Global Policy Forum

Letter to Under Secretary General Desai

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April 1, 2002

I N T G L I M : INTERNATIONAL NGO TASK GROUP ON
LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
c/o WFM-IGP 777 UN Plaza, 12th Floor New York NY 10017 USA
tel: +1 212 599 1320   fax: 212 599 1332
e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   web: www.wfm.org/intglim
Co-chaired by the World Federalist Movement & Center for Development of International Law


Under Secretary General Desai
DC 2 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017

Dear Under Secretary General Desai,

We, the undersigned organizations, are writing to express our concern about the accreditation of private sector, for-profit organizations, or other non-NGO entities of civil society or major groups to the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development. We do not object to the access and participation of for-profit organizations or other individuals, academic departments of universities, etc., but the accreditation of businesses or individuals as non-governmental organizations (NGO) to a UN Conference sets a very controversial and dangerous precedent, and is, we believe, inconsistent with the General Assembly resolution A/RES/55/199 calling for the WSSD.

Again, we support open access and participation of all relevant NGOs and major groups representatives, but believe that they must participate as representatives of States, international organizations, or non-governmental organizations. Virtually all representatives of business and industry, academia or other major groups are fully able to participate in NGO trade or other associations. The precedent of accrediting non-NGO entities, such as private businesses, individuals, or groups that may claim to be governments as NGOs is a terrible precedent and undermines the legal rights of NGOs as establish by Article 71 of the UN Charter and ECOSOC decision 1996/31.

There are many, many excellent precedents established by the CSD, UNCED, UNGASS, and WSSD processes. Mr. Desai, this new, unwise precedent could undermine many of the other positive initiatives.


Sincerely,


William R. Pace, Chairperson


Pieter van der Gaag
ANPED, Northern Alliance for Sustainability

Saradha Ramaswamy Iyer
Third World Network (TWN)

Cyril Ritchie
Environment Liason Centre


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FAIR USE NOTICE: This page contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Global Policy Forum distributes this material without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. We believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C § 107. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.