The William Gomes Podcast has joined more than 70 civil society organisations in issuing a joint call urging United Nations regional groups to field more candidates than available seats in the upcoming elections to the Economic and Social Council’s Committee on Non-Governmental Organisations.
The elections, scheduled for April, represent a critical moment for the future of civil society participation within the United Nations system. The joint call stresses that competitive elections are essential to improving transparency, accountability and fairness in the composition of the NGO Committee.
Why Competitive Elections Matter
The ECOSOC Committee on Non-Governmental Organisations plays a central role in determining which organisations are granted consultative status with the United Nations. This status enables civil society to engage directly with international processes, contribute expertise and represent communities at the global level.
Concerns have been raised about the practice of presenting closed slates of candidates, limiting scrutiny and reducing meaningful choice. The call for more candidates than available seats is a call for a more open and credible system, aligned with the principles of the United Nations Charter.
A Collective Call to Protect Civil Society Space
A fair and transparent election process is essential to ensuring that civil society organisations can participate without undue political restriction. The joint statement highlights that limiting access to the NGO Committee undermines both the credibility of the United Nations and broader human rights efforts.
By supporting this initiative, The William Gomes Podcast stands alongside organisations worldwide advocating for inclusive global governance and meaningful civil society participation.
List of Signatories
Africa
Africa Development Interchange Network (ADIN), Amnesty International Kenya, Association pour le Respect du Droit des Populations Autochtones du Développement Durable et du Droit de l’Homme (ARPA2DH), Centre pour l’Information Environnementale et le Développement Durable, Champions for Nature Conservation of Liberia, Coalition Ivoirienne des Défenseurs des Droits Humains (CIDDH), Coalition of Somali Human Rights Defenders (CSHRD), Disability Peoples Forum Uganda, Dunia Salama Foundation, Emonyo Yefwe International, Friends with Environment in Development, Humanitaire Plus, JOINT: Liga de ONGs em Moçambique, Kutakesa, Ligue Burundaise des Droits de l’Homme ITEKA, Network of the Independent Commission for Human Rights in North Africa (CIDH AFRICA), NGO: Amis des Etrangers au Togo (ADET), Nigerian Women Agro Allied Farmers Association, Observatoire Africain des Droits de l’Homme, de l’Environnement et des Ressources Naturelles (OADHER-RDC), One 4 Africa, Pastoralist Women for Livelihood and Social Support (PWLS), Savie ASBL NGO LGBTQ DRC, Silver Lining for the Needy Initiative (SLNI), Tanzania Child Welfare (TCW), The Kesho Trust, The Lesbian and Gay Association of Liberia (LEGAL-Liberia), Underprivileged Welfare Support Development Association
Asia Pacific
Aine Sohayata Kendro Asok Foundation, Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM), Blue Diamond Society, Cisadane Resik Indonesia, Empower India, Human Rights Development Centre, ILGA Asia, International Centre for Ethnic Studies, Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law (KIBHR), Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organization in Malaysia (MERHROM), Pusat Komas, Salam for Democracy and Human Rights
Eastern Europe
Estonian Institute of Human Rights
Latin America and the Caribbean
AKAHATA A.C., Aqualtune Lab, Casa Marielle Franco Brasil, Clima21, Coalizão Negra por Direitos, Corporacion Ilex Accion Juridica, Instituto Coletivo Black Divas, Instituto Marielle Franco, PerifaConnection, Sociedad Cooperativa Chac Lol, Synergía – Initiatives for Human Rights
Western Europe and Other States
Alliance for Democracy in Laos, ALQST for Human Rights, American Civil Liberties Union, Asociación Española para el Derecho Internacional de los Derechos Humanos (AEDIDH), Coordination des Associations et des Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience, International Legal Initiative, Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada, National Alliance of Women’s Organisations (NAWO), Refugee Council of Australia, US Women Connect, World Christian Life Community
International
Amnesty International, British Black Anti Poverty Network, CIVICUS, Coalition for the UN We Need (C4UN), Company of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, Democracy Without Borders, Front Line Defenders, Humanists International, IFEX, International Council of Women (ICW-CIF), International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), MENA Rights Group, International Planned Parenthood Federation, PEN International, Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center, The William Gomes Podcast, Transparency, Accountability & Participation Network, UN Antiracism Coalition (UNARC), UPR Info
Read the full statement here:
https://ishr.ch/最新动态/un-committee-on-ngos-civil-society-organisations-call-for-competitive-elections/
