The Law Society of England and Wales has been granted special consultative status to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. This gives the society the right to collaborate with member states on issues including human rights and the rule of law, and contribute to discussion on the Council’s agenda on an international and domestic level. Consultative status provides NGOs with access to not only ECOSOC, but also to its many subsidiary bodies.
The Society will be able to:
NGOs are essential to the work of the UN as they provide expert analysis on issues directly from their experience in the field; they help monitor and implement international agreements; and they help raise public awareness of relevant issues. Additionally, NGOs with consultative status are required to submit a 'quadrennial report' every four years.
A number of Irish NGOs, including a number of PILA partner organisations, have ECOSOC consultative status. A small number have special consultative status. Click here to view a list of Irish NGOs with consultative status.
Click here to read an analysis on the Human Rights in Ireland blog of the role of NGOs and human rights at the United Nations.
Click here to read an article about this accreditation on the Law Society’s website.
Click here to read a UN document on consultative status.