World Without Genocide, an organization based at Mitchell Hamline Law School, was one of nine human rights organizations granted Special Consultative Status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council in early December. The council is one of the six main organs of the UN and oversees economic development and social issues.
Special consultative status gives organizations access to the council and its many subsidiary bodies, to United Nations human rights mechanisms, to ad hoc processes on small arms, and to attend special events organized by the President of the General Assembly. Organizations with consultative status can also be accredited to attend relevant global UN conferences and even host events at the UN headquarters in New York.
Other organizations with this status include Amnesty International; the International League for Human Rights; the International Bar Association; and the Special Olympics.
The December 7 vote to add World Without Genocide came after years of delay, according to the Associated Press. The AP noted that organizations now have “the right to raise concerns and participate in their discussions.” The 24-17 vote with 12 abstentions prevailed over objections from countries including Russia, China and India. Louis Charbonneau, UN director at Human Rights Watch, told the AP that adding the groups “sends a strong signal to the world that the doors of the UN remain open to civil society organizations, despite the efforts of China, Russia, India and others to keep them open.” outside.”
The other eight organizations that gained status include the Arab-European Center for Human Rights and International Law and the Union of Non-Governmental Associations. The UN has granted Consultative Status since its inception in 1946; today several thousand non-governmental organizations from around the world represent civil society at the UN
World Without Genocide promotes education and action to protect innocent people, prevent genocide, prosecute perpetrators, and remember those affected by genocide. The organization was designated as a formal associate with the United Nations Department of Global Communications about a year ago.
