ECOSOC, the Economic and Social Council, is the United Nations body that deals specifically with issues related to the world’s economic, social and environmental development. The ECOSOC committee develops and implements policy recommendations impacting those specific areas. ECOSOC is responsible for approximately 70 percent of the human and financial resources[1] of the United Nations, and thus carries considerable authority and ability to impact the policies and implementation of decisions coming out of the UN.
Consultative Status was established by the United Nations Charter[2] to allow non-governmental organizations (NGOs) the ability to consult with the Economic and Social Council and subsidiary committees on matters pertaining to the organization’s specialty or focus. Accredited NGO representatives will have access to UN meetings and government delegates. NGOs may even make formal presentations at UN meetings and attempt to persuade the ECOSOC committee to create policies that support their individual agendas.
Consultative Status is granted to an NGO applicant by the Committee on NGOs, which is made up of 19 UN Member Countries. The NGO Committee is responsible for reviewing NGO applicants for meeting the eligibility requirements of the ECOSOC Committee. Consultative status is granted by the ECOSOC Committee after receiving recommendation from the NGO Committee.
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION (NGO) is an organization that is neither part of a government nor a conventional for-profit business. Usually set up by ordinary citizens, NGOs may be funded by governments, foundations or businesses. Some avoid formal funding altogether and are run primarily by volunteers. NGOs are highly diverse organizations engaged in a wide range of activities and take different forms in different parts of the world. Some may have charitable status, while others may be registered for tax exemption based on recognition of social purposes. Others may be fronts for political, religious or other interest groups.[3]
For More Information on ECOSOC and Consultative Status visit the following websites:
http://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/about/index.shtml
http://csonet.org/index.php?menu=17
http://csonet.org/index.php?menu=30
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consultative_Status
FOOTNOTES:
[1] http://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/about/index.shtml [2] http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/ [3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-governmental_organization