[governance] WSIS accredited NGOs and ECOSOC Consultative Status: update

Tue May 1 08:55:47 EDT 2007

Dear all, 

As previously circulated on this list, the UN Economic and Social Council in
its resolution 2006/46 and in its recent decision on the follow up to WSIS
provided that WSIS accredited civil society entities will be allowed to
participate in the two next sessions of the Commission on Science and
Technology for Development (May 2007 and May 2008).

Let me remind that this is a transitional arrangement only, based on the
idea that civil society entities will have to individually apply for the
ECOSOC Consultative Status to continue to participate in the CSTD sessions
from 2009 onward. The ECOSOC resolution also specified that applications for
Consultative Status by WSIS accredited entities should be considered as
expeditiously as possible.

As you might know, the application process for ECOSOC Consultative Status is
processed by the NGO Section of UN DESA. It is therefore time to start
considering the application process for the ECOSOC consultative status for
your respective WSIS accredited CS entities. Indeed, complete application
must be received by the UN Secretariat (DESA NGO Section) before June 1st
2007 in order to be considered by the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs at its 2008
Session.

The application of an NGO for the ECOSOC consultative status is a two step
process:

-          First, an official letter of intent must be sent to the UN DESA
NGO Section;

-          Then, the application questionnaire and all supporting documents
must be submitted to the UN DESA NGO Section.

You can find some further details in the attached informal document prepared
by CONGO, for your information (in English et en Français). 

Comprehensive and official information on the application for the ECOSOC
Consultation Status can be found on the following United Nations websites:

UN DESA NGO Section website:  <http://www.un.org/esa/coordination/ngo/>
http://www.un.org/esa/coordination/ngo/ 

UN Office in Geneva NGO Liaison Office: www.unog.ch/ngo. 

More details on how to obtain Consultative Status:
http://www.un.org/esa/coordination/ngo/howtoapply.htm 

For your information as well, the full list of NGOs accredited to WSIS is
still available here:
http://www.itu.int/wsis/participation/accreditation/lists/civil-society.pdf.

All the best, 

Philippe

Philippe Dam
CONGO - WSIS CS Secretariat 
11, Avenue de la Paix
CH-1202 Geneva
Tel: +41 22 301 1000
Fax: +41 22 301 2000
E-mail:  <mailto:wsis at ngocongo.org> wsis at ngocongo.org
Website:  <blocked::http://www.ngocongo.org> www.ngocongo.org 

The Conference of NGOs (CONGO) is an international, membership association
that facilitates the participation of NGOs in United Nations debates and
decisions. Founded in 1948, CONGO's major objective is to ensure the
presence of NGOs in exchanges among the world's governments and United
Nations agencies on issues of global concern.  For more information see our
website at www.ngocongo.org <blocked::http://www.ngocongo.org/> 

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