We are pleased to inform you that Global Bioethics Initiative has been granted special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the United Nations’ central platform for reflection, debate, and innovative thinking on sustainable development. It serves as the main mechanism for the activities of the United Nations system, and facilitates collaboration between policymakers, parliamentarians, academics, foundations, business sector representatives and over 3,000 registered non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
As an NGO in special consultative status with ECOSOC, GBI now has a variety of privileges, but also obligations. GBI can now designate official representatives to the UN Headquarters in New York and the UN offices in Geneva and Vienna to observe and participate in public meetings of ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies: the General Assembly, Human Rights Council, and other UN intergovernmental decision-making bodies. GBI can submit written statements to ECOSOC relevant to the work of the council to be considered and circulated by the UN Secretary-General to the members of the council. A commission of ECOSOC may recommend that an NGO with special competence in a particular field, e.g., ethics of organ transplantation, undertake studies or investigations, or prepare papers for the commission. We can also now consult with the other NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC in order to further develop our contact network. Further responsibilities include submitting a quadrennial report on GBI’s activities and plans in support of the work of ECOSOC, and keeping detailed records of our participation in UN meetings ad events.
