ILGA consultative status controversy

Last updated

In the summer of 1993, the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) gained consultative status on the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) as a non-governmental-organization, joining 3,000 organisations throughout the world. However, that status was suspended in 1994 after a campaign led by conservative US senator Jesse Helms focusing on the membership in ILGA of the North American Man/Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) and other pro-pedophilia groups. Helms introduced a bill to cut funding to the United Nations unless it could certify that it did not grant any official status to "any organization which promotes, condones or seeks the legalization of pedophilia"; [1] it was unanimously approved by the senate. [2] NAMBLA had been an ILGA member for approximately 15 years, though its inclusion had become a source of increasing discomfort over the years. [3]

Following this, by a vote of 214–30, ILGA expelled NAMBLA, Vereniging MARTIJN and Project Truth in early 1994 because they were judged to be "groups whose predominant aim is to support or promote pedophilia." In October 1994, the executive committee of ILGA suspended the membership of VSG (Association for Sexual Equality), a gay group in Munich, Germany, due to its vocal solidarity with NAMBLA and its refusal to purge pedophile members. Its membership was suspended until the next Annual Conference of ILGA in June 1995 when the matter could be dealt with in accordance to ILGA's constitution, namely, expulsion. VSG left ILGA in April 1995 and in 1998 dissolved itself.

ILGA applied to have its consultative status reinstated in 2000, [4] but on 30 April 2002 the United Nations' Economic & Social Council voted 29–17 not to grant this application, [5] "based on concerns raised about its member organizations or subsidiaries that promoted or condoned paedophilia". [6]

One of the issues of concern was whether it was possible to verify that links with NAMBLA had effectively been severed due to ILGA not publishing its organisation membership list given fears for the safety of members living in countries where homosexuality is still criminalised.[ citation needed ]

On 3 May 2003, ECOSOC voted to again decline consultative status to ILGA. ILGA submitted another application, along with another LGBT rights organisation but it was rejected on 23 January 2006 at the Committee of NGOs. [7] ILGA keeps the view that the summary dismissal of LGBT rights organisations' applications was influenced by Egypt and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). [8]

However, in the subsequent vote on the candidature of ILGA-Europe, the U.S. reversed its position, though the proposal was still defeated, with:

On 11 December 2006, ILGA-Europe (along with LSVD and LBL) were successful in being granted ECOSOC consultative status. [10]

ILGA continued to state its opposition to pedophilia [11] and continued to seek ECOSOC Consultative status with the UN, applying once more in May 2009. The UN NGO Committee discussed ILGA's most recent application during its sessions in May 2010 and February 2011. During this session, the Belgian Mission at the UN asked for a vote on ILGA's application, because "The organization had applied for over ten years and met all prerequisites under the resolution. While aware of the divergent views on the organization, he asked that, given the NGO's lengthy history, the Committee make a decision during the current session." [12] A "no-action" motion, presented by the Sudanese Representative to counter Belgium's request for a vote, passed with nine Committee members voting in favour (Burundi, China, Morocco, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Senegal, Sudan and Venezuela), seven voting against (Belgium, Bulgaria, India, Israel, Turkey, Peru and United States), with Kyrgyzstan abstaining and Mozambique and Cuba not present. [12]

On 25 July 2011, ILGA as a whole were successful in being granted ECOSOC consultative status, [13] with a vote of 29 in favour, 14 against, 5 abstentions, and 6 absent or not voting. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Economic and Social Council</span> One of six principal organs of the United Nations

The United Nations Economic and Social Council is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, responsible for coordinating the economic and social fields of the organization, specifically in regards to the fifteen specialised agencies, the eight functional commissions, and the five regional commissions under its jurisdiction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association</span> International umbrella organization for LGBTI organizations

The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) is an organization which is committed to advancing human rights to all people, disregarding gender identity, sex characteristics and expression. ILGA participates in a multitude of agendas within the United Nations, such as creating visibility for LGBTI issues by conducting advocacy and outreach at the Human Rights Council, working with members to help their government improve LGBTI rights, ensuring LGBTI members are not forgotten in international law, and advocating for LBTI women's issues at the Commission on the Status of Women.

The consultative status is a phrase that has been in use since the establishment of the United Nations and is used within the UN community to refer to "Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council". Also some international organizations could grant Consultative Status to NGOs. Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) could grant Consultative Status in the form of "Researcher-in-residence programme" : accredited representatives of national and international NGOs are granted access to all records and to numerous topical compilations related to OSCE field activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ILGA-Europe</span> Part of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association

ILGA-Europe is the European region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. It is an advocacy group promoting the interests of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people, at the European level. Its membership comprises more than 500 organisations from throughout Europe and Central Asia. The association enjoys consultative status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council and participatory status at the Council of Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OutRight Action International</span> LGBTIQ human rights organization

OutRight International (OutRight) is an LGBTIQ human rights non-governmental organization that addresses human rights violations and abuses against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people. OutRight International documents human rights discrimination and abuses based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics in partnership with activists, advocates, media, NGOs and allies on a local, regional, national and international level. OutRight International holds consultative status with ECOSOC.

Disabled Peoples' International (DPI) is a cross disability, consumer controlled international non-governmental organization (INGO) headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and with regional offices in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and North America and the Caribbean. DPI is a network of national organizations or assemblies of disabled people, established in 1980–81 to promote the human rights of disabled people through full participation, equalization of opportunity and development. DPI assists organisations in over 152 nations with the day to day issues of helping disabled people. They also host assemblies and symposiums across the world with their different national branches.

The North American Man/Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) is a pedophilia and pederasty advocacy organization in the United States. It works to abolish age-of-consent laws criminalizing adult sexual involvement with minors and campaigns for the release of men who have been jailed for sexual contacts with minors that did not involve what it considers coercion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">War Veterans Committee</span>

The War Veterans Committee, or simply WVC is a public international association of social veterans' organizations since 1992. War Veterans Committee unites about 40 veterans' organizations of CIS states. The Head of WVC is Ruslan Aushev. On 23 July 2004, the War Veterans Committee was granted a special consultative status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Center for Women's Global Leadership</span> Organization for womens rights

The Center for Women's Global Leadership, based at Rutgers University, was founded in 1989 by Charlotte Bunch, the former executive director and an internationally renowned activist for women's human rights. Executive Director Krishanti Dharmaraj is also the founder of the Dignity Index and co-founder of WILD for Human Rights and the Sri Lanka Children's Fund. The former executive director, Radhika Balakrishnan, is now the faculty director, and a professor in the Department of Women's and Gender Studies at Rutgers, chair of the Board of the US Human Rights Network, and a board member of the Center for Constitutional Rights. Located on Douglass Residential College at Rutgers University, CWGL is a unit of International Programs within the School of Arts and Sciences and is a member of the Institute for Women's Leadership, a consortium of women's programs at Rutgers.

The NGO Committee on the Status of Women, New York (NGO/CSW/NY) is one of three women's committees of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the UN (CoNGO). Established in 1972, it provides an open forum for women's voices to be heard at the United Nations. The NGO/CSW/NY assists girls and women of all ages to advocate and organize for the implementation of global agreements, including the Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies, Beijing Platform for Action, UN Security Council Resolution 1325, the Millennium Development Goals and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The committee works in cooperation with the NGO Committees on the Status of Women in Geneva and Vienna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Center for Family and Human Rights</span> American nonprofit organization

The Center for Family and Human Rights (C-Fam) is a right-wing United States-based advocacy group, founded in 1997, in order to affect policy debate at the United Nations and other international institutions. It was formerly known as the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute. The 501(c)(3) organization is anti-abortion and anti-LGBT.

The World Safety Organization (WSO) is an international professional association in safety. The WSO was founded in 1975 in Manila, Republic of the Philippines, as a result of a gathering of over 1,000 safety professionals from all continents at the First World Safety and Accident Prevention Congress (WOSAPCON) held from 16–21 November 1975. The Second WOSAPCON was held in Singapore from 3–14 July 1978. The WSO gained Special Consultative Status Category II (NGOs) with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 1987. The WSO World Management Center was established in the US in 1987, to be responsible for all WSO activities, which includes facilitating its relationship to the United Nations (UN) and its cooperation with professional safety, environmental and other allied organizations. Since the establishment of the WSO World Management Centre in the US, international conferences have been conducted annually in the USA.

The Brazilian Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Travesti, Transsexual and Intersex Association, is a national network made up of 203 member groups, including about 141 gay, lesbian, and trans groups, and about 62 "collaborating" organizations which are involved with human rights and AIDS. Since July 2009, ABGLT has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) is an international organization of left-wing and progressive jurists' associations with sections and members in 50 countries and territories. Along with facilitating contact and exchange of views between and among lawyers and lawyers' associations of all countries, the IADL works to conduct research on legal issues affecting human, political and economic rights, organizes international commissions of enquiry and conferences on legal and judicial concerns, and takes part in international legal observer missions. Through its activities the Association works as a recognized consultative organization with the United Nations through ECOSOC, UNESCO and UNICEF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Federation on Ageing</span>

The International Federation on Ageing is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1973 and based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada working in the field of ageing, older persons and ageing-related issues such as ageism, The intent of the organisation is for NGOs, the corporate sector, academia, government, and individuals working together to make, according to the IFA’s mission statement, a "change for older people throughout the world by stimulating, collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information on rights, policies and practices that improve the quality of life of people as they age". The IFA has General Consultative Status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sebastian Rocca</span>

Sebastian Rocca is a social entrepreneur, an LGBTI rights advocate, and founder of Micro Rainbow International.

The United Nations Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations is responsible for accrediting non-governmental organizations with consultative status at the United Nations. Established in 1946, it reports directly to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

The International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG), formerly the International Association of Gerontological Societies is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that promotes gerontological research and training, and represents gerontological organizations internationally.

BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights is an independent, human rights non-profit organization committed to protect and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees and internally displaced persons. BADIL was established in January 1998. According to pro-Israel group NGO Monitor, BADIL is engaging in "lawfare" against Israeli military officials and has also published antisemitic cartoons.

References

  1. ↑ "U.N. Suspends Group in Dispute Over Pedophilia". New York Times. 18 September 1994.
  2. ↑ "Senate to U.N.: Drop pedophilia groups". Tampa Bay Times. 27 January 1994.
  3. ↑ Mills, Kim I. (13 February 1994). "Gay Groups Try to Put Distance Between Themselves and Pedophile Group". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2020-10-27.
  4. ↑ "International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA)". glbtq. 2005-11-14. Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2011-07-27.
  5. ↑ Archived November 20, 2004, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ "Economic And Social Council Decides Not To Grant Consultative Status To International Lesbian And Gay Association". Un.org. 2002-04-30. Retrieved 2011-07-27.
  7. ↑ "NGO COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS 11 ORGANIZATIONS FOR CONSULTATIVE STATUS WITH ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL". Un.org. 2006-01-23. Retrieved 2011-07-27.
  8. ↑ "ECOSOC unfairly dismisses ILGA and LBL". ILGA. Archived from the original on 2009-10-30. Retrieved 2011-07-27.
  9. ↑ "ECOSOC Report May 2006". Un.org. 2006-05-17. Retrieved 2011-07-27.
  10. ↑ "Economic And Social Council Approves Consultative Status For Three Non-Governmental Organizations Focusing On Gay, Lesbian Rights Non-Governmental Organizations Focusing On Gay, Lesbian Rights". Un.org. Retrieved 2011-07-27.
  11. ↑ "ILGA's Public Stance Against Paedophilia and Commitment to the Protection of Children". Ilga.org. Archived from the original on 2009-10-29. Retrieved 2011-07-27.
  12. 1 2 "Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations Recommends Special Consultative Status for 12 Groups, Roster Status for Another, Postpones 16 Applications". Un.org. 2011-02-04. Retrieved 2011-07-27.
  13. ↑ "List of non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council as of 1 September 2018". undocs.org. p. 69. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  14. ↑ "ECOSOC 2011".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.