Critical Mass: The Emergence of Global Civil Society

3 The Conference of NGOs (CONGO): The Story of Strengthening Civil Society Engagement with the United Nations

The Conference of NGOs (CONGO) The Story of Strengthening Civil Society Engagement with the United Nations Renate Bloem, Isolda Agazzi Ben Attia, and Philippe Dam 3 43 INTRODUCTION Brief History The Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO) was founded in 1948 to safeguard the rights of NGOs in consultative status based upon article 71 of the UN Charter, which provides that the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) “May make suitable arrangements for consultation with NGOs which are concerned with matters within its competence.” ECOSOC established such arrangements by Resolution 288B (1950); revised it by Resolution 1296 (1968) and then replaced the latter by ECOSOC Resolution 1996/31 (1996). For nearly sixty years, CONGO has actively promoted and facilitated the participation of civil society organizations in the work of the United Nations and its agencies. More recently, CONGO has made a major push to influence and democratize global decision-making processes. Today, CONGO reaches out to NGOs around the world to facilitate and strengthen their efforts to deal more effectively with the important matters treated in United Nations fora. It seeks to strengthen and raise national NGOs’ voices at the global as well as the regional levels in support of the consensus reached at the various world conferences and exemplified in the Millennium Summit Declaration and the Development Goals (MDGs). Membership With more than five hundred members representing all categories of NGOs (many of which are umbrella organizations themselves), at all levels (locally, nationally, and internationally) and dealing with all major issues, CONGO is indeed a truly global organization and is well recognized as a most effective interface between the UN and NGOs. Mission CONGO’s main purpose is to be a primary support for civil society represented by informed, empowered, and committed NGOs to fully participate with the UN in decision making and implementation of programs leading to a more just, peaceful, diverse, sustainable, and socially and economically responsible world. CONGO believes that a global civic ethic, based on core values that can unite people of all cultural, political, religious, or philosophical backgrounds should be the bedrock for global governance. Global governance should be underpinned by human rights, gender equality, and true democracy at all levels and ultimately by the rule of enforceable law. The United Nations is the main intergovernmental body and the seat of policy formulation in the areas of economic and social development, peace, and security. In order to give the governed an opportunity to have a say in these processes and their outcomes, it is crucial for NGOs and civil societies to actively participate at all levels of the UN mechanisms. CONGO can provide this access. Strategy CONGO’s strategic goals are to enhance dialogue to build partnership and synergy; outreach, particularly in the global South; training and capacity building; global communications; and member services. Partners in carrying out that mission are CONGO members, other ECOSOC status NGOs, civil society organizations, other intergovernmental organizations, and the United Nations, in particular its NGO sections of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the Department of Public Information (DPI), and the Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN-NGLS). General Assembly CONGO’s General Assembly is the most important organ of the conference and convenes every three years to establish the organization’s policy for the following triennium. The Assembly elects the president and twenty member organizations to serve on the board. CONGO’s 22nd General Assembly was held in Geneva, Switzerland, December 4–6, 2003, at the International Labour Organization (ILO) building under 44 Renate Bloem, Isolda Agazzi Ben Attia, and Philippe Dam the theme “Inclusive Global Governance: Challenges and Opportunities for CONGO in Partnership with the United Nations.” The general debate included discussions relating to UN reform and NGOs, a dialogue with members of the UN–Civil Society High-level Panel and a focus on the Millennium Declaration and Development Goals. Four commissions dealing with peace, security, and disarmament; human rights; sustainable human development and information and communication technologies—all including a gender perspective and ethical values— have deepened the discussion and prepared for a call for action guiding CONGO into the following triennium. CONGO Committees CONGO does not take positions on substantive issues. However, it has established NGO committees in Geneva, New York, and Vienna that work on substantive issues in conformity with the objectives of the UN Charter. These range from human rights to development, peace and security...