EXECUTIVE BOARD 130th session Agenda item 9.3
EB130/31 23 January 2012
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 17 January 2012. The Board is invited to consider the proposed draft resolution and decision set out in paragraphs 12 and 13 below.
I.
APPLICATIONS FOR ADMISSION INTO OFFICIAL RELATIONS WITH WHO (Restricted documents EB130/NGO/1–4)3
2. The Committee considered applications for admission into official relations from the International Society of Nephrology, the World Hepatitis Alliance, the International Spinal Cord Society and the Handicap International Federation.4 The Committee evaluated the merits of each applicant in order to 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, and supplementary information from the Secretariat, the Committee concluded that the nongovernmental organizations met the criteria for admission into official relations and recommended that they be admitted into official relations with WHO.
II.
REVIEW OF NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN OFFICIAL RELATIONS WITH WHO (Restricted document EB130/NGO/WP/1)
4. The Committee considered reports on relations with 57 nongovernmental organizations listed in the Annex to this document. The reports combined information submitted by the nongovernmental organizations and the Secretariat’s evaluations. Such an evaluation takes into consideration the fact 1 2
Basic documents, 47th edition, Geneva, World Health Organization, 2009.
Members: Dr B. Valentin (Seychelles) (Chairman), Professor A. Babloyan (Armenia), Mr J. Diaz Anaiz (alternate to Dr M.T. Valenzuela) (Chile), Dr Pe Thet Khin (Myanmar), and Dr A. I. Abdi (Somalia). 3 4
Restricted documents EB130/NGO/1, EB130/NGO/2, EB130/NGO/3 and EB130/NGO/4, respectively Transmitted to Executive Board members under cover of a letter dated 15 November 2011 and numbered L/11.19.
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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 …”. 5. The Committee noted collaboration between WHO and 50 nongovernmental organizations and recommended that the Board commend these nongovernmental organizations for their continuing contributions to the achievement of WHO’s objectives, and maintain them in official relations with WHO. Their names are indicated in the Annex by an asterisk. 6. The Committee noted that the report on CropLife International referred to activities during the period under consideration (2009–2011), although a plan for collaboration had yet to be agreed; the review had revealed a need for clarification of the relations. The Committee agreed to recommend that the Board note the report and defer the review of relations with this nongovernmental organization until the 132nd session of the Board, and request the Secretariat to report to the Board at that time on efforts to agree plans for collaboration or, as the case may be, status of relations. 7. The reports on relations with the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry and the Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences indicated, inter alia, that collaboration during the period 2009–2011 had lapsed and that the Secretariat did not expect to pursue agreement on plans for collaboration with these organizations. The Standing Committee recommended that the reports be noted and that official relations be discontinued with those two nongovernmental organizations. 8. The Committee then considered follow-up to the Board’s decision EB128(1).1 For the International Council of Women, the report indicated, inter alia, that there was no record of a response to WHO’s invitation to pursue the possibility of a plan for collaboration. The Committee recommended that the report be noted and official relations with the International Council of Women be discontinued. 9. For the International Special Dietary Foods Industries, the report indicated that a plan had been agreed, which comprised meetings to discuss experiences and observations with regard to compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, and a project to collect data on commercially prepared foods intended for children aged 6–24 months in selected countries with a view to analysing the nutritional composition of foods, and the development of a food safety education programme to advance food safety in the food production chain. Noting the successful efforts to agree plans of collaboration, the Committee decided to recommend that the report be noted and official relations be maintained with the nongovernmental organization. 10. The Committee noted that La Leche League International had confirmed that collaboration had ceased owing to a combination of organizational and administrative changes but that it remained interested in collaboration with WHO. The Committee understood that a response to proposals from WHO were awaited. The Committee recommended that the report be noted and, pending a report on an agreed plan for collaboration or, as the case may be, status of relations, the review of relations be deferred an additional year until the 132nd session of the Executive Board. 11. The Committee understood that discussion on proposals for collaboration with the International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science continued, and both parties were hopeful of agreement. The Committee encouraged the successful outcome of discussions to conclude an agreement for collaboration, and recommended that the report be noted and the review be deferred by one year, until 1
Document EB128/2011/REC/1.
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the 132nd session of the Executive Board, at which time a report on the agreed plan for collaboration should be presented. Furthermore, it recommended that the Federation be informed that, in the absence of an agreed plan for collaboration, official relations would be discontinued.
III. PROPOSED DRAFT RESOLUTION AND DECISION 12. 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 following nongovernmental organizations: the International Society of Nephrology, the World Hepatitis Alliance, the International Spinal Cord Society and the Handicap International Federation; 2. DECIDES to discontinue official relations with the International Council of Women, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, and the Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences. 13. 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 EB128(1), reached the decisions set out below. 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 a plan for collaboration had been agreed, the Board decided to maintain the International Special Dietary Foods Industries in official relations with WHO. Noting that agreed plans for collaboration are yet to be finalized, the Board decided to defer the review of relations with CropLife International and La Leche League International, until its 132nd session, at which time reports, either on agreed plans for collaboration or status of relations, would be considered. Noting the report, and to encourage a successful outcome to continuing efforts to agree a plan for collaboration, the Board decided to defer the review of relations with the International
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Document EB130/31.
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Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science by one year, until its 132nd session, and further requested that the Federation be informed that, in the absence of an agreed plan for collaboration, 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 130TH SESSION
Caritas Inernationalis* CBM* CropLife International European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals* FDI World Dental Federation* Helen Keller International* International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness* International AIDS Society* International Air Transport Association* International Association for Dental Research* International Association for the Study of Pain* International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics* International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Surveillance and Research* International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection* International Commission on Radiological Protection* International Council of Ophthalmology* International Council of Women International Diabetes Federation* International Eye Foundation1* International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science International Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies* International Leprosy Association* International Life Sciences Institute* International Medical Corps* International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research* International Network on Children’s Health, Environment and Safety* International Society for Environmental Epidemiology* International Society of Doctors for the Environment* International Solid Waste Association* International Special Dietary Foods Industries International Union against Sexually Transmitted Infections* International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease* International Union of Immunological Societies* International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry International Union of Toxicology* International Water Association* Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences La Leche League International March of Dimes Foundation* Organisation pour la Prévention de la Cécité*
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Previously known as the International Eye Foundation, Inc.
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Annex
ORBIS International∗ Rotary International* Stichting Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+)* Thalassaemia International Federation* The International Association of Lions Clubs* The International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations* The Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind (Sightsavers)1* Union for International Cancer Control2* World Blind Union* World Council of Optometry* World Federation of Hemophilia* World Federation of Hydrotherapy and Climatotherapy* World Heart Federation* World Hypertension League* World Plumbing Council* World Stroke Organization* World Veterinary Association*
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∗ Based on reports of collaboration for the period under review 2009–2011, the Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations recommended the maintenance of 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. 1 2
Previously known as The Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind (Sightsavers International). Previously known as the International Union Against Cancer.
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