Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10STATE4673
2010-01-15 21:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Secretary of State
Cable title:
ACTION REQUEST: SEEK ELECTION TO ECOSOC COMMITTEE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHC #4673 0160559 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 152149Z JAN 10 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 9479 INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0014
UNCLAS STATE 004673
SENSITIVE
C O R R E C T E D COPY (SENSITIVE CAPTION ADDED)
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM UN
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: SEEK ELECTION TO ECOSOC COMMITTEE
ON NGOS
UNCLAS STATE 004673
SENSITIVE
C O R R E C T E D COPY (SENSITIVE CAPTION ADDED)
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM UN
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: SEEK ELECTION TO ECOSOC COMMITTEE
ON NGOS
1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 4-5.
2. (U) SUMMARY: The Committee on Non-Governmental
Organizations (CNGO) is the committee responsible for making
recommendations for ECOSOC approval regarding which NGOs
should be granted consultative status. Consultative status
allows NGOs to attend and speak at UN meetings. On January
25, the CNGO will elect a Bureau, consisting of one chairman
and four vicechairmen. USUN is requested to seek election to
the chairmanship after securing the WEOG endorsement. END
SUMMARY
--------------
BACKGROUND
--------------
2. (SBU) The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations
(CNGO) is the subsidiary body of the UN Economic and Social
Council (ECOSOC) responsible for approving ECOSOC
consultative status for NGOs. While officially responsible
for the neutral enforcement of the criteria specified in
resolution 1996/31, the CNGO has become a highly politicized
body, with many members seeking to deny consultative status
to pro-democracy, pro-human rights, LGBT, and other NGOs
through political and procedural delays. Without this
status, NGOS cannot speak before UN bodies. On January 25,
the CNGO will elect a new chairman and four vicechairmen (the
Bureau). Bureau members serve in a personal capacity and
collectively have the ability to improve the efficiency of
working meetings, as well as limit procedural moves to delay
action. The chairmanship rotates based on geographical
group, and the next chairmanship falls to WEOG. If the
United States were to be elected, we would maintain our seat
on the CNGO and our ability to weigh in on matters of
national interest. Brian Young, our current delegate to the
CNGO, would serve as the chairman, while another member of
USUN would serve as U.S. delegate.
3. (SBU) In April, ECOSOC will also hold elections for the
2011-2014 CNGO membership. All 19 members are elected once
every four years with no term limits. The seats are
distributed on a geographical basis.
--------------
ACTION REQUEST
--------------
4. (U) USUN is requested to seek WEOG endorsement for the
chairmanship of the CNGO. Subsequently, USUN is requested to
seek election of U.S. delegate Brian Young as chairman of the
CNGO.
5. (U) USUN is requested to seek WEOG endorsement and
election to the CNGO for the 2011-2014 term.
--------------
POINT OF CONTACT
--------------
6. (U) Questions should be directed to IO/HR Colleen Neville
(202-647-3886) or Paul Kruchoski (202-736-7038) via telephone
or email.
CLINTON
SENSITIVE
C O R R E C T E D COPY (SENSITIVE CAPTION ADDED)
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM UN
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: SEEK ELECTION TO ECOSOC COMMITTEE
ON NGOS
1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 4-5.
2. (U) SUMMARY: The Committee on Non-Governmental
Organizations (CNGO) is the committee responsible for making
recommendations for ECOSOC approval regarding which NGOs
should be granted consultative status. Consultative status
allows NGOs to attend and speak at UN meetings. On January
25, the CNGO will elect a Bureau, consisting of one chairman
and four vicechairmen. USUN is requested to seek election to
the chairmanship after securing the WEOG endorsement. END
SUMMARY
--------------
BACKGROUND
--------------
2. (SBU) The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations
(CNGO) is the subsidiary body of the UN Economic and Social
Council (ECOSOC) responsible for approving ECOSOC
consultative status for NGOs. While officially responsible
for the neutral enforcement of the criteria specified in
resolution 1996/31, the CNGO has become a highly politicized
body, with many members seeking to deny consultative status
to pro-democracy, pro-human rights, LGBT, and other NGOs
through political and procedural delays. Without this
status, NGOS cannot speak before UN bodies. On January 25,
the CNGO will elect a new chairman and four vicechairmen (the
Bureau). Bureau members serve in a personal capacity and
collectively have the ability to improve the efficiency of
working meetings, as well as limit procedural moves to delay
action. The chairmanship rotates based on geographical
group, and the next chairmanship falls to WEOG. If the
United States were to be elected, we would maintain our seat
on the CNGO and our ability to weigh in on matters of
national interest. Brian Young, our current delegate to the
CNGO, would serve as the chairman, while another member of
USUN would serve as U.S. delegate.
3. (SBU) In April, ECOSOC will also hold elections for the
2011-2014 CNGO membership. All 19 members are elected once
every four years with no term limits. The seats are
distributed on a geographical basis.
--------------
ACTION REQUEST
--------------
4. (U) USUN is requested to seek WEOG endorsement for the
chairmanship of the CNGO. Subsequently, USUN is requested to
seek election of U.S. delegate Brian Young as chairman of the
CNGO.
5. (U) USUN is requested to seek WEOG endorsement and
election to the CNGO for the 2011-2014 term.
--------------
POINT OF CONTACT
--------------
6. (U) Questions should be directed to IO/HR Colleen Neville
(202-647-3886) or Paul Kruchoski (202-736-7038) via telephone
or email.
CLINTON