Letter from the NGO Working Group on UN Access to the Secretary General Ban Ki -moon (January 18, 2011)
The NGO Working Group on UN Access, of which Global Policy Forum is a co-convenor, sent a letter to the Secretary General on improving NGO access at the UN. The letter highlighted a number of serious access problems. The Working Group is particularly concerned with ensuring NGO-UN consultation on matters that affect the NGO community – on the basis of the principle “Nothing about us without us!”
Response to Advisors' Report to the President of the 60th General Assembly on the Relationship between Member States and NGOs (September 1, 2006)
In this statement, a group of NGOs, including Global Policy Forum, responds to the recommendations of Ambassadors Johan Lovald of Norway and Rezlan Jenie of Indonesia for boosting NGO participation at the General Assembly (GA). The text reflects on past NGO contributions to the work of the UN, reiterates calls for regular status with the GA and also opposes the use of the Cardoso report as a "basis for policy." The NGOs request a formal and open process, instead of just hearings, to foster sustained dialogue between Member States and NGOs.
Paper on NGO Participation at the United Nations (March 28, 2006)
A group of NGOs, including Global Policy Forum, has submitted a letter to the General Assembly President calling for improved NGO access and participation at the UN. The list of ten recommendations includes access to the new Human Rights Council, Peaceuilding Commission and the General Assembly, as well as better support for NGLS and the appointment of a high-level person on NGO affairs in the Executive Office of the Secretary General. The text emphasizes that while NGO hearings by UN bodies may have a value, they should not be used "as a fig leaf to conceal the lack of more extensive forms of NGO participation."
The Future of NGO Participation at the United Nations after the World Summit (January 2006)
Jens Martens, Executive Director of Global Policy Forum Europe, regrets that the UN reform process neglects improvements in particpation of NGOs. In 2005, governments largely excluded NGOs both from preparatory negotiations and from the Summit. What does this mean for the future participation of NGOs in the UN? Martens makes a number of practical recommendations, including extending NGO accreditation beyond ECOSOC to the General Assembly. (Friedrich Ebert Foundation and Global Policy Forum)
NGOs and the UN Security Council (2004)
This article details the growing engagement of NGOs with the UN Security Council in the period after 1990. As the Council grew more active, NGOs began to seek out Council members and argue for better policies. Global Policy Forum took the lead in setting up the NGO Working Group on the Security Council in 1997 with the help of forward-looking ambassadors. Some positive results have followed, but great power interests set firm limits to what NGOs can achieve.
NGO Problems Attending UN Meeting (November 21, 2001)
Letter from Anne Walker, Executive Director of the International Women's Tribune Centre, describing her problems while attending a meeting at UN headquarters.NGOs and Transnational Finance (February 2001)
Global Policy Forum's Jason Garred presents a general introduction to NGOs, and then looks at how NGOs can influence the murky world of transnational finance.
NGOs and Global Policy-Making (June 2000)
An analysis that provides historical background and emphasizes NGO's growing contemporary importance, diversity, impact on policy, etc.
"NGOs and the United Nations" by Global Policy Forum (June 17, 1999)
A comprehensive and critical report that reviews recent progress and problems of NGOs at the UN. Prepared as input to the second report of the Secretary General. Includes comments on GPF's report.
NGO Access at the UN (July 1999)
A narrative account of NGO access covering the period from 1996 to 1999 with many links to further information.
NGOs and the United Nations (June 1999)
A comprehensive and critical 28-page report reviewing recent progress and problems of NGOs at the UN. Prepared as input to the second report of the Secretary General.
NGO Access: a Narrative (November 1998)
A narrative account of NGO access covering the period from 1996 to 1999 with many links to further information. (Global Policy Forum)
NGOs, Civil Society and Global Policy Making (June 1996)
By James Paul, Executive Director of Global Policy Forum.
NGOs and the World Bank (June 1996)
A brief analysis by James Paul, Executive Director of Global Policy Forum, about the relations between the World Bank (and other International Financial Institutions) and NGOs.
