WT UN Status clarification

imallgrowedup

Hey there!

I was wondering if anyone out there can help me understand the type of affiliation the WT had with the UN. I've done some research and have either missed the information, or have not been able to find it. I have a couple of questions and hope someone can answer them for me!

Here they are:

1. It is my understanding that the WT affiliated itself with the DPI. If this is so, were they also associated with the ECOSOC? Or - Does the DPI disseminate information for all departments and/or councils of the UN, including the ECOSOC? Or have I missed the mark on something here?

2. It was also my understanding that the WT did not have Consultative Status, only the lowest possible status, or "affiliate status" (or something titled similarily). Does that sound right to you? However, I know they had to submit documentation (Awake! articles) showing their compliance with DPI requirements in order to maintain their status. I've copied and pasted a link below from an ECOSOC NGO FAQ page which provides a table that compares the different statuses available. The crazy thing is that this table does not show "Consultative Status" or "Affiliate Status", so I am thoroughly confused. Does anyone have any light to shed on this?

http://srch1.un.org/plweb-cgi/fastweb?state_id=1052885722&view=unsearch&numhitsfound=11&query=NGO%20Roster&&docid=22978&docdb=scletter&dbname=web&sorting=BYRELEVANCE

&operator=adj&TemplateName=predoc.tmpl&setCookie=1

Q.

What is the difference between General category, Special category and Roster?

A:

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.

Privileges/Obligations	General	Special	Roster
Relevance to the work of ECOSOC	All Areas	Some Areas	Limited
Are in consultative status with ECOSOC	yes	yes	yes
Designate UN representatives	yes	yes	yes
Invited to UN conferences	yes	yes	yes
Propose items for ECOSOC agenda	yes	no	yes
Attend UN meetings	yes	yes	yes
Can speak at ECOSOC	yes	no	no
Circulate statements at ECOSOC meetings	2000 words	500 words	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

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

growedup

Carmel

My suspicion is that they qualified under the broadest category due to membership in many countries around the globe. Of course the FSD may have asked for special status being they're the "only channel for Jehovah" something none of the other religious NGO's would dare to promulgate, even if they believed it. Lacking any other special expertise, I would guess they only qualify for the "General" category.

carm

hawkaw

Rats..... It's late in the day and I won't be back until Monday.

I will you explain all of it to you in detail on Monday.

In a nutshell the bozos were associated with DPI and accredited by the committee at DPI.

ECOSOC is a completely different "animal" at the UN. NGOs who get "consultative" status etc with them is done through another committee at ECOSOC that approves/accredits NGOs for the status.

Interestingly if one gets approved by ECOSOC then one is automatically accredited with associated status with the DPI as well. But NOT visa-versa. Paul Hoeffel, Cheif of the NGO/DPI section was nice enough to explain it to me

Damn out of time.

Talk to you Monday.

hawk

imallgrowedup

Teriffic Hawk! Thank you! I will wait for more info from you when you get back next week! I've always wanted to understand the exact nature of the WT status with the UN - I'm glad to find someone who can explain it!

*sitting on edge of seat waiting for Hawk to get back*

growedup

P.S. Could you explain the difference between being affiliated with the DPI and accredited by the DPI as well? Thanks!