The representative of India also echoed the need for a reasonable amount of time before the second round of reading through. Four minutes is not sufficient, he said, also urging the Committee to think about how best to streamline its interaction with non-governmental businesses during the dialogue. In the ensuing discussion, delegates highlighted the importance of the Committee’s work and offered recommendations for improving its working methods. The representative of Türkiye said the Committee must assess its rules, especially those relating to the second round of reviewing. Stressing that the Committee must strive for set deadlines and clear timeframes in which such reactions can be accepted and inspected, he added that this should be done in such a way that ensures apps are reviewed fairly. Special consultative standing is reserved for NGOs working in a specific area and allows them to submit written communications and petitions to the Council. Further, NGOs that work in a more technical and/or restricted manner can only distribute written communications to the Council. China’s delegate emphasized that the Panel should be the master of its own working methods, adding that it should better organize how it considers the responses it receives. This individual also encouraged more non-governmental organizations from the global Southern to apply for consultative status. In her shutting remarks, Petronellar Nyagura (Zimbabwe), Vice-Chair of the Committee, mentioned that it successfully reviewed an overall total of 239 new apps for consultative status from 66 different countries, along with 321 applications deferred from previous sessions, bringing the count of applications considered by Committee to 560. By the end of the day on 31 January, 206 organizations were recommended for special consultative status representing almost 40 per cent of the total number under review by the Panel. In addition to the applications, the particular Committee reviewed 560 new quadrennial reports and 95 deferred ones, she mentioned. The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations will meet again at 10 a. meters. on Monday, 13 Feb, to conclude its session. Noting the particular “friendly but heated” step-by-step discussions, Cuba’s delegate said it is essential to use resources more efficiently, without affecting the function and authority of the Panel. Further, the skeletal system report could have been adopted the morning before, he said. The 19-member Committee considers applications for consultative status and requests for reclassification submitted by non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Once an application has been reviewed and approved by the Committee, it is considered recommended for consultative status. Organizations that have been granted general and specific status can attend conferences of the Council and issue statements, while those with common status can also speak during meetings and propose agenda items. Organizations with roster status can only go to meetings. The particular representatives of the United States and Indian also asked for clarifications within the report. The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations today fulfilled to consider a skeleton report of its 2023 regular program — held from 23 January to 1 February and 13 February. The report, which will be introduced for adoption on 13 February, will contain the Committee’s recommendations that the Economic and Social Council grant specific consultative status to various entities while deferring a number of other organizations’ requests for further consideration.
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