Since its foundation in 1945, the United Nations has actively engaged with NGOs and recognized the importance of working with them to promote the ideals of the organization and help support its work.
Consultative status is a formal relationship between non governmental organizations and the United Nations that allows NGOs to participate in the work of the UN. ECOSOC is the only main entry point into the UN system for NGOs, with a formal framework for NGO participation.
The Antonio Meneghetti Scientific and Humanities Research Foundation is a public utility foundation and in 2019 was accredited to ECOSOC with special consultative status.
NGOs accredited with ECOSOC can participate in many events, including but not limited to ECOSOC’s regular sessions, its functional commissions, and other subsidiary bodies. They can:
- Attend official meetings;
- Submit written statements before sessions;
- Make oral statements
- Meet with official government delegations, UN officials and representatives of other NGOs;
- Organize and participate in parallel events held during the session;
- Participate in debates, interactive dialogues and panel discussions.
Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015 (https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda), NGOs have been playing an important role as partners on the ground, helping the international community realize this innovative agenda.
