EXECUTIVE BOARD 126th Session Agenda item 7.5
EB126/28 22 January 2010
Reports of committees of the Executive Board Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations 1. In accordance with the Principles governing relations between the World Health Organization and nongovernmental organizations,1 the Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations2 met on 19 January 2010. The Board is invited to consider the proposed draft resolution and decision set out in paragraphs 22 and 23 below.
I.
APPLICATIONS FOR ADMISSION INTO OFFICIAL RELATIONS WITH WHO (Restricted documents EB126/NGO/1–7)3
2. The Committee considered seven applications for admission into official relations, from the International Insulin Foundation, International Life Saving Federation, Caritas Internationalis, Stichting Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+), International Union for Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine, International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies, and the International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research. The Committee evaluated the merits of each applicant in order to determine whether, in its view, the nongovernmental organization met the criteria for admission into official relations as set out in paragraph 3 of the abovementioned Principles. 3. In considering the applications from the International Insulin Foundation, the International Life Saving Federation, Caritas Internationalis, Stichting Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+), and the International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies,4 the Committee requested clarifications on several points, such as the membership composition; the nature and quality of data being collected and how WHO would seek to ensure their continued collection; and the means of choosing countries in which collaboration between the nongovernmental organization and WHO would take place. Based on the information provided and responses from the Secretariat, the Committee concluded that the International Insulin Foundation, International Life Saving Federation, Caritas Internationalis, Stichting Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS
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Basic documents, 47th edition, Geneva, World Health Organization, 2009.
Members of the Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations: Professor A.F.M.R. Haque (Bangladesh), Dr A.J. Mohamed, Chairman (Oman), Dr C. Vallejos (Peru), Mr A. Peteru (alternate to Mrs G.A. Gidlow (Samoa), Dr J.A.N. dos Ramos (Sao Tome and Principe). 3 4
Transmitted to Executive Board members under cover of a letter numbered L/09.18, dated 18 December 2009.
Restricted documents EB126/NGO/1, EB126/NGO/2, EB126/NGO/3, EB126/NGO/4 and EB126/NGO/6, respectively.
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(GNP+), and the International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies met the criteria for admission into official relations and recommended that they be admitted into official relations with WHO. 4. In the case of the International Union for Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine,1 the Secretariat informed the Committee that, after the submission of the application, it had taken some technical and administrative decisions that made the previously submitted workplan impracticable to implement at the moment. The Secretariat noted that it continues to value its relations with the International Union and wished to pursue a plan for collaboration that would be aligned with WHO’s current priorities in health technology and budgetary exigencies. It was noted that one of the main criteria for admission into official relations – that such relations shall be based on a mutually agreed plan for collaboration – would not be met at this time. In view of this, the Committee recommended that working relations continue and consideration of an application from the International Union be deferred until such time as a new workplan had been agreed. 5. Among the criteria for admission into official relations with WHO, paragraph 3.3 states that members of a nongovernmental organization “… shall exercise voting rights in relation to its policies or action.” In the case of the International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research2 the Committee’s attention was drawn to the Network’s response to the Secretariat’s invitation for a clarification of whether or to what extent the members, other than founder and active members, had influence on its policies or action through the Network’s main governing body. The Committee was satisfied that the possibility for the Network’s two remaining membership categories (consultative and associate) to nominate two representatives to the Network’s main governing body met this criterion. All other criteria being considered to be met, the Committee decided to recommend that the Network be admitted into official relations with WHO.
II.
REVIEW OF NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN OFFICIAL RELATIONS WITH WHO (Restricted document EB126/NGO/WP/1)
6. The Committee considered reports on relations with the 95 nongovernmental organizations listed in the Annex. The reports combined information submitted by the nongovernmental organizations and the Secretariat’s evaluations. Such an 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 …”. 7. The Committee noted collaboration between WHO and 80 nongovernmental organizations, and, where relevant, those organizations that were the subject of decision EB124(1).3 The Committee recommended that the Board note with appreciation the contributions of these nongovernmental organizations to the achievement of WHO’s objectives, commend them for their continuing support, and maintain them in official relations with WHO. Their names are indicated in the Annex by an asterisk.
1 2 3
Restricted document EB126/NGO/5. Restricted document EB126/NGO/7. Document EB124/2009/REC/1.
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8. The Committee noted that for various reasons implementation of agreed plans for collaboration had not been possible, or that collaboration had lapsed, between WHO and the following nongovernmental organizations: the International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities, International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Services, International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, and the International Society for Telemedicine & eHealth. However, according to the reports, the parties had expressed the wish to revitalize collaboration. The Committee recommended that the Board note the reports and, while maintaining the nongovernmental organizations in official relations, request the Secretariat to report to the Board at its 128th session on efforts to agree plans for collaboration. 9. The Committee also considered reports concerning the remaining nongovernmental organizations referred to in decision EB124(1). In addition to the information provided the Secretariat confirmed that proposals concerning the maintenance, or otherwise, of the official relations were in line with previous decisions of the Board. It was clarified that the discontinuation of an official relationship did not preclude the parties from seeking working relations in the future that could result in a nongovernmental organization being admitted once again into official relations. The Committee encouraged the Secretariat to seek proactively the maintenance of collaboration whenever possible although it understood that, in so far as WHO was concerned, programmatic exigencies could warrant otherwise. 10. Based on the information provided, it was difficult to determine the status of relations with the International Organization against Trachoma. The nongovernmental organization had indicated that a report on collaboration would be forthcoming. For its part the Secretariat reported that, whereas the nongovernmental organization had participated in technical meetings, there had been little collaboration during the period under review (2006–2008) and a plan for the future had yet to be agreed. The Committee recommended that the report be noted and, pending clarification of the status of relations, the review of relations with this nongovernmental organization be deferred until the Executive Board’s 128th session. 11. The Committee considered relations with the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics; it understood that, although constraints on both the Association and WHO had made implementation of the agreed plan unfeasible, the report also summarized an agreed plan for the future. The Committee agreed to recommend that the Board note the report and maintain the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics in official relations with WHO. 12. According to the information provided, Cystic Fibrosis Worldwide submitted a report for the period under review and proposed a plan for collaboration with WHO. For programmatic reasons, WHO is unable to pursue at this time agreement on a plan for collaboration or to respond to the organization’s proposal. The Committee recommended that the Board note the conditions for an official relationship were not present, discontinue official relations with Cystic Fibrosis Worldwide, and request the Director-General to thank the organization for its report and interest in collaboration with WHO. 13. In the case of the International Association of Hydatid Disease the Committee understood that it had not been possible to complete the evaluation of the Association’s report. In addition the report indicated that some years ago responsibility for relations with the Association had been transferred to the WHO Regional Office for the Americas and that the Secretariat was now considering regularizing the situation with a view to exploration of agreement of a global workplan. Under the circumstances, the Committee agreed to recommend that the Board note the report and maintain the Association in official relations with WHO in order to enable the evaluation and exploration of a global plan for collaboration, the results of which to be reported to the Executive Board at its 128th session. 3
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14. The Secretariat had no record of responses to invitations to the Association of the Institutes and Schools of Tropical Medicine in Europe and the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources to submit their reports on collaboration. The Committee recommended that the Board suspend official relations with these two nongovernmental organizations until such time as they have submitted a report on their collaboration or, as the case may be, the status of their relations with WHO from 2006 for review by the Executive Board. 15. The Committee considered reports concerning relations with Collegium Internationale NeuroPsychopharmacologicum and the International Union of Microbiological Societies. In the case of the Collegium it had confirmed that collaboration had been dormant during the review period but that since 2008 the nongovernmental organization had actively sought to revitalize relations with WHO and a plan for collaboration, summarized in the working document, had been agreed. The International Union had also confirmed that since 2004 collaboration had lapsed but it too had presented an agreed plan for collaboration with WHO. The Committee recommended that the Board note the successful efforts to resume joint planning of activities and maintain the Collegium Internationale NeuroPsychopharmacologicum and the International Union of Microbiological Societies in official relations with WHO. 16. The Committee noted, inter alia, that in the case of relations with the International Society of Hematology, and despite several extensions maintaining the Society in official relations with a view to agreement on a plan for collaboration, such a plan had eluded the parties. In view of this, the Committee recommended that the report be noted and that official relations be discontinued with the International Society of Hematology. 17. The Committee considered relations with the International Association for Adolescent Health and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. In accordance with decision EB124(1) these two nongovernmental organizations had been informed that, should their reports, concerning the period 2005–2007, not be received in time for review by the Board at its 126th session, their relations would be discontinued. In the case of the International Association for Adolescent Health, according to the information provided there was no record of a response. Taking into consideration the Board’s earlier decision, the Committee decided to recommend that the Board discontinue official relations with the Association. 18. The Committee noted that, whereas the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts had continued to disseminate information about WHO’s work, collaboration with a mutually agreed workplan with WHO had lapsed. For the future, the Secretariat considered that it would not be an effective use of its resources to pursue a collaborative workplan with the Association. In view of this the Committee recommended that the Board discontinue official relations with the Association and request the Director-General, when informing the nongovernmental organization of the decision, thank the Association for its report and explain the circumstances of the decision.
III. OTHER BUSINESS WHO’s nongovernmental information management system 19. The Committee reviewed information about an online tool that had been used since 2003 to manage the application process for admission into official relations and to enable, through the collection of information and data in a standardized format, an overview of the nongovernmental organizations in official relations with WHO as institutional entities. Annex 2 of the report on the
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review of nongovernmental organizations in official relations1 provided a general overview of some of the characteristics of the nongovernmental organizations in official relations based on their entries in the information management system. The illustrative charts portray the diversity of the organizations and reflect the distribution of countries from which nongovernmental organization members were drawn. If admitted into official relations with WHO, nongovernmental organizations are encouraged to keep their information up-to-date in the information management system. 20. The Committee noted that, with the exception of those nongovernmental organizations that had submitted applications since the introduction of the system, all nongovernmental organizations in official relations with WHO had been invited to submit an entry and that 20% had yet to comply. 21. The Committee recommended that the Board note the introduction of the information management system and, where appropriate, encourage nongovernmental organizations in official relations to submit their entries and maintain them up-to-date, at least on the occasion of their triennial review.
IV. 22.
PROPOSED DRAFT RESOLUTION AND DECISION Draft resolution The Executive Board, Having examined the report of its Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations,2 1. DECIDES to admit into official relations with WHO the International Insulin Foundation, International Life Saving Federation, Caritas Internationalis, Stichting Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+), International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies and the International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research; 2. DECIDES to defer consideration of an application from the International Union for Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine until such time as that a new workplan had been agreed and recommended that working relations be continued; 3. DECIDES to discontinue official relations with Cystic Fibrosis Worldwide, the International Association for Adolescent Health, the International Society of Hematology, and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts; 4. DECIDES to suspend official relations with the Association of the Institutes and Schools of Tropical Medicine in Europe and the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources until such time as they have submitted a report on their collaboration or, as the case may be, the status of their relations with WHO from 2006, for review by the Executive Board.
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Restricted document EB126/NGO/WP1. Document EB126/28.
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23.
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 Organizations1 concerning the review of one third of the nongovernmental organizations in official relations with WHO, and follow-up to decision EB124(1), reached the decisions set out below. Noting with appreciation their collaboration with WHO and commending their 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 the reports concerning their relations with WHO, the Board decided to maintain the International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities, International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science, International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, International Society for Telemedicine & eHealth, International Organization against Trachoma and the International Association of Hydatid Disease, in official relations with WHO and request, as appropriate, reports on their collaboration during the period under review and the outcome of efforts to agree plans for collaboration, the results of which should be reported to the Board at its 128th session. Noting the successful efforts to agree plans of collaboration the Board decided to maintain in official relations with WHO the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics, Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum, and the International Union of Microbiological Societies. Noting the report concerning the Secretariat’s introduction of an information system for management of the process of application by nongovernmental organizations for admission into official relations with WHO, the Board encouraged nongovernmental organizations in official relations with WHO to submit their entries in the system and maintain them up-to-date, at least on the occasion of their triennial review.
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Document EB126/28.
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ANNEX LIST OF NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN OFFICIAL RELATIONS WITH WHO REVIEWED BY THE EXECUTIVE BOARD AT ITS 126TH SESSION
African Medical and Research Foundation* Aga Khan Foundation* Association of the Institutes and Schools of Tropical Medicine in Europe CMC – Churches’ Action for Health* Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum Consumers International* Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences* Council on Health Research for Development* CropLife International* (2006–2008) Cystic Fibrosis Worldwide EuroSafe – European Association for Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion* FDI World Dental Federation* (2006–2008) Framework Convention Alliance on Tobacco Control* Global Forum for Health Research* Global Health Council, Inc.* Helen Keller International*(2006–2008) International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness* (2006–2008) International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations* International Association for Adolescent Health International Association for Biologicals* International Association for Dental Research* (2006–2008) International Association of Biologists Technicians* International Association of Cancer Registries* International Association of Hydatid Disease International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities International Catholic Committee of Nurses and Medico-Social Assistants* International College of Surgeons* International Commission on Radiological Protection* (2006–2008) International Conference of Deans of French-Language Faculties of Medicines* International Council for Standardization in Haematology* International Council of Nurses* International Diabetes Federation* (2006–2008) International Epidemiological Association* International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering* International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine International Federation of Fertility Societies* International Federation of Health Records Organizations* International Federation of Hospital Engineering* International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations* International Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies* (2006–2008) International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations* International Federation of Surgical Colleges*
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Annex
International Hospital Federation* International League Against Epilepsy* (2005–2007) International Leprosy Association* (2006–2008) International Medical Informatics Association* International Medical Parliamentarians Organization* International Network on Children’s Health Environment and Safety* (2006–2008) International Organization against Trachoma International Organization for Standardization* International Pharmaceutical Federation* International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War* (2005–2007) International Society for Burn Injuries* International Society for Telemedicine & eHealth International Society of Blood Transfusion* International Society of Hematology International Society of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology* International Society of Radiology* International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis* International Solid Waste Association* (2006–2008) International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease* (2006–2008) International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources International Union of Architects* International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology* International Union of Immunological Societies* (2006–2008) International Union of Microbiological Societies International Union of Psychological Science* (2005–2007) International Union of Toxicology* (2006–2008) Medicus Mundi International – International Organisation for Cooperation in Health Care* OXFAM* Project ORBIS International, Inc. (ORBIS International)* (2006–2008) The Commonwealth Pharmacists Association1* The International League of Dermatological Societies* The International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation* The International Society for Quality in Health Care Incorporated* The International Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technologists* The Network: Towards Unity For Health* The Save the Children Fund* The Transplantation Society* The World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies* The World Medical Association* World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts World Association of Societies of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine* World Blind Union* (2006–2008) World Federation for Medical Education* World Federation of Chiropractic* World Federation of Hydrotherapy and Climatotherapy* (2006–2008) World Federation of Public Health Associations* World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists* 1
Previously known as the Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association.
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Annex
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World Federation of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology* World Organization of Family Doctors* World Self-Medication Industry* World Vision International*1
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* Based on reports of collaboration with WHO for the period under review (2007–2009, unless otherwise indicated), the Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations recommended the maintenance in official relations of those nongovernmental organizations whose names are followed by an asterisk. The other nongovernmental organizations are the subject of specific decisions or a resolution.
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