ACTION REQUEST: SEEK ELECTION TO ECOSOC COMMITTEE

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