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  1. Social Development Issues
  2. Civil Society
  3. NGO Participation

NGO Participation

Civil Society

The aim of the UN DESA Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD) is to create greater awareness and strengthen the involvement of civil society in the work of the United Nations on social development issues. To promote this aim, UNDESA DISD coordinates the participation of NGOs and other civil society organizations in Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in the work of intergovernmental bodies.

UNcDESA DISD facilitates interactions between civil society entities and other bodies served by the Division including the:

  • Commission for social development (CSocD)
  • UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)
  • Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP)
  • Open Ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWGA)
  • And other events serviced by the Division

How can NGOs and Civil Society representatives get involved in our work?

Commission for Social Development (CSocD)

  • The sessions of the Commission for Social Development tend to take place in February each year. Participation in the CSocD is ONLY open to NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC (General, Special and Roster). Online registration tends to begin in late October or November and closes approximately 2 weeks before the session starts.
  • NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC can pre-register up to 10 representatives to attend the sessions as observers.
  • Those who wish to engage with CSocD can:
    • Submit written statements on the Commission’s priority theme around the first week of November
    • Apply to host side events related to the Commission’s priority theme
    • Request to make oral presentations around the first two weeks of January
  • For more further assistance, please review the FAQ section and or contact ngo@un.org

Learn more about the work of CSocD.

UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)

  • The sessions of the UNPFII tend to take place in April or May. Participation in the sessions of the Permanent Forum is open to NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC, Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations (IPOs) and Academic Institutions. Online registration tends to begin in February and closes approximately 2 weeks before the session starts.
  • All registered participants who wish to engage with UNPFII can:
    • Make oral presentations at the forum depending on availability of time.
    • Submit written statement. Please contact the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum to discuss the possibility of submitting such a report. The deadline for these reports/statements is 31 January of each year.

Learn more about the work of UNPFII.

Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - COSP

  • The sessions of the Conference of States Parties tend to take place in June each year. Participation is open to NGOs accredited by the Conference of States Parties. NGOs that have consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) or were accredited to the Ad Hoc Committee on the Convention are already accredited to the COSP. All other NGOs wishing to participate in the Conference MUST apply for accreditation. The online registration tends to begin three months before the session starts.
  • Prior to the opening of each session, civil society organizations convene a civil society forum.

Learn more about the work of COSP.

Open Ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWG)

  • The sessions of the Open Ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWG) tend to take place in July each year. Participation is open to NGOs accredited by the OEWG.
  • Accreditation is the formal process by which NGOs are allowed to participate in the work of the OEWG. Accreditation is granted to organizations and not to individuals. NGOs in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) are automatically accredited to the OEWG. However, they should pre-register online for each session. All other NGOs must apply for accreditation in order to participate in the sessions of the Open-ended Working Group. Accreditation to the OEWG need only be done once and applies for all sessions.
  • The UN Secretariat reviews applications against criteria outlined in paragraphs 44-45 of ECOSOC resolution 1996/31, and provides a list of NGOs seeking accreditation to States members of the OEWG no later than two weeks prior to the second session and four weeks prior to following sessions of the OEWG to receive their comments.
  • NGOs wishing to be accredited to the Open-ended Working Group MUST follow the steps listed on the OEWG website. The online registration tends to begin in May and closes approximately 2 weeks before the session starts.

Learn more about the work of the OEWG.