Currently there are 2719 NGOs in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and some 400 NGOs accredited to the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), a subsidiary body of ECOSOC. NGOs in the CSD roster need to contact the NGO Section of DESA in order to apply to consultative status.

        

       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. (The participation modalities for NGOs are governed by the rules of procedure of those bodies).

        

 

       Non-governmental, non-profit voluntary organizations may be admitted into consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The types of NGOs that can apply for consultative status, the requirements for obtaining status, as well as duties and responsibilities of the NGOs in consultative status are enumerated in detail in ECOSOC Resolution 1996/31. Among other requirements, the organization's activities must be relevant to the work of ECOSOC. The NGO must have a democratic decision making mechanism. The NGO must be in existence (officially registered with the appropriate government authorities as an NGO/non-profit) for at least 2 years in order to apply. The basic resources of the organization must be derived in the main part from contributions of the national affiliates, individual members or other non-governmental components.

    NGOs in the CSD roster need to contact the NGO Section of DESA in order to apply to consultative status.

        

       Organizations wishing to apply for General Category must be "concerned with most of the activities of the ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies". These tend to be fairly large, established international NGOs with a broad geographical reach. Special Category is granted to NGOs "which have a special competence in, and are concerned specifically with, only a few of the fields of activity covered by the ECOSOC". These NGOs tend to be smaller and more recently established. Organizations which "can make occasional and useful contributions to the work of ECOSOC or its subsidiary bodies" are included in the Roster. These NGOs tend to have a rather narrow and/or technical focus.

        

 

 

	General	Special	Roster
Relevance to the work of ECOSOC	all areas	some areas	limited
Are in consultative status with ECOSOC	yes	yes	yes
Attend UN meetings	yes	yes	yes
Designate UN representatives	yes	yes	yes
Invited to UN International Conferences	yes	yes	yes
<> Propose items for ECOSOC agenda	yes	no	no
Circulate statements at ECOSOC meetings	2000 words	500 words	no
Can speak at ECOSOC	yes	no	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

 

       No, they are not. They are not representatives or agents of the UN, nor are they authorized to enter into business arrangements on behalf of the UN. Consultative status does not entitle them to special privileges, tax exemptions, diplomatic passports, etc.

 

    (Source: http://www.un.org/esa/coordination/ngo)