E/AC.70/1995/NGO/2
                                          3 May 1995

                                          ORIGINAL:  ENGLISH

OPEN-ENDED WORKING GROUP ON THE REVIEW
  OF ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONSULTATIONS
  WITH NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
Second session
8-12 May 1995
Item 2 of the provisional agenda*

         GENERAL REVIEW OF ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONSULTATIONS
                WITH NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

     Statement submitted by the Conference of Non-governmental
      Organizations in consultative status with the Economic
                        and Social Council

    The Secretary-General has received the following statement
which is being circulated in accordance with paragraph 10 of the
annex to Economic and Social Council resolution 1993/80.

                              *  *  *

                           INTRODUCTION

1.  There is a great diversity of non-governmental organizations
among those in consultative status with the Economic and Social
Council and among the membership of the Conference of Non-
Governmental Organizations in consultative status with the Economic
and Social Council (CONGO).  In keeping with its mandate, CONGO
advocates first and foremost that non-governmental organizations in
consultative status should have every opportunity to present their
views with respect to the proposed revision of Economic and Social
Council resolution 1296 (XLIV).

2.  While the right of each organization in consultative status to
present its own views is fully respected, CONGO also provides a
forum through which non-governmental organizations can seek and
express consensus.  To that end, CONGO has initiated wide-ranging
consultations involving both its members and other organizations
having consultative status.  In addition CONGO has undertaken
initiatives and held meetings in order to develop dialogue with
organizations that are currently not in consultative status.

3.  CONGO draws the attention of the Working Group to important
matters of principle that underlie the review, many of which were
addressed in the resolution on the non-governmental
organizations/United Nations relationship adopted at the Nineteenth
General Assembly of CONGO (1-3 November 1994).  The attention of
members of the Working Group is drawn to that resolution, which
established a set of principles founded upon Article 71 of the
Charter of the United Nations.

4.  At its second substantive session (8-12 May 1995), the Working
Group will have before it for the first time a conference room
paper (E/AC.70/1995/CRP.1) containing draft proposals for the
modification of Council resolution 1296 (XLIV).  CONGO asks that
the Working Group begin its consideration of the draft proposals
with a discussion of the principles that underpin Council
resolution 1296 (XLIV), as well as the points of principle that lie
behind the proposed modifications.  The implications of changing
Council resolution 1296 (XLIV) should be carefully examined, and
Member States should be given the fullest possible information
about the likely consequences of proposals placed before them
before decisions are taken.

5.  Based on the mandate given to the Board of CONGO by its
Nineteenth General Assembly and on the wide-ranging consultations
that have been conducted since that time, CONGO presents below some
general comments on the draft proposals, as well as some specific
proposals.  As mentioned above, neither the general comments nor
the specific proposals in any way obviate the right of individual
non-governmental organizations with consultative status to present
their own views on the draft proposals, and CONGO asks that the
Working Group give due consideration to all such contributions.

6.  CONGO reiterates its willingness to work closely with the
Working Group and with its chairperson in order to seek consensus
among all non-governmental organizations with respect to procedures
that would further enhance their invaluable support for the
objectives, programmes and work of the United Nations throughout
the world.

                         GENERAL COMMENTS

Title for the resolution

7.  The proposed new title, "Consultative relationship between the
United Nations and non-governmental organizations", reflects the
thinking of CONGO that was expressed at its Nineteenth General
Assembly and is supported.

Purpose of introduction (paras. 1-3)

8.  Economic and Social Council resolution 1296 (XLIV) is the
normative framework for non-governmental organizations'
consultative relationships with the United Nations.  Therefore, the
language and substance of a proposed introduction should reflect a
discipline of thinking that distinguishes between the expression of
widely accepted principles as well as argumentation that may be
subject to debate but can be used in the presentation of the
resolution.

9.  The introduction should definitely focus upon the positive
contribution of the work of non-governmental organizations in
relation to the Charter of the United Nations as well as its
ongoing work.  It would be counterproductive to introduce
questionable assertions that would only have the effect of
detracting from the importance of the historical and potential
contribution of non-governmental organizations to the United
Nations.

References to Agenda 21 (para. 1, para. 7)

10. It is not appropriate to highlight that any single United
Nations event or document in a framework resolution of this kind
that deals with non-governmental organizations' participation
related to many aspects of the work of the United Nations.  While
Agenda 21 is one of the significant documents that has been adopted
by United Nations Member States in recent times, it is itself part
of a broader evolving process.  Moreover, the use of Agenda 21 as a
definition document for non-governmental organizations'
participation in this framework resolution is confusing in that
Agenda 21 itself is not sufficiently coherent in its definition of
non-governmental organizations.

National affiliates of international non-governmental organizations
(para. 15)

11. CONGO believes that there is general agreement on the
desirability of further enhancing the participation of national
non-governmental organizations from all regions of the world in the
activities of the United Nations.  However, it is our opinion that
not enough work has been done to think through the implications of
how this shared objective may best be achieved.  The proposed
paragraph 15 might have unintended consequences:  would it not be a
disincentive for non-governmental organizations to maintain their
relationship with international and regional organizations, thereby
weakening rather than strengthening international solidarity?

12. CONGO is not suggesting new wording on paragraph 15, because
it wants to identify its content as an important substantive issue
that deserves more time and attention on the part of the Working
Group.  CONGO would, however, draw particular attention to the
resolution of its Nineteenth General Assembly, in which it
affirmed, inter alia,

    That participation of non-governmental organizations from
    developing countries should be strengthened through a
    multifaceted process fully recognizing the crucial role played
    by international, regional and subregional non-governmental
    organizations, and further expressed concern, inter alia,

    Over the discrimination practised against national affiliates
    that wish to be represented at United Nations world
    conferences as part of the delegations of their international
    non-governmental organizations.

Competency criteria (para. 25)

13. We believe that option 1 is a good proposal because it:

    (a) Relates to the achievement of the objectives of the United
Nations;

    (b) Reflects the ongoing relationship between the work of the
United Nations and that of non-governmental organizations as a
criteria for admittance;

    (c) Incorporates the rich history of the consultative status
process;

    (d) Allows for an evolving consultative input that would
include the wide diversity of experiences and constituencies of
non-governmental organizations.

            SPECIFIC PROPOSALS FOR ALTERNATIVE WORDING

Paragraph 4

14. The language of paragraph 4 is confusing regarding the matters
falling within the competence of the Economic and Social Council. 
CONGO suggests that paragraph 4 be deleted and the original
paragraph 1 be retained, with the addition of "environment" and
"humanitarian issues".  The more complete listing of issues in old
paragraph 1 is helpful in that it builds upon the existing mandate
of the Council.

15. CONGO proposes the following wording:

    The organization shall be concerned with matters falling
    within the competence of the Economic and Social Council with
    respect to international economic, social, environmental,
    cultural, educational, health, scientific, technological and
    related matters and to humanitarian issues and human rights.

Paragraph 7

16. The attempt to present a checklist of non-governmental
organizations is unsuccessful and raises more questions than it
answers.  For example, there is no reference to trade union
organizations, which are the social partners of business
organizations and government.  CONGO proposes that the new text be
deleted.

Paragraphs 8-10

17. These paragraphs require further discussion and possible
reordering subsequently.

Paragraph 11

18. The phrase "covering, where possible, a substantial number of
countries in different regions of the world" (old para. 4) should
be retained.

Paragraph 25

19. CONGO suggests that option No. 1 be accepted (see para. 13
above).

Paragraphs 31 and 37

20. CONGO proposes that the phrase "subject to available
resources" be deleted.

21. If adopted, the practical effect of that change would almost
certainly be to restrict the ability of non-governmental
organizations to have their written statements circulated by the
Secretariat in the working languages as official documents of the
functional commissions.  Thus, the proposal would curtail one of
the most important participatory rights successfully practised over
the years.

                        CONCLUDING REMARKS

22. The draft proposals make several references to Secretariat
support, the provision of necessary resources, and improving the
coordination within the Secretariat of units dealing with
non-governmental organizations (see paras. 18 and 66).  Those
proposals respond to concerns expressed by CONGO over many years
and reaffirmed at its Nineteenth General Assembly.  It is crucial
that such important proposals be accompanied by appropriate
budgetary provisions at United Nations Headquarters, United Nations
offices at Geneva and Vienna, and the regional commissions.

23. In the year of the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations,
it is more important than ever to keep in mind the fundamental
objective of these procedures, which must surely be to strengthen
the relationship between the United Nations and non-governmental
organizations.  The growing vigour of grass-roots movements and of
their international linkages is a phenomenon of our time that
responds to profound human needs and provides opportunities for the
reinvigoration of the United Nations and its institutions.  The
strength of that phenomenon in developing countries and countries
with economies in transition provides the prospect of achieving
true universality in the institutions and organizations of
international solidarity.  The challenge before States and
non-governmental organizations alike is to establish procedures
that will seize those opportunities by introducing a new dynamic
into the international solidarity that was foreseen in Article 71
of the Charter of the United Nations.

________________________

    *   E/AC.70/1995/1.

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