“Non-governmental,
non-profit public or voluntary organizations may be admitted into a mutually
beneficial working relationship with the United Nations by attaining consultative
status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This status is based
on Article 71 of the Charter of the United Nations and on ECOSOC
Resolution 1996/31 adopted in 1996. The rights and privileges enumerated
in detail in ECOSOC resolution 1996/31, enable
qualifying organizations to make a contribution to the work programmes and goals of the United Nations by serving
as technical experts, advisers and consultants to governments and Secretariat.
Sometimes, as advocacy groups, they espouse UN themes, implementing plans
of action, programmes and declarations adopted
by the United Nations. In concrete terms this entails their participation
in ECOSOC and its various subsidiary bodies through attendance at these meetings,
and also through oral interventions and written statements on agenda items
of those bodies. In addition, organizations, qualifying for General Category
consultative status, may propose new items for consideration by the ECOSOC.
Organizations granted status are also invited
to attend international conferences called by the U.N., General Assembly
special sessions, and other intergovernmental bodies.”
HKCSS’s Special Consultative
Status with ECOSOC
The NGO Committee under the ECOSOC has decided to
make a recommendation to the ECOSOC of granting a Special Consultative Status
to our Council. In its resumed organizational
session in April, the ECOSOC has formally granted the Special Consutative
Status to our Council.
A Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC is more
than just another international affiliation for our Council. Given the functions
and powers of the ECOSOC, the Special Consultative Status shall facilitate
us to keep abreast of the global social development agenda and concerns and
to strengthen our international network with not only the United Nations agencies,
but also those international organizations having consultative status with
it.
Click here for more information
about the ECOSOC.
There are three types of Consultative Status, namely,
General Consultative Status, Special Consultative Status, and Roasters. Each prescribes a set of privileges that the NGO can enjoy
and the duties that the NGO shall fulfill. The
following table depicts these privileges and duties:
| Privileges/Obligations |
General |
Special |
Roster |
| Relevance to the work of ECOSOC |
All areas |
Some areas |
limited |
| Are in consultative status with ECOSOC
|
yes |
yes |
yes |
| Designate UN representatives |
yes |
yes |
yes |
| Invited to UN conferences |
yes |
yes |
yes |
| Propose items for ECOSOC agenda |
yes |
no |
no |
| Attend UN meetings |
yes |
yes |
yes |
| Can speak at ECOSOC |
yes |
no |
no |
| Circulate statements at
ECOSOC meetings |
2000 words |
500 words |
no |
| Circulate statements at ECOSOC subsidiary
bodies' meetings |
2000 words |
1500 words |
no |
| Can speak at ECOSOC subsidiary bodies'
meetings |
yes |
yes |
no |
| Must submit quadrennial reports |
yes |
yes |
no |
Click here
for details of privileges and duties.