United Nations System and NGOs (in general)

NGOs and the United Nations System

Since its founding in 1945, the United Nations has maintained relations with NGOs, who represent the concerns of civil society throughout the world. These relationships have been formalized in a number of United Nations resolutions, which derive from the United Nations Charter itself. As stated in Article 71 of the Charter: “The Economic and Social Council may make suitable arrangements for consultation with non-governmental organizations which are concerned with matters within its competence.” Indeed, the preamble of the U.N. Charter begins “We, the peoples of the United Nations,” which has come to mean both Member States and civil society. The United Nations system includes a whole network of international organizations, treaties and conventions that were created by the United Nations. In addition to such obvious organizations as UNEP, UNDP, UNCTAD, and ECOSOC, also included are specialized, autonomous organizations such as WHO and ILO.

The relationship between NGOs and the United Nations is a dynamic one, which continues to evolve. The current situation is vastly different than the time when the United Nations was founded. NGOs are involved in all UN conferences, the range of activities in which they assist the United Nations is greatly expanded, they have encroached significantly on the General Assembly, and are knocking on the door of the Security Council. They have gained acceptance on a wide range of issues, not just on social and economic questions. The new language of “partnership” between the United Nations and NGOs, which began to appear more frequently in the 1990s, reflects this continuing evolution.

Four Basic Categories of Relationship

There are four basic categories in which NGOs formally relate with the United Nations system:

1. NGOs and ECOSOC. The first and original way for NGOs to enter into a working relationship with the United Nations is by attaining consultative status with ECOSOC. This is detailed in the section “NGOs and ECOSOC” below.
2. NGOs and DPI. NGOs also may apply for association with the United Department of Public Information (DPI). This also is elaborated upon in a section below.
3. NGOs and Particular Departments, Programs and Agencies of the United Nations. Many UN specialized agencies have their own accreditation programs for those NGOs that are relevant to their work. Among these are such specialized agencies as the International Labor Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Certain of these relationships are detailed in this paper.
4. NGOs and Conferences. NGOs may also receive accreditation for a particular international conference, summit, or other event organized by the United Nations. Such accreditation is issued through the respective secretariat office preparing the event. If an NGO is accredited to a conference or summit, such as Earth Summit 2002, (as opposed to being accredited to a main UN organization such as ECOSOC) then it would only be allowed to attend the preparatory committee meetings and actual conference or summit, and afterwards the accreditation will not continue. If it is accredited to the main body, such as ECOSOC, the NGO is automatically accredited to the relevant conferences or summits and only has to register for the particular event.

NGOs and Conferences

ECOSOC Resolution 1996/31, which defines the criteria and principles for establishing consultative relationships for NGOs, also specifies that NGOs can be invited to participate in all international conferences convened by the United Nations, as well as their preparatory processes. NGOs, which have been accredited to an international conference, may be given an opportunity to briefly speak at the preparatory meetings and the event itself, and the opportunity to make written presentations. Accreditation to UN conferences is at the prerogative of Members States and is effected through the conference preparatory committees. NGOs already accredited to ECOSOC are as a rule accredited for conferences they wish to attend but may be rejected if a Member State objects or their expertise is irrelevant to the issue. However, other NGOs, not already accredited to ECOSOC, can also apply and be accepted, as long as the NGO is judged competent and its activities are relevant to the work of the conference. The number of NGOs involved in international conferences convened by the United Nations has greatly increased over the years. For example, the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environmental and Development (Earth Summit, Rio) was attended by some 2,400 NGO representatives. The 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, Rio+10) attracted about three times this number of accredited NGO representatives.

Not Part of the United Nations

NGOs, no matter what United Nations body they are accredited or have consultative status, are not considered part of the United Nations. They are neither representatives nor agents of the UN, and consultative status does not entitle them to tax exemptions, diplomatic passports, nor use of the UN logo (unless proper authorization is secured from the UN Office of Legal Affairs.)