MFA supports Russian NGOs’ status with ECOSOC

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers support for Russian NGOs to receive Consultative Status on the United Nations

 

Moscow, 01.06.2016

 

Only 64 Russian organisations currently have Consultative Status on the UN’s Economic and Social Council. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes that the “authority of Russian civil society among its peers far outweighs that figure”.

 

In a meeting with NGO representatives, Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Secretary, said that his Ministry was ready to help NGOs with their request for Consultative Status on the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Lavrov explained that over 4,000 NGOs worldwide (of which only 64 are Russian bodies) were supportive of this proposal. “We’re convinced that the authority of Russian civil society among its peers is immeasurably higher than this figure. We’re ready to provide additional support for our NGOs in their request to be granted appropriate status on international organisations and to explore this further with them as we believe such a step is in both our interests”. According to Lavrov, the work of public organisations in the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe will only enhance the humanitarian, economic and cultural rapprochement among the people of Europe.

 

The charity that supports public action in small towns and villages, Perspektiva, and the Federation’s Public Chamber have drawn up plans for the dissemination of best NGO practice to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), according to the Public Chamber. Earlier, members of the active citizens’ forum Community in Omsk offered to expand the concept of promoting the growth of the third sector as developed by the Public Chamber with a section of socially orientated NGOs which would represent Russia on the international stage.

 

“We have civil initiatives that address social problems which can and should be brought to international attention as the outward face of Russia, particularly among CIS countries. We can be an example to our neighbours and, as such, export best social practice to other countries. This could be in the field of rehabilitation of children with complex diseases, inclusive education, as well as volunteering and voluntarism. This is already happening, but not in any systematic way”, said Alexander Svinin, Director of Perspektiva.

 

Author: Georgy Ivanushkin

http://www.asi.org.ru/news/129239/

 

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