United Nations Affiliation

logo_of_the_united_nations.png

 WFWPI was elected to join The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 1997. This status was renewed in 2001 based on the preparation of a quadrennial report. Consultative status is granted by ECOSOC upon recommendation of the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs, which is comprised of 19 Member States.

There are only one hundred and thirty-seven NGOs worldwide that hold the general consultative status. The requirements of this level of affiliation include:

  • The applying organization's activities must be relevant to the work of ECOSOC.

  • The NGO must have been in existence (officially registered) for at least 2 years in order to apply.

  • The NGO must have a democratic decision making mechanism.

  • The major portion of the organization's funds should be derived from contributions from national affiliates, individual members, or other non-governmental components.

  • NGOs granted General consultative status must submit to the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations, every fourth year, a brief report of their activities, in particular regarding their contribution to the work of the United Nations (Quadrennial Report).

General consultative status is reserved for large international NGOs whose area of work covers most of the issues on the agenda of ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies. These tend to be fairly large, established international NGOs with a broad geographical reach.

The benefits of receiving this status include:

  • The NGO 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.

WFWPI maintains UN offices in New York City and Geneva WFWPI has twenty-one UN representatives in seven countries: Austria, Chile, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Switzerland, Thailand, and the US.