EXECUTIVE BOARD 122nd Session Agenda item 6.6
EB122/34 25 January 2008
Reports of Committees of the Executive Board Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations
1. In accordance with paragraphs 4.2 and 4.6 of the Principles governing relations between the World Health Organization and nongovernmental organizations,1 the Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations2 met on 22 January 2008. The Board is invited to consider the proposed draft resolution and decision set out in section III below.
I.
APPLICATIONS OF NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR ADMISSION INTO OFFICIAL RELATIONS WITH WHO, AND REVIEW OF NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN PROVISIONAL OFFICIAL RELATIONS WITH WHO (Restricted documents EB122/NGO/1–8)
2. The Committee considered applications3 from the International Society for Telemedicine & eHealth, Stichting Health Action International, the International AIDS Society, and the International Network of Women Against Tobacco. It noted that its task was to evaluate the merits of each application and determine whether, in its view, the nongovernmental organizations met the criteria for admission into official relations as set out in paragraph 3 of the above-mentioned Principles. 3. Based on the information provided, together with supplementary information from the Secretariat – the latter including details of the finances and governance of the nongovernmental organizations, the impact of their work with WHO, and clarification about the nature of their membership – the Committee was satisfied that the International Society for Telemedicine & eHealth, Stichting Health Action International, and the International AIDS Society, met the criteria for admission into official relations and agreed to recommend their admission into official relations with WHO. In the case of the International Network of Women Against Tobacco, the Committee considered the Network met the criteria for admission into official relations; however, a concern was expressed as to the manner in which the nongovernmental organization listed its “membership by country” on its web site. The Committee heard that the nongovernmental organization had
1
Basic documents, 46th ed., Geneva, World Health Organization, 2007.
2 Members of the Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations: Mr O.K. Shiraliyev (Azerbaijan), Dr Jigmi Singay, Chairman (Bhutan), Dr Ren Minghui (China), Dr R.R. Jean Louis (Madagascar), Mr C. Vallejos (Peru). 3
Respectively, documents EB122/NGO/1, EB122/NGO/2, EB122/NGO/3 and EB122/NGO/5.
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subsequently made the necessary corrections. In light of that information, the Committee agreed to recommend that the Network should be admitted into official relations with WHO. 4. Decision EB120(3), provided measures to facilitate the participation of nongovernmental organizations in the work of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property. It enabled nongovernmental organizations to be admitted into provisional official relations with WHO, subject to the requirement that the Executive Board would review such nongovernmental organizations “for the purpose of confirming or terminating such relations in accordance with normal procedures”. Accordingly the Committee reviewed information from MSF International, European Generic medicines Association, the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development, and Knowledge Ecology International, Inc.1 These nongovernmental organizations had been admitted into provisional official relations with WHO, the latter solely for the purpose of participating in the second session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property. 5. In considering the documents concerning MSF International, European Generic medicines Association, and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development, the Committee took into account the rigour with which their earlier requests to enter into provisional official relations had been considered. The Committee concluded that those nongovernmental organizations should be confirmed in official relations with WHO. 6. Concerning Knowledge Ecology International, Inc., the Committee considered that, based on available information, it was premature unconditionally to confirm the nongovernmental organization in official relations with WHO. In particular, it was noted that the nongovernmental organization had recently been established and questions were raised regarding its international nature and financial status. The Committee thus decided to recommend that Knowledge Ecology International, Inc. should be confirmed in provisional official relations solely for the purpose of participating in the work of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property. Any further consideration of official relations status in accordance with established procedures was deferred.
II.
REVIEW OF NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN OFFICIAL RELATIONS WITH WHO (Restricted document EB122/NGO/WP/1)
7. The Committee considered reports concerning relations with 74 nongovernmental organizations, including nongovernmental organizations referred to in decision EB120(2).2 A list of these nongovernmental organizations is attached at Annex. It was noted that the information was derived from reports submitted by each nongovernmental organization, together with an evaluation made by officers in the Secretariat with responsibility for the relevant collaboration or, where appropriate, relationship. The evaluation takes into consideration the fact that, in accordance with paragraph 4.5 of the Principles, a “plan for collaboration based on mutually agreed objectives and outlining activities … shall form the basis of official relations …”. 8. The Committee reviewed collaboration between WHO and 30 of the nongovernmental organizations listed in the Annex. The Committee noted the nongovernmental organizations’ 1 2
Respectively, documents EB122/NGO/4, EB122/NGO/6, EB122/NGO/7 and EB122/NGO/8. Document EB119/2006–EB120/2007/REC/1.
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continuing commitment to working with WHO and that collaboration was planned or expected to continue. The Committee was pleased to recommend that the Board should commend the continuing dedication of those nongovernmental organizations to the work of WHO and should maintain them in official relations. 9. The Committee noted that for a variety of reasons reports on collaboration with the following nongovernmental organizations were unavailable for review: Alzheimer’s Disease International, Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum, Commonwealth Association for Mental Handicap and Developmental Disabilities, Family Health International, HelpAge International, Inclusion International, Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices affecting the Health of Women and Children, International Association for Adolescent Health, International Association for Suicide Prevention, International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders, International Ergonomics Association, International Federation on Ageing, International League against Epilepsy, International Non Governmental Coalition Against Tobacco, International Pediatric Association, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, International Planned Parenthood Federation, International Union for Health Promotion and Education, International Union of Nutritional Sciences, International Union of Psychosocial Science, International Women’s Health Coalition, La Leche League International, Medical Women’s International Association, Rehabilitation International, The Population Council, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, World Confederation for Physical Therapy, World Federation for Mental Health, and the World Federation of the Deaf. In view of that, the Committee recommended that the Board should defer the review of relations with those nongovernmental organizations for consideration by the Executive Board at its 124th session. 10. The Committee then noted the report from the International Association for Maternal and Neonatal Health. The Association continued to invite WHO to participate in its conferences and otherwise continued to be active; however, there was no collaboration of the type called for in the Principles and for the immediate future there were no plans to pursue collaboration. The Committee therefore recommended that official relations should be discontinued with the Association. 11. The Committee then considered reports concerning follow-up to the Board’s decision EB120(2).
12. It was noted that a clarification was awaited in connection with the report from the Aga Khan Foundation. The Committee recommended that, pending receipt of the clarification, the review of collaboration with the Foundation should be deferred to the 124th session of the Board. 13. The Committee noted the report from the Commonwealth Medical Association, in which the Association had proposed collaboration. Based on the information provided, it appeared, however, that during the period under review joint collaboration had lapsed, and that for the immediate future it was not expected to pursue the Association’s offer to explore the possibilities of an agreement for collaboration. The Committee recommended that the report should be noted and that official relations should be discontinued with the Association. 14. The Committee noted that reports from the following nongovernmental organizations remained outstanding: International Epidemiological Association, International Society of Hematology, International Union of Microbiological Societies, and the World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology. It was decided to recommend that the Board should defer for a further year the review of relations with those nongovernmental organizations and request they should be informed that, if a response was not received in time for consideration by the Executive Board at its 124th session, official relations would be discontinued.
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15. In accordance with decision EB120(2), the review of relations with the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology had been deferred in the expectation of agreement on a plan for collaboration. The Committee noted that the contact with the Federation had apparently faltered, making such agreement unlikely in the immediate future. Under the circumstances, the Committee agreed to recommend that the report should be noted and that official relations with the Federation should be discontinued. 16. Relations with the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism, and the World Organization of the Scout Movement, had also been deferred pending agreement on collaboration plans. 17. With regard to the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism, the Committee welcomed the work plan which provided for the following activities: several publications, in the form of either monographs or journal articles, on the results of a joint comprehensive review of world literature on biological markers of harmful use of alcohol and alcohol dependence, and a review of behavioural and pharmacological interactions between alcohol and selected medicines used for clinical purposes. Joint sessions were scheduled during the Society’s international congresses, in the United States of America, in 2008, and in France, in 2010. Subject to availability of resources in both organizations, a fellowship training programme for young scientists, clinicians and policy advisers in developing countries would be pursued. The Society also agreed to provide access to its expertise for the development of various WHO activities. 18. The Committee also welcomed the work plan with the World Organization of the Scout Movement. WHO would support the development of a Scout Health Badge that would also be the vehicle for collaboration in relation to several adolescent health issues, e.g. mental health, reproductive health, exercise and nutrition. In particular, the development of a tobacco component of the proposed Scout Health Badge programme would include educational guidelines on the dangers of tobacco use or exposure. The guidelines would be translated and disseminated to all Scout regions. In addition, there would be at least one joint workshop and training event at the regional level, and the Organization would participate in organizing and promoting activities in celebration of the World No Tobacco Day. 19. The Committee was satisfied that the agreements for collaboration with the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism, and the World Organization of the Scout Movement, warranted a formal relationship and was pleased to recommend that those nongovernmental organizations should be maintained in official relations with WHO. 20. With regard to relations with the International Federation for Housing and Planning, the International Society for Preventive Oncology, and the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care, the Committee noted that the nongovernmental organizations had been invited to submit reports on collaboration for the years 2003–2005 for consideration by the Executive Board at is 122nd session and had been informed that, in their absence, official relations would be discontinued. The Committee noted that the reports had yet to be received. Taking into consideration decision EB120(2), the Committee recommended that official relations with those nongovernmental organizations should be discontinued. 21. In the case of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology, the Committee noted that the Society had requested the Board’s forbearance while it collected information for its report for the period 2003–2005, and that the WHO Secretariat continued to be interested in collaborating with the Society. The Committee agreed to recommend that the report should be noted and that the review of relations with the Society should be deferred to the 124th session of the Board.
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22. Finally, the Committee noted that the German Pharma Health Fund e.V. had informed WHO of its decision to dissolve the association. Additionally, the Fund had reported that, since its admission into official relations with WHO in 1999, it had worked with WHO mainly in support of country-level activities to control parasitic infections, and that it had made arrangements to complete its obligations with regard to agreed activities with WHO up to and including 2007. The Committee recommended that the Fund’s support of WHO’s work should be noted with appreciation and that official relations should be discontinued.
III. PROPOSED DRAFT RESOLUTION AND DECISION 23. Draft resolution The Executive Board, Having examined the report of its Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations, 1 1. DECIDES to admit into official relations with WHO the International AIDS Society, International Network of Women Against Tobacco, International Society for Telemedicine & eHealth, and Stichting Health Action International; 2. DECIDES to confirm the admission into official relations with WHO the European Generic medicines Association, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development, and MSF International; 3. DECIDES to confirm the provisional official relations of Knowledge Ecology International, Inc. for the purpose of participating in the work of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property, and decides to defer any further consideration of official relations status beyond this provisional status; 4. DECIDES to discontinue official relations with the following nongovernmental organizations: Commonwealth Medical Association, German Pharma Health Fund e.V., International Association for Maternal and Neonatal Health, International Federation for Housing and Planning, International Society for Preventive Oncology, International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care, and the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology.
24. Draft decision on the review of nongovernmental organizations in official relations with WHO. The Executive Board, Having considered and noted the report of its Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations concerning the review of one third of the nongovernmental organizations in official relations with WHO,2 and follow up to decision EB120(2), reached the decisions set out below.
1 2
Document EB122/34. Document EB122/41.
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Noting with appreciation their collaboration with WHO and commending the continuing dedication to the work of WHO, the Board decided to maintain in official relations with WHO the nongovernmental organizations whose names are followed by an asterisk in the Annex to the report. Noting that reports had not been received, had been received too late, or that further information was required, the Board decided to defer until its 124th session, the review of relations with the following nongovernmental organizations: Aga Khan Foundation, Alzheimer’s Disease International, Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum, Commonwealth Association for Mental Handicap and Developmental Disabilities, Family Health International, HelpAge International, Inclusion International, Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices affecting the Health of Women and Children, International Association for Adolescent Health, International Association for Suicide Prevention, International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders, International Ergonomics Association, International Federation on Ageing, International League against Epilepsy, International Non Governmental Coalition Against Tobacco, International Pediatric Association, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, International Planned Parenthood Federation, International Union for Health Promotion and Education, International Union of Nutritional Sciences, International Union of Psychosocial Science, International Women’s Health Coalition, La Leche League International, Medical Women’s International Association, Rehabilitation International, The Population Council, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, World Confederation for Physical Therapy, World Federation for Mental Health, and the World Federation of the Deaf. Welcoming the agreements for collaboration between WHO and the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism and the World Organization of the Scout Movement, the Board decided to maintain these nongovernmental organizations in official relations with WHO. Noting the report from the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology and taking into consideration the continuing interest of WHO in collaboration, the Board decided to defer the review of relations with the Society an additional year in order to enable the Society to submit a report on collaboration for review by the Board at its 124th session. Noting that reports of collaboration remained outstanding from the following nongovernmental organizations: the International Epidemiological Association, the International Society of Hematology, the International Union of Microbiological Societies, and the World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, the Board decided to defer the review of relations with these nongovernmental organizations for a further year and requested that they should be informed that, if the reports were not received in time for consideration by the Executive Board at its 124th session, official relations would be discontinued.
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ANNEX LIST OF NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN OFFICIAL RELATIONS WITH WHO REVIEWED BY THE EXECUTIVE BOARD AT ITS 122ND SESSION
Aga Khan Foundation Alzheimer’s Disease International Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum Commonwealth Association for Mental Handicap and Developmental Disabilities Commonwealth Medical Association Family Health International German Pharma Health Fund e.V. HelpAge International Inclusion International Industry Council for Development* Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices affecting the Health of Women and Children International Association for Adolescent Health International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Allied Professions* International Association for Maternal and Neonatal Health International Association for Suicide Prevention International Association for the Study of Obesity* International Association of Cancer Registries* (2004–2006) International Bureau for Epilepsy* International Catholic Committee of Nurses and Medico-social Assistants* (2004–2006) International Commission on Occupational Health* International Commission on Radiological Protection* (2003–2005) International Confederation of Midwives* (2002–2007) International Conference of Deans of French-Language Faculties of Medicines* (2004–2006) International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders International Epidemiological Association International Ergonomics Association International Federation for Housing and Planning International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science* (2004–2006) International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics* International Federation of Medical Students Associations* (2004–2006) International Federation on Ageing International Lactation Consultant Association* International League against Epilepsy International League of Dermatological Societies* (2004–2006) International Medical Informatics Association* (2004–2006) International Non Governmental Coalition Against Tobacco International Occupational Hygiene Association* International Pediatric Association International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War International Planned Parenthood Federation International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism International Society for Burn Injuries* (2004–2006) International Society for Environmental Epidemiology International Society for Preventive Oncology
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Annex
International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics* International Society of Andrology* International Society of Hematology International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine* International Special Dietary Foods Industries* International Union for Health Promotion and Education International Union of Microbiological Societies International Union of Nutritional Sciences International Union of Psychosocial Science International Women’s Health Coalition Italian Association of Friends of Raoul Follereau* La Leche League International Medical Women’s International Association Multiple Sclerosis International Federation* OXFAM* (2004–2006) Rehabilitation International The Population Council World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation* World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts World Confederation for Physical Therapy World Federation for Mental Health World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology World Federation of Neurology* World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology World Federation of Occupational Therapists* World Federation of the Deaf World Organization of the Scout Movement World Psychiatric Association* World Vision International* (2004–2006) *Based on reports of joint collaboration for the period under review (2005–2007), unless otherwise indicated), the Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations recommended the maintenance of official relations of those nongovernmental organizations whose names are followed by an asterisk, other nongovernmental organizations are the subject of specific decisions or a resolution.
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