Concerns over attempts to block three human rights organisations from gaining UN consultative status

26 July 2006

Front Line is gravely concerned with reports that some member states of the UN Economic and Social Council Committee (ECOSOC) on NGOs are attempting to block or stall three human rights organisations from gaining UN consultative status because their human rights work concerns violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The three human rights organisations in question are the Danish National Association for Gays and Lesbians; the Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany and the International Lesbian and Gay Association Europe.

UN Consultative status allows international, regional, sub regional and national NGOs to contribute to the programs and goals of the UN. The 2,700 NGOs that currently have consultative status with the UN serve as technical experts and advisors and can attend UN international conferences.

Consultative status is given to NGOs by UN-ECOSOC upon recommendation by the 19 member states of the UN-ECOSOC committee on NGOs.

Front Line considers it extremely important that human rights defenders are not discriminated against based on which area of human rights they work upon and urges the member states to grant the 3 organisations UN consultative status.