity for NGO unit(s) >

    d. Funding for strengthening NGO support services >


5. More frequent meetings of the Council Committee on NGOs >

    a. Simplifying/clarifying applications procedures >

6. System-wide consistency of procedures >

    a. Conferences, Commissions >

    b. Extending access through various United Nations bodies, including General Assembly, Security Council, etc. >

    c. Access to related proceedings >


7. New modalities for consultation >

    a. Government-NGO dialogues >

    b. Panel discussions / expert testimony, etc >

    c. Regional hearings >

8. Special case NGOs >

    a. Status of indigenous peoples groups / indigenous nations >

    b. Status of "rebel" groups, national or sub-national liberation organizations, etc. >

9. Intersessional work re the Open-ended Working Group >

    a. Survey of needs / problems of NGOs -- particularly in developing countries and countries in transition -- re consultative process >

    b. Working Group sponsored / supported intersessional initiatives -- conference, seminar, informal hearings, etc. >

    c. Contacting all NGOs with consultative / participatory relationship with UN, including ECOSOC, CSD, Conference, Agencies, etc. >

    d. Intra-NGO conference on consultation / cooperation/ coordination issues >

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This listing has been compiled by the International Synergy Institute (now Information Habitat: Where Information Lives)

June 22, 1994


interventions | documents | information habitat