Malteser International gains Special Consultative status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council

Article published on Malteser International website on 06/07/2018

Malteser International is proud to announce that, effective from 2018, it is now an organization in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) at the United Nations.
The special consultative status was conferred following recommendation by the council’s Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations.

The 19-member committee vets applications submitted by non-governmental organizations, recommending general, special or roster status on the basis of the applicant’s mandate, governance and financial regime. A special consultative status provides non-governmental organizations with access to not only council meetings, but also to its many subsidiary bodies, to the various human rights mechanisms of the United Nations, as well as special events organized by the President of the General Assembly.

“This is a landmark achievement for us and our work for the most vulnerable people of this world,” said Malteser International’s Secretary General, Ingo Radtke. “It comes at a critical time when UN-led deliberations to shape the 2030 development agenda are under way. The special consultative status allows us to influence decision-making around humanitarian aid issues at the highest international level.”

“I would also like to thank our team in New York for all of their efforts in helping us reach this significant milestone,” he added.

“In the face of ever-increasing humanitarian crises and a greater number of people in dire need, having special consultative status with ECOSOC positions us as a key actor and at the forefront of global humanitarian relief,” said Ravi Tripptrap, Executive Director of Malteser International Americas, whose team was actively involved in the application process.

“We are now entitled to designate official representatives to the United Nations Offices in New York and Geneva, and can make written and oral statements at international UN events,” Tripptrapp said, adding that Malteser International will leverage its 60 years of continuous experience in humanitarian relief to provide expert advice to the Council and its subsidiary bodies.

ECOSOC is one of the principal organs of the United Nations mandated with the task of coordinating and formulating recommendations on economic, social and environmental issues, as well as for implementation of the internationally-agreed development goals.