NGOs under European Convention on Human Rights / Tymofeyeva

organisations that accept members designated by governmental authorities, provided that such membership does not interfere with the free expression of the views of the organisation. 40 Resolution No. 1996/31 does not set forth any particular rules concerning the business activities of the NGOs or their involvement in the political life of the country. It only mentions that such NGOs must avoid politically motivated acts 41 againstmember states of theUnitedNations incompatiblewith the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. In addition, they have to demonstrate that their programme of work is of direct relevance to the aims and purposes of the United Nations. 42 Article 1 of the UN Charter envisages that the main purposes of the UN are “to maintain international peace and security, … to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights, … to achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms”. 43 The analysis of these aims shows that the goals of obtaining profit and exercising state power through its representatives are not included in this provision. This means that a negative definition of ‘NGO’ under the Charter of the United Nations would be similar to the one we find in the doctrine of international law, namely that political parties, liberation movements and armed opposition groups, as well as business corporations are excluded from the meaning of ‘NGO’ under Article 71 of the UN Charter. NGOs that are accredited with ECOSOC can participate in a number of events, including, but not limited to, its regular sessions. At these sessions, which usually take place once a year, NGOs may: 1) attend official meetings; 2) submit written statements prior to sessions; 3) make oral statements; 4) meet official government delegations and other NGO representatives; 4) organize and attend parallel events that take place during the session; 5) participate in debates, interactive dialogues, panel discussions and informal meetings. 44 Different UN bodies have different modalities for NGO participation, but common to all of them is that only NGOs accredited to ECOSOC are allowed to participate in their sessions. 45 ECOSOC is not the only Charter-based UN body competent to deal with NGOs. A number of other UN institutions also cooperate to some extent with non governmental institutions. The UN Human Rights Council (hereinafter also referred to as the ‘Council’) is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights. 46 The Council was created by the United Nations General Assembly on 15 March 2006 by 40 NGO Guide to Consultative status. United Nations publication: New York, 2011, p. 11. 41 Paragraph 57 of the Resolution No. 1996/31. 42 Paragraph 8 of the Resolution No. 1996/31. 43 Charter of the United Nations, United Nations Treaty Series , volume 859, p. VIII. 44 NGO Guide to Consultative status. New York: United Nations publication, 2011, p. 7. 45 Ibid ., p. 11. 46 About the UN Human Rights Council. URL: accesed 20 July 2015.

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