NWSA U.N. NGO AFFILIATION

NWSA has received official notice that the Economic and Social Council, at its Substansive Session of July 08, decided to grant Special consultantive status to the National Women's Studies Association.

NWSA may now designate officical representatives to the United Nationa - to the United Nations Headquarters in New York and the United Nations offices in Geneva and Vienna.

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Background

In January 2005 the Governing Council (GC) of the National Women’s Studies Association (NWSA) voted to seek affiliate status with the United Nations (UN).  NWSA will seek to establish an associate relationship with the UN’s Department of Public Information (DPI) and also will apply for consultative status with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).   

NWSA is seeking affiliate status with the UN because NWSA supports and respects the principles of the 1945 Charter of the United Nations (UN), which are expressed in the preamble: 

• To save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and

• To reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and

• To establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and

• To promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom. 

NWSA members can learn more about the United Nations and its activities at the following web sites: United Nations Home: http://www.un.org/

Department of Public Information Home: http://www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/calendar.htm    

Department of Public Information Weekly Briefings:   http://www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/calendar.htm  

United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM): http://www.unifem.undp.org/

More on NWSA Governing Council (GC)votes
to establish a relationship with the United Nations (UN)

Some concerns were raised that the UN as a whole does not identify itself as a feminist organization and that in the past feminists have had occasion to offer strong critiques of the UN.  These concerns were allayed by the consideration that NWSA’s relationship with the UN has the potential to increase the number and influence of feminist organizations within the UN.  Additionally, GC members noted that establishing a relationship between NWSA and the UN is a concrete step toward bringing about NWSA’s goal of supporting Women’s Studies practitioners and programs to globalize the curriculum. 

It also deepens NWSA’s commitment to transnational feminisms.  There are several different types of relationships that non-profit /non-governmental organizations can develop with the UN.  These relationships entail various responsibilities and obligations on the part of the UN and affiliated organizations. 

The GC advised that NWSA initially should pursue a relationship consistent with its resources.  Hence, NWSA will apply for “roster status” with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).[1]  This means that NWSA will make “occasional useful contributions” to ECOSOC’s work.  In essence, selecting this status will enable NWSA to determine the level of its participation in and contributions to ECOSOC’s activities on ad hoc basis depending on the nature of the project and NWSA’s capacities at the time. 

Additionally, NWSA will seek association with the Department of Public Information (DPI). Organizations associated with DPI disseminate information about the UN to their membership, thereby building knowledge of and support for the organization at the grassroots level. This dissemination includes 1) publicizing UN activities and 2) promoting UN observances and international years established by the General Assembly to focus world attention on important issues facing humanity. 

Associated organizations also keep the DPI informed of their activities by regularly providing samples of their information materials relating to the work of the UN.Additionally, DPI-associated organizations are encouraged to maintain regular and close contact with the United Nations Information Centers (UNICs) and United Nations Information Services (UNISs) worldwide to access United Nations information and organize joint projects.The DPI provides a number of services to its associated organizations.  These include:

• Organizing and coordinating an annual international forum that brings together senior UN officials, representatives of international organizations, academicians, public opinion makers and international media to discuss issues of global concern,

• Providing passes that give representatives of DPI-affiliated organizations access to UN meetings and libraries,

• Coordinating information programs,

• Publishing an annual directory of affiliated organizations, which provides listings alphabetically, by region and by subject of specialization, and

• Maintains and provides access to a Resource Center, which offers 1) Current UN documents and press releases, 2) Regular mailings of UN information materials sent to the Headquarters of all associated organizations, 3) a video lending library with an extensive collection of UN films, and 4) A continuously updated selection of UN System publications.

Other possible types of affiliations with ECOSOC are 1)"General status," which is granted to large, international NGOs that work on almost all the issues on ECOSOC's agenda and 2) "special consultative status," which is granted to NGOs that have competence in a few of ECOSOC's issue areas.