Open-ended Working Group on the review of arrangements for consultations with Nongovernmental Organizations held in New York.

As the Sikh Nation is aware that World Sikh Organization has been actively striving to attain consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations for the last several years and understandably it has not been an easy task. The Government of India for obvious reasons has been blocking W.S.O.’s efforts to attain this status.

‘You may be aware that W.S.O. was the only Sikh Organization invited to attend the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, Austria in June 1993. At this conference, Sikhs were represented by S. Kamail Singh Gill and§, Sajjan Singh Bhangoo. With Waheguru’s Kirpa, Sardar Bhangoo was elected as one of the members of the Liaison Committee of the United Nations and N.G.O’s.

In continuation of this, W.S.O. was invited in June this year to participate in the above referenced open-ended Working group. The ‘Overall tone of the meeting was very positive with the exception of one country India which spoke of broader N.G.O. participation but also us suggested that ~ Governments must retain the right to reject some groups from participating.” Of course, the reference was to W.S.O_

The idea was put to test on the first day of the meeting when Cuba and India asked for a list of all N.G.O.”S who had asked for accreditation to attend the Working group. Cuba was simply interested in seeing the list, India however, specifically made note of separate groups a comment again aimed at the W.S.O. which did not presently have ECOSOC status but representatives of the Canadian based body had secured access to the meeting by virtue of having participated in the aforementioned meeting in June 1993. India disagreed with allowing organizations to participate in the Working group solely on the basis that they had taken part in a U.N. World Conference raising a question, how are the Governments to deal with groups which had fallen into disrepute in the time which had elapsed since their participation in the World Conference and the time the Working group on N.G.O. participation began its work. India also asked for the list of those who asked to participate in the meeting presuming that as in other cases, the Working group will have an opportunity to look at the list, they could be qualified, but the decision to participate should be made by the Working group.

Several other States (Canada, Ireland, and U.K.) argued that ECOSOC had set the rules of who could participate when they established the mandate of the Working group whose role was only to determine if those guidelines were being followed. Ireland’s representative said that “ECOSOC has decided that certain N.G.O.’s have the right to participate” and would be most unusual to get into a debate of specific N.G.O.’s already covered by ECOSOG,” India was very upset at this development and insisted that a list of groups which sought access to the Working group be provided so that they could register reservations. India also indicated that “it may be difficult for them to participate in this Working group if some N.G.0,’s were also part of the process.” The chairman ruled that Governments could make their reservations ‘when the list is made available and he reiterated a point he had made in his opening remarks, “I would like to remind you that we are not here to take any political declare here for a technical meeting”

When W.S.O.”S name appeared in the list, India made a reservation about the group’s participation. The chairman did ho more than note the reservation and carried on the meeting and India continued to participate. At the end of the meeting which lasted four days the chairman announced that the Working group would meet again for a special “Intercessional Meeting,” onNov.7&8, 1994. This. Meeting was attended by S_ Bhangoo and W.S.O.’s public relations director Anne Lowthian. ‘This meeting on Nov. 7&8, 1994 ‘was very informative and productive and a considerable head way was made in establishing contacts with other N.G.O.’s. W.S.O. is looking forward to the February 1995 meeting with enthusiasm and excitement, S.S. Bhangoo, Lowell, MA.

Article extracted from this publication >>  November 25, 1994