United Nations: U.S. Participation in the Fourth World Conference on
Women (Briefing Report, 02/15/96, GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR).
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the
United Nations' (UN) Fourth World Conference on Women, focusing on: (1)
the cost of U.S. participation in the Conference; (2) the process UN
used to accredit nongovernmental organizations (NGO); and (3) how China
handled the issuance of travel visas.
GAO found that: (1) the Conference's estimated total cost was between
$13 million and $14 million and was funded by voluntary donations, host
country contributions, and the UN budget; (2) U.S. participation in the
Conference cost about $5.9 million, including $1.1 million for the U.S.
share of UN budgeted costs and $4.8 million for federal agencies' direct
expenditures; (3) $2.2 million of U.S. direct expenditures covered
travel and other preparatory activities and $1.8 million supported
Conference attendance and participation by U.S. representatives; (4) UN
reviewed NGO applications for Conference accreditation to ensure that
applicants had national or international scope, were bona fide NGO, and
had a purpose related to Conference objectives; (5) UN accredited 2,173
NGO but refused 277 NGO that failed to meet accreditation criteria or
provide sufficient documentation; (6) although UN modified its
accreditation process to broaden NGO representation, the process
appeared to be fair and unbiased; and (7) China delayed issuing visas
for Conference participants because it received triple the number of
visa applications expected and required applicants to submit proof of
hotel reservations prior to application.
--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------
REPORTNUM: NSIAD-96-79BR
TITLE: United Nations: U.S. Participation in the Fourth World
Conference on Women
DATE: 02/15/96
SUBJECT: Womens rights
Non-government enterprises
International travel
Travel costs
Cost analysis
Convention facilities
Women
Budget outlays
Administrative costs
Developing countries
IDENTIFIER: UN Fourth World Conference on Women
China
Taiwan
UN Children's Fund
UN Fund for Population Activities
UN Development Program
UN Development Fund for Women
Beijing (China)
Tibet (China)
Huairou (China)
UN Special Conference Trust Fund
******************************************************************
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Cover
================================================================ COVER
Report to Congressional Requesters
February 1996
UNITED NATIONS - U.S.
PARTICIPATION IN THE FOURTH WORLD
CONFERENCE ON WOMEN
GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR
United Nations
(711156)
Abbreviations
=============================================================== ABBREV
E/NI - Europe and Newly Independent States Bureau
EPA - Environmental Protection Agency
HHS - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
NGO - Nongovernmental organization
UN - United Nations
USAID - U.S. Agency for International Development
USIA - U.S. Information Agency
Letter
=============================================================== LETTER
B-270733
February 15, 1996
The Honorable Jesse Helms
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations
United States Senate
The Honorable Christopher H. Smith
Chairman, Subcommittee on International Operations
and Human Rights
Committee on International Relations
House of Representatives
In response to your August 17 and July 28, 1995, requests, we
examined certain issues related to the United Nations' (UN) Fourth
World Conference on Women. As agreed with your staffs, this report
provides information on (1) the cost of U.S. participation in the
UN's Fourth World Conference on Women and the parallel,
independently-convened nongovernmental organizations' (NGO) Forum,
(2) the UN process for accrediting NGOs, and (3) the handling of
Conference travel visas by the Chinese. A summary of our discussions
with 28 U.S. NGOs regarding their perspectives on the accreditation
process, adequacy of accommodations, and physical access to
Conference and Forum facilities is provided in an appendix to this
report.
We provided a briefing on these issues to your staffs on December 15,
1995. Our briefing document appears after this letter.
BACKGROUND
------------------------------------------------------------ Letter :1
The UN held its Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China,
from September 4 to 15, 1995. The purpose of the Conference, as
stated by the participating governments, was to advance equality,
development, and peace for all women. About 17,000 participants
registered at the Conference, including official delegations from 189
countries and representatives from 1,700 NGOs. Previous UN
Conferences on Women were held in Mexico (1975), Copenhagen (1980),
and Nairobi (1985).
Parallel to the Conference, nongovernmental organizations
independently organized a forum to (1) provide opportunities for
networking; (2) plan strategies for improving the lives of women
through education, human and legal rights, health, and other areas;
and (3) enable NGOs to influence the outcome of Conference
activities. The NGO Organizing Committee negotiated with the Chinese
government for a forum site and collected donations from
corporations, governments, and others to fund organizing activities.
The Forum was held in Huairou, China--53 kilometers (about
30 miles) from Beijing--from August 31 to September 8, 1995. About
30,000 people attended the Forum, and some participated in both the
Forum and Conference. U.S. officials estimated that about 7,000
U.S. citizens traveled to China for Conference and Forum activities.
RESULTS IN BRIEF
------------------------------------------------------------ Letter :2
The UN estimated the costs of convening the Conference to be
approximately $13 to $14 million, with financial support coming from
voluntary donations, the host government, and the UN regular budget.
The total cost to the United States for the Conference and Forum was
approximately $5.9 million. This amount includes $4.8 million in
direct costs incurred by 13 U.S. government agencies and the White
House, and approximately $1.1 million of the UN cost for the
Conference, which was paid out of the UN regular budget.\1
Of the $4.8 million direct expenditures, $2.2 million was spent for
preparatory activities, $1.8 million for participation in the
Conference, and $0.8 million for Forum activities.
The UN invited NGOs to apply for accreditation to participate in
Conference activities. Of the 2,450 NGOs worldwide that applied for
accreditation, 277 were not accredited. Of the 588 U.S. NGOs that
applied, 69 were not accredited. The UN's process for accrediting
NGOs, although it underwent changes to include a broader
representation of NGOs, was generally viewed by U.S. officials as
fair and unbiased. We did not identify a pattern or particular
agenda among U.S. NGOs not recommended for accreditation. Although
two Tibet-based NGOs were accredited, no NGOs based in Taiwan were
accredited to the Conference because they did not meet the Conference
Secretariat's requirement of being incorporated in their country of
origin. Taiwanese interests were represented by NGOs from other
countries, including the United States.
U.S. officials characterized the access to the UN Conference from
the Huairou site of the NGO Forum as adequate. The Chinese provided
buses to shuttle NGO participants from the Forum site in Huairou to
the Conference in Beijing, and electronic communications linked the
two sites.
Although the Chinese were late in processing visas, an official of
the U.S. Mission to the UN stated that most applicants did receive
one. Possible causes of problems include the overwhelming number of
visa requests received by the Chinese (about three times the expected
number) and the requirement to have a confirmed hotel reservation
before applying for a visa.
--------------------
\1 The United States is assessed 25 percent of the UN regular budget.
AGENCY COMMENTS
------------------------------------------------------------ Letter :3
We discussed the information contained in this briefing with
officials from the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for
International Development, the White House, and the UN Conference
Secretariat. We incorporated their comments where appropriate.
SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY
------------------------------------------------------------ Letter :4
To determine the costs associated with U.S. participation in the
Conference, we compiled expenditure data provided to us by the White
House; the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Energy,
Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior,
Labor, State; the Environmental Protection Agency; Small Business
Administration; U.S. Agency for International Development; U.S.
Information Agency; Peace Corps; Postal Service; and the Resolution
Trust Corporation and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. We
examined documents supporting the expenditure data provided by the
agencies, but we did not independently verify that data. We obtained
estimates on the overall costs of the Conference from the UN.
We gathered information on NGO's participation in the Conference from
the UN and the United States' Representative to the UN Economic and
Social Council, the Department of State, and the NGO Forum Planning
Committee. We examined the list of U.S. NGO applicants for patterns
that would have indicated exclusion of particular points of view on
women's issues. We discussed the accreditation and visa processes
with 23 U.S. NGOs that were accredited to the Conference and 5 that
were not accredited. We also obtained information from the 23
accredited U.S. NGOs on NGO access to the Conference.
We performed our review between August and December 1995 in
accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards.
Appendix I lists members of the official U.S. delegation to the
Conference. Appendix II provides detailed information on travel and
nontravel expenditures by federal agency. Appendix III shows federal
agency expenditures specifically for the Conference, appendix IV
provides federal expenditures for participation in UN and NGO
preparatory commissions and U.S. regional meetings, and appendix V
shows federal expenditures for the NGO Forum 95. Appendix VI shows
funding for countries assisted by the U.S. Agency for International
Development to participate in regional preparatory activities and the
Conference and NGO Forum. Appendix VII provides a list of federal
nontravel expenditures that supported Conference and Forum
activities. Appendix VIII lists accredited U.S. NGOs, and appendix
IX lists nonaccredited U.S. NGOs and reasons for nonaccreditation.
Appendix X discusses the perspectives of 28 NGOs on the UN
accreditation process and procedures and NGO access to the
Conference.
---------------------------------------------------------- Letter :4.1
We are sending copies of this briefing report to the Chairmen and
Ranking Minority Members of the Senate and House Committees on
Appropriations; the Senate Committtee on Governmental Affairs and the
House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight; the Secretaries
of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Energy, Health and Human
Services, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, and State; the
Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the
United Nations; the Administrators of the U.S. Agency for
International Development, the Environmental Protection Agency, and
the Small Business Administration; the Directors of the U.S.
Information Agency and the Office of Management and Budget; and the
Counsel to the President. Copies will be made available to others on
request.
Please contact me on (202) 512-4128 if you or your staff have any
questions concerning this report. Major contributors to this report
were LeRoy W. Richardson, Margaret G. Morgan, and Olivia L.
Parker.
Benjamin F. Nelson
Director, International Relations
and Trade Issues
Briefing Section I BACKGROUND
============================================================== Letter
INTRODUCTION
------------------------------------------------------------ Letter :5
(See figure in printed
edition.)
The Fourth World Conference on Women was held September 4 to 15,
1995, in Beijing, China. The purpose of the conference, as stated by
the participating governments, was to advance the goals of equality,
development, and peace for all women.
The United Nations (UN) Commission on the Status of Women acted as
the preparatory body for the Conference. The UN Division for the
Advancement of Women served as the Secretariat. The duties of the
Secretariat included all conference planning and operations,
including receiving applications for nongovernmental organization
(NGO) accreditation. The Division for the Advancement of Women
served as the Secretariat for the previous conferences on women held
in 1975 (Mexico), 1980 (Copenhagen), and 1985 (Nairobi). About
17,000 people registered to attend the Conference, including official
delegations from 189 countries and representatives of 1,700 of the
accredited NGOs. The members of the official U.S. delegation are
listed in appendix I.
NGOs interested in women's issues held a parallel meeting--NGO Forum
on Women Beijing '95--from August 31 to September 8, 1995, in
Huairou, China, which is 53 kilometers (about 30 miles) from the
Conference site. The Forum was organized by an NGO planning
committee and financed by donations from governments, multilateral
institutions, and private donors.\1 According to NGO organizers, the
Forum provided an opportunity for NGOs to be involved in analyzing
the forces that shape women's lives, presenting innovative NGO
activities, and discussing future strategies. The Forum was open to
all who wished to register, and about 30,000 people participated in
over 4,000 scheduled activities.
About 7,000 U.S. citizens went to China-- the largest movement ever
of civilian Americans to a single destination, according to State
Department officials--to participate in the Conference and NGO Forum.
The State Department posted two additional consular officers in
Beijing to provide assistance. State also published a leaflet (for
distribution at the Conference and NGO Forum) on whom to call for
consular assistance.
Briefing Section II
--------------------
\1 Donors included Apple Computer, Inc., The World Bank, The Ford
Foundation, the government of Spain, the Swedish International
Development Agency, NORAD (Norway) Overseas Development
Administration, and U.S. Agency for International Development, among
others. Four UN agencies to which the United States makes voluntary
contributions--the UN Development Fund for Women, the UN Development
Programme, the UN Fund for Population Activities, and the UN
Children's Fund--also provided support to the Conference. These
contributions are not included in the U.S. totals.
COSTS OF U.S. PARTICIPATION
============================================================== Letter
UN CONFERENCE FUNDING
MECHANISMS
------------------------------------------------------------ Letter :6
(See figure in printed
edition.)
The UN Secretariat estimated costs for convening the Conference at
$13 to $14 million.\1 Funding came from three sources: a Conference
trust fund, host country contributions, and the UN's regular budget.
Donations for the trust fund could come from UN member nations (apart
from their assessed contributions) or private sources. According to
a UN official, the trust fund received donations of about $6 million,
with much of the funding used to assist planning efforts in less
developed countries and regions.\2 As host country, China was
required to contribute an amount equal to the increased costs of
holding the conference in China rather than New York or Geneva where
the UN has conference facilities. China's contribution totaled about
$3 million. The remainder of the total, some $4 million to $5
million, was funded through the UN's regular budget process. The
U.S. share was 25 percent of the budgeted costs, or about $1.1
million.
--------------------
\1 The UN does not have a centralized accounting system, so costs for
UN agencies other than the Secretariat that might have participated
in the Conference were not available within the time frames of our
audit.
\2 The United States made a voluntary contribution of $300,000 to the
trust fund for Conference planning activities and to support travel
of representatives of least-developed countries to regional
conferences. This amount is included in expenditures for conference
planning.
U.S. EXPENDITURES TO SUPPORT
CONFERENCE AND NGO FORUM
ACTIVITIES
------------------------------------------------------------ Letter :7
(See figure in printed
edition.)
Total costs for U.S. participation in the Conference and NGO Forum,
including preparatory activities, were approximately $5.9 million.
This total includes the U.S. share of UN budgeted costs of $1.1
million, $4.0 million in federal agencies' direct expenditures
related to the Conference, and $0.8 million in direct expenditures
related to the Forum.
Appendix II shows travel and other costs by agency. Appendix III
shows expenditures by federal agency specifically for the Conference,
appendix IV shows federal expenditures for planning and preparation.
Appendix V shows expenditures for the NGO Forum. Appendix VI shows
expenditures for USAID-assisted countries. Appendix VII details
other nontravel expenditures for conference preparation and
participation.
FEDERAL ENTITIES PARTICIPATING
IN CONFERENCE AND NGO FORUM
ACTIVITIES
------------------------------------------------------------ Letter :8
(See figure in printed
edition.)
The State Department took the lead in coordinating U.S. government
preparations for the Conference. Other federal agencies and
organizations and the White House took part in the Conference
activities. The agencies represented different women's issues from
labor and health issues to economic concerns.
The Departments of State and Labor jointly convened 10 official
preparatory meetings in each of the 10 federal regions of the country
under the theme "Women Thinking Globally, Acting Locally: On the
Road to Beijing and the 21st Century." The meetings, open to the
public, were designed to (1) provide information about the Conference
and issues affecting the advancement of women, (2) identify
successful strategies and actions taken for the advancement of women
since the 1985 conference on women, (3) identify what still needs to
be done, and (4) provide an opportunity for citizens to talk with
government representatives.
STATE AND USAID EXPENDITURES
COMPRISE 70% OF TOTAL COSTS
------------------------------------------------------------ Letter :9
(See figure in printed
edition.)
Thirteen federal agencies and the White House spent $4.8 million in
appropriated funds to support Conference and Forum activities.\3
USAID and the State Department together spent 70 percent of the
federal resources expended on the conference activities. USAID
expended the largest amount of resources, spending $2.4 million
primarily for support of USAID-assisted countries' participation in
regional planning activities, the Conference, and the NGO Forum. The
State Department, which paid for travel to Beijing for U.S.
delegation leadership and State Department staff\4 as well as for
travel to international preparatory meetings, spent about 62 percent
of its conference funds for travel costs. Travel costs to Beijing
also comprised about 88 percent of expenditures for the White House.
(See app. II.) Other officials who flew with the First Lady included
her staff; the U.S. Ambassador to the UN; certain UN, State
Department, National Security Council, and Secret Service employees;
and accompanying press corps.\5 The White House expects to be
reimbursed for travel on Air Force One by members of the press, which
will reduce travel costs to the U.S. government.
--------------------
\3 The U.S. Postal Service sent a representative and sponsored an
exhibit at the NGO Forum at a cost of $25,921. The Resolution Trust
Corporation/Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation sent a
representative at a cost of $5,627. These expenditures do not come
from appropriated funds and are not included in our analysis.
\4 The State Department paid for travel by federal officials of
cabinet rank. Other agencies were responsible for travel costs of
their employees.
\5 The White House expenditures do not include costs for protection
of the First Lady. The Secret Service said releasing information
from which security tactical strength and resources could be assessed
might compromise its ability to provide a secure environment for the
First Lady. The Secret Service separately briefed the requesters'
staff on these costs.
USAID EXPENDITURES FOR
CONFERENCE AND NGO FORUM
ACTIVITIES
----------------------------------------------------------- Letter :10
(See figure in printed
edition.)
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) spent more
than other federal agencies on Conference and NGO Forum-related
activities, with expenditures of $2.4 million distributed among
pre-Conference activities, the Conference itself, and the NGO Forum.
(App. VI details expenditures for USAID-assisted countries.) Of this
amount, USAID official travel amounted to $36,223, or 1 percent of
USAID's total. Many of the expenditures supported planning
activities as follows:
USAID provided $300,000 to the UN Special Conference Trust Fund.
The Trust Fund, created by the UN specifically for the
Conference, was used to finance additional activities of the
preparatory process and the Conference, in particular the
participation of least-developed countries. According to USAID
officials, USAID's grant was used specifically to fund travel
for NGOs to Conference preparatory meetings and for computer
equipment for the Conference Secretariat.
USAID granted $150,000 to the NGO Planning Committee.
USAID's Europe and the Newly Independent States (E/NI) bureau gave
a grant of $25,000 to the UN for a regional preparatory meeting
in Europe.
USAID also funded workshops and other activities designed to
prepare NGOs to participate in the Conference at a total cost of
$353,543. Workshops addressed topics such as women involved in
law and development, women in policy-making roles, and women's
health issues.
USAID contracted technical support in conference planning
activities at a cost of $400,000. Contractors supported program
office staff by conducting research, writing position papers,
and developing materials for participants in planning meetings.
Other expenditures totaling $6,000 covered various administrative
costs.
USAID/Washington bureaus provided $499,830 to facilitate travel by
NGOs to regional meetings and the NGO Forum. These funds were
spent on travel costs for delegates from least developed
countries, according to USAID officials.
USAID missions spent $617,906 to support travel to preparatory
activities, the Conference, and the NGO Forum by representatives
from USAID mission-assisted countries in Europe and the Newly
Independent States ($12,047), Asia and the Near East ($208,313),
Latin America ($51,223), and Africa ($346,323).
U.S. DIRECT EXPENDITURES FOR
CONFERENCE
----------------------------------------------------------- Letter :11
(See figure in printed
edition.)
The total direct cost to the United States to support the activities
of the Conference were $4.0 million. Of this amount, $2.2 million
went for preparatory activities, including travel and other
expenditures for 8 international preparatory meetings, 10 U.S.
regional preparatory meetings, and international working meetings.
This figure also includes support for participation by USAID-assisted
countries. An additional $1.8 million supported Conference
attendance and participation by U.S. representatives.
U.S. DIRECT EXPENDITURES FOR
FORUM
----------------------------------------------------------- Letter :12
(See figure in printed
edition.)
U.S. direct expenditures in support of the NGO Forum totaled $0.8
million. About $433,920 or 55 percent of this funding came from
USAID missions, which supported participation of NGO representatives
from assisted countries. An additional $228,777 was provided by
USAID/Washington bureaus to support NGO participation at the Forum.
(See app. V.) The remainder supported exhibits sponsored by the
Departments of Energy and Agriculture and travel for representatives
from each of these departments.
Briefing Section III UN
ACCREDITATION PROCESS
============================================================== Letter
UN ACCREDITATION PROCESS AND
PROCEDURES
----------------------------------------------------------- Letter :13
(See figure in printed
edition.)
On December 20, 1993, the UN General Assembly directed the Conference
Secretariat to receive and preliminarily evaluate NGO applications
for accreditation to the Conference. As it reviewed NGO
applications, the Secretariat presented lists of NGOs recommended for
accreditation at preparatory meetings in March 1994 and March 1995.
At each meeting, action was taken by the preparatory body to accredit
the list of NGOs recommended by the Secretariat and not challenged by
a member country delegation.
NGOs that were challenged by country delegations at the meetings were
set aside from the list to be considered separately. A working group
was established to review the basis for the challenge and the
Secretariat's recommendation and to report to the preparatory body
for a final determination.
CRITERIA FOR NGO ACCREDITATION
----------------------------------------------------------- Letter :14
(See figure in printed
edition.)
The UN invited NGOs to apply for accreditation to participate in the
Conference and set out application criteria and a deadline for
application. The Secretariat reviewed applicants to ensure they were
bona fide NGOs,\1 had national or international scope, and had a
purpose related to Conference objectives. NGOs were asked to provide
evidence of their competence and relevance to the work of the
Conference. They were instructed to include the following
documentation with their applications:
purpose of the organization,
information on its programs and activities in areas relevant to the
Conference,
confirmation of the organization's activities at the national or
international level,
copies of annual reports with financial statements and a list of
the members of the governing body, and
a description of its membership.
--------------------
\1 According to U.S. and UN officials, indicators that an applicant
was a bona fide NGO and competent to participate in the Conference
included incorporation in the country of origin, an independent
governing body, and a stable financial history.
UN DIRECTED CHANGES IN
ACCREDITATION PROCEDURES
----------------------------------------------------------- Letter :15
(See figure in printed
edition.)
After NGOs and member countries' representatives expressed
dissatisfaction with the review process and application of criteria
during initial preparations for the Conference, the Secretariat's
interpretation of the criteria evolved. According to a UN official,
the Secretariat initially believed that the Commission on the Status
of Women wanted to accredit only NGOs actively engaged in women's
issues on a national or international level and, therefore, applied
the registration criteria that an NGO be a national or international
organization very strictly. However, this interpretation excluded
many NGOs active in women's issues on a more local level. Further,
time constraints did not always allow the Secretariat to solicit
additional information from all applicants before it made
recommendations for accreditation. According to U.S. and UN
officials, there was no standard procedure by which NGOs were
notified of the status of their applications or allowed to submit
additional supporting information. The perceived lack of fairness
and transparency led NGOs to complain to the Secretariat and their
countries' missions.
The U.S. Mission to the United Nations was a leader in drafting and
galvanizing support for General Assembly Resolution 49/243, which
directed the Secretariat to (1) extend the deadline for NGO
applications to April 28, 1995, and (2) communicate in writing to the
NGOs that had not been recommended for accreditation and invite them
to submit additional information relevant to their qualifications for
accreditation. The Conference Secretariat complied with General
Assembly resolution 49/243 by extending the period it would accept
applications to April 28, 1995; inviting NGOs not yet accredited to
submit additional information by May 31, 1995; and re-reviewing a
number of NGOs' applications. The Secretariat interpreted the
requirement that an NGO have a national or international scope of
activities more broadly, giving primary weight to the requirement
that an applicant be a bona fide NGO, and recommended for
accreditation many NGOs not previously recommended.
Because the deadline for application was extended past the last
scheduled meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women, its
parent organization, the Economic and Social Council, accredited the
final group of NGOs to the Conference.\2 The Council voted on the
last group of NGOs recommended for accreditation at its June 26 to
July 28, 1995, meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. This group comprised
organizations that applied before the April 28, 1995, deadline,
including organizations that did not meet the requirements for the
preliminary review but, on the basis of additional information
supplied, appeared to the Secretariat competent and relevant to the
Conference.
--------------------
\2 The Commission on the Status of Women is one of eight functional
commissions of the UN Economic and Social Council.
NGO ACCREDITATION RESULTS
----------------------------------------------------------- Letter :16
(See figure in printed
edition.)
Of the 2,450 applicants for accreditation, 277 were not accredited.\3
The Conference Secretariat recommended 2,184 for accreditation and
did not recommend 266. The recommendations for 19 NGOs were
challenged by particular countries. Eleven of the recommended NGOs
were not accredited after challenges by particular countries. The
Secretariat cited the following reasons for recommendations against
accreditation for each nonrecommended applicant: the applicant (1)
was not a bona fide NGO, (2) did not have a purpose clearly related
to the Conference objectives, (3) did not have a national or
international scope of activities, or (4) did not provide enough
information for the Secretariat to recommend accreditation.
Of the 588 U.S. NGO applicants, 519 were accredited and 69 were not
accredited. The Secretariat did not recommend 65 U.S. NGOs for
accreditation. In 62 of these cases the Secretariat cited incomplete
information as one reason for nonrecommendation. In reviewing the
lists of NGOs that were recommended for accreditation, we found a
variety of different perspectives on women's issues. We did not
discern a pattern or particular agenda among those U.S. NGOs that
were not accredited. State Department and U.S. Mission to the UN
officials agreed with our analysis.
The Secretariat's recommendation to accredit was challenged in the
cases of seven U.S. NGOs. China challenged the recommendation to
accredit four U.S. NGOs: Human Rights in China, International
Committee of Lawyers for Tibet, Sunray Meditation Society, and
Tibetan Rights Campaign. India challenged the recommendation for
accreditation of the Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team, and Iran
challenged the recommendation for the Association of Iranian Women
and the National Committee of Women for Democratic Iran. After
consideration of the recommendation and the challenge, three of these
NGOs--Human Rights in China, Sunray Meditation Society, and the
National Committee of Women for Democratic Iran--were accredited.
The remaining NGOs were not accredited.
--------------------
\3 NGOs in consultative status to the Commission on the Status of
Women or the Economic and Social Council were automatically
accredited to attended the Conference. Over 1,000 NGOs hold such
consultative status.
TAIWAN/TIBET NGO ACCREDITATION
----------------------------------------------------------- Letter :17
(See figure in printed
edition.)
According to a UN official, the requirement that NGOs must be
incorporated in the country of origin--used as an indicator of an
NGOs' bona fides at other conferences--did have the effect of
precluding participation by Taiwanese organizations. Two Tibetan
organizations were accredited. The Secretariat recommended for
accreditation groups with Tibetan or Taiwanese interests that were
incorporated in other countries.
China challenged the recommendation to accredit five NGOs with
Taiwan/Tibet interests: Human Rights in China (United States),
International Committee of Lawyers for Tibet (United States), the
Sunray Meditation Society (United States), Tibetan Rights Campaign
(United States) and Tibetan Women's Organization (Switzerland).
After review by a working group of the Economic and Social Council,
two of these NGOs--Human Rights in China and the Sunray Meditation
Society--were accredited.
Briefing Section IV HANDLING OF
CONFERENCE TRAVEL VISAS BY THE
CHINESE
============================================================== Letter
PROBLEMS IN VISA PROCESS
----------------------------------------------------------- Letter :18
(See figure in printed
edition.)
According to officials of the U.S. Mission to the UN, host countries
for UN conferences agree to give visas to accredited participants of
the conference. The officials believed that most applicants for
visas did receive them. However, delays in getting visas from China
caused much frustration for Conference and NGO Forum participants.
U.S. officials attributed at least some of the delays to the
overwhelming response to the meetings. Instead of the expected
10,000 to 15,000 visa applications, China received about 35,000.
China's requirement that persons traveling to the Conference or NGO
Forum have confirmed hotel reservations, in addition to documentation
of accreditation to the Conference or NGO Forum registration, before
they could apply for visas also contributed to delays in processing
visas. Hotel reservation confirmations were late in arriving, which
delayed participants' applications for visas. Some travelers
received them only a few days before they were to depart for Beijing,
and a few never received visas. Near the meetings' start dates, the
Chinese government made efforts to speed up visa delivery by
providing needed hotel confirmations via an overnight delivery
service.
OFFICIAL U.S. DELEGATION TO THE
UN FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON
WOMEN
=========================================================== Appendix I
DELEGATION LEADERSHIP
--------------------------------------------------------- Appendix I:1
The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton, Honorary Chair
The Honorable Madeleine K. Albright, Chair and Head; U.S.
Ambassador to
the UN
The Honorable Donna Shalala, Co-Chair; Secretary of Health and Human
Services
The Honorable Carol Browner, Co-Chair; Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency
The Honorable Timothy Wirth, Alternate Chair and Alternate Head;
Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs
The Honorable Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky, Deputy Chair; former
Member of Congress from Pennsylvania
The Honorable J. Veronica Biggins, Vice Chair; Executive Search
Consultant, Heidrick & Struggles; former Assistant to the President
and Director of Presidential Personnel, the White House
The Honorable Geraldine A. Ferraro, Vice Chair; U.S. Ambassador to
the
UN Human Rights Commission
The Honorable Thomas H. Kean, Vice Chair; President of Drew
University;
former Governor of New Jersey
GOVERNMENT DELEGATES
--------------------------------------------------------- Appendix I:2
Evan Bloom, Attorney Advisor, Department of State
Iris J. Burnett, Chief of Staff, U.S. Information Agency
Bonnie J. Campbell, Director, Violence Against Women, Department of
Justice
Mary Curtin, Human Rights Officer, Department of State
Nils Daulaire, Deputy Assistant Administrator, U.S. Agency for
International Development
Kathleen Hendrix, Special Assistant, Global Conference Secretariat,
Department of State
Judith Heumann, Assistant Secretary, Special Education and
Rehabilitative
Services, Department of Education
Melinda Kimble, Deputy Assistant Secretary, International
Organization
Affairs, Department of State
Sharon Kotok, Officer in Charge of International Women's Programs,
International Organization Affairs, Department of State
Sarah Kovner, Special Assistant to the Secretary, Department of
Health and
Human Services
Madeleine M. Kunin, Deputy Secretary, Department of Education
Ginger Lew, General Counsel, Department of Commerce
Ambassador Victor Marrero, U.S. Representative to the Economic and
Social Council of the UN
Ellen Marshall, Acting Senior Coordinator, Bureau of Population,
Refugees
and Migration, Department of State
Jean Nelson, Counselor to the Administrator, Environmental Protection
Agency
Karen Nussbaum, Director, Women's Bureau, Department of Labor
Jan Piercy, U.S. Executive Director, World Bank
Sally Shelton, Assistant Administrator, U.S. Agency for
International
Development
David Stewart, Assistant Legal Advisor, Department of State
Bisa Williams Manigault, Advisor, U.S. Mission to the UN
NONGOVERNMENT DELEGATES
--------------------------------------------------------- Appendix I:3
Laila Al-marayati, M.D., Obstetrician and Gynecologist; Assistant
Professor,
University of Southern California School of Medicine; Vice-Chair,
Muslim Women's League
Maria Antionetta Berriozabal, Lecturer/Consultant; Hispanas Unidas,
U.S.
Delegate to the Inter-American Commission on Women
Myrna Blyth, Editor-in-Chief and Publishing Director, Ladies' Home
Journal
Elizabeth J. Coleman, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief
Executive Officer, Maidenform, Inc.; Vice Chair, President's Export
Council
Lynn Cutler, Senior Vice President, The Kamber Group
Felice D. Gaer, Director, Jacob Blausteen Institute for the
Advancement of
Human Rights of the American Jewish Committee
Adrienne Germain, Vice President and Program Director, International
Women's Health Coalition
Arthenia L. Joyner, Attorney and Founding Partner, Stewart, Joyner,
Jordan-Holmes, Holmes, PA
Sister Dorothy Ann Kelly, O.S.U., President, College of New Rochelle
Dorothy V. Lamm, Columnist, Denver Post; Faculty Member, Estes Park
Institute
Marilyn Monahan, Secretary-Treasurer, National Education Association
San Juanita Munoz, Youth Delegate; Fellow, Carnegie Mellon
University,
Heinz School of Public Policy
Julia Taft, President and Chief Executive Officer, InterAction, The
American Council for Voluntary International Action
Linda Tarr-Whelan, President and Chief Executive Officer, Center for
Policy Alternatives
Virginia Trotter Betts, J.D., M.S.D., R.N., President, American
Nurses
Association
Susan Roosevelt Weld, Ph.D., Professor of Chinese and Japanese Law,
Boston College
Marie C. Wilson, President, Ms. Foundation for Women
FEDERAL AGENCY EXPENDITURES FOR
THE CONFERENCE, PREPARATORY
COMMISSIONS, AND THE NGO FORUM
========================================================== Appendix II
Agency Travel Nontravel Total
---------------------------------- ---------- ---------- ----------
USAID $1,153,959 $1,234,543 $2,388,502
\a
State 618,310\a 382,585 1,000,895
The White House 629,598\a, 83,888 713,486
b
USIA 85,466 154,131 239,597
Energy 42,715 107,255 149,970
EPA 35,526 95,248 130,774
Labor 19,388 44,445 63,833
Education 31,108 9,871 40,979
HHS 36,618 0 36,618
Commerce 12,966 20,000 32,966
Agriculture 9,451 0 9,451
Justice 6,370 0 6,370
Interior 450 3,889 4,339
Peace Corps 242 0 242
======================================================================
Total $2,682,167 $2,135,855 $4,818,022
----------------------------------------------------------------------
\a Agency expenditures include some cost estimates.
\b The White House expects to be reimbursed for travel costs incurred
by accompanying members of the press.
FEDERAL AGENCY EXPENDITURES FOR
THE CONFERENCE
========================================================= Appendix III
Agency Travel Nontravel Total
---------------------------------- ---------- ---------- ----------
State $362,666 $362,307 $724,973
The White House 629,598 83,888 713,486
USIA 61,110 154,131 215,241
EPA 8,808 45,000 53,808
Education 28,112 9,871 37,983
Energy 27,316 850 28,166
HHS 24,803 0 24,803
USAID 21,596 0 21,596
Justice 6,370 0 6,370
Labor 5,872 0 5,872
Commerce 5,851 0 5,851
Interior 0 0 0
Agriculture 0 0 0
Peace Corps 0 0 0
======================================================================
Total $1,182,102 $656,047 $1,838,149
----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL AGENCY EXPENDITURES FOR UN
AND U.S. PREPARATORY COMMISSIONS
AND REGIONAL NGO MEETINGS
========================================================== Appendix IV
Agency Travel Nontravel Total
---------------------------------- ---------- ---------- ----------
USAID $469,666 $1,234,543 $1,704,209
State 255,644 20,278 275,922
EPA 26,718 50,248 76,966
Labor 13,516 44,445 57,961
Commerce 7,115 20,000 27,115
USIA 24,356 0 24,356
HHS 11,815 0 11,815
Interior 450 3,889 4,339
Education 2,996 0 2,996
Peace Corps 242 0 242
Agriculture 0 0 0
Justice 0 0 0
Energy 0 0 0
The White House 0 0 0
======================================================================
Total $812,518 $1,373,403 $2,185,921
----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL AGENCY EXPENDITURES FOR
NGO FORUM
=========================================================== Appendix V
Agency Travel Nontravel Total
---------------------------------- ---------- ---------- ----------
USAID $662,697 $0 $662,697
Energy 15,399 106,405 121,804
Agriculture 9,451 0 9,451
======================================================================
Total $687,547 $106,405 $793,952
----------------------------------------------------------------------
FUNDING FOR USAID-ASSISTED
COUNTRIES
========================================================== Appendix VI
---------------------------------------------------------- ----------
Benin $71,741
Burundi 18,214
Cote de'Ivoire 5,659
Gambia 900
Ghana 53,505
Guinea 17,056
Malawi 36,670
Mali 11,207
Mozambique 3,735
Namibia 3,527
Niger 23,580
Senegal 35,311
Tanzania 10,773
Uganda 43,659
Regional Economic Development Office 10,786
Bangladesh 6,241
Egypt 36,088
Indonesia \a
Jordan 13,110
Lebanon 28,015
Mongolia 392
Morocco \a
Philippines 7,015
Tunisia 42,300
West Bank/Gaza 17,298
Yemen 28,499
Fiji 7,383
Korea 6,512
Thailand 8,662
Reg. Supp./Thailand 6,798
Reg. Office Thailand \a
Bolivia 5,455
Brazil 7,661
El Salvador 16,240
Honduras 17,142
Reg. Housing Office 2,360
Latin American 2,365
Bureau
Poland 10,247
Russia 1,800
======================================================================
Total $617,906
----------------------------------------------------------------------
\a Information was not provided in time for inclusion into this
report.
NONTRAVEL EXPENDITURES BY FEDERAL
AGENCIES
========================================================= Appendix VII
Category
-------------------------------------------------------------- ------
Representation $5,000
Office and administrative expenses
Lodging 5,088
Fax machine rentals and fax charges 13,342
Copier machine 10,958
Computer rental 6,560
Printers 1,525
Transport government property 5,000
Rental office space and media control 78,632
rooms
Phone lines, equipment, and installation 13,461
Radios and telephones 1,135
Office furniture 12,480
Office equipment rental 19,359
Automated data processing equipment 14,518
Paper supplies 4,830
Office supplies 1,313
Service and vehicle rentals 52,590
Field travel 9,800
Supplies and materials 6,931
Federal Express 381
Taxicab rides 1,330
Office supplies, registration fees 3,430
Boxes for wheelchair ramp 160
Accessible van 1,552
Equipment, supplies, and vehicles 83,888
Personnel and Related Costs
Overtime U.S. personnel 13,896
Temporary base pay for Americans 260
Temporary base pay for Americans for First Lady 1,260
Salary (Deputy Chair) 65,141
Contract Salary 25,507
Salary 14,857
Labor Service 3,440
Assistant for Conference Secretariat 4,500
Conference assistants 8,813
Language interpreter in Beijing 1,400
State Department overtime pay 102
Contract services for attendant 1,105
Communications
Internet access 150
Broadcasting WORLDNET
Production 17,175
Translation 5,375
Travel 10,143
Transmission 65,000
Publications
Media guidebook printing & shipping 8,330
Media guidebook development and 15,600
design
Internet website development activities 4,057
Newsletter publications 9,445
Printing 9,989
Exhibit materials 850
Program Planning
Department of Commerce
Cooperative agreement with Department of Labor 20,000
Preparatory meeting costs 35,000
Oakland Conference (meeting rooms 17,248
& equipment)
Interagency agreement 8,000
National Council of Negro Women 40,000
(Grant)
Women's Environmental Development 30,000
Organization (Grant)
Research 21,000
American Women in Science 65,405
Oak Ridge National Laboratory 20,000
NGO Forum Planning Committee 150,00
0
U.N, Central Trust Fund 300,00
0
UN (Grant) 25,000
Technical support 400,00
0
InterAction (Grant) 150,00
0
PVO preparatory activities 140,00
0
Official NGO reports 4,300
Peruvian NGO workshops 40,000
NGO workshops 15,457
Administrative expenses 6,000
Workshops 3,786
National Museum of Women In the Arts 5,000
(Grant)
======================================================================
Total $2,135
,855
----------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. NGOS ACCREDITED FOR
PARTICIPATION IN THE UN FOURTH
WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN
======================================================== Appendix VIII
3HO Foundation
8th Day Center For Justice
9 TO 5, National Association of Working Women
Academic Council on the United Nations System
Academy for Educational Development
Accion International
Adventist Development & Relief Agency (ADRA International)
Adventures in Health, Education and Agricultural Development (AHEAD,
Inc.)
Advocates for Youth
African Women's Organization
African-American Institute, The
Alan Guttmacher Institute
Alberto Vollmer Foundation, Inc.
All Pakistan Women's Association
America 21, Family Values for the 21st Century
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association of Jurists
American Association of Retired Persons
American Association of University Women
American Bar Association
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
American Council for Voluntary International Action (InterAction)
American Family Therapy Academy
American Forum for Global Education
American Friends Service Committee, Inc.
American Jewish Committee, The
American Jewish World Service, Inc.
American Life League, Inc.
American Medical Women's Association
American Planning Association
American Public Health Association
American Society of International Law
American Society of Women Accountants
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Anglican Consultative Council
Appalachian Women's Guild
Appropriate Technology International
Arab Women Solidarity Association
Armenian International Women's Association
Armenian Relief Society, Inc.
Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in
America, Radcliffe College
Asia Foundation, The
Asian & Pacific Islanders for Reproductive Health
Asian Law Caucus, Inc.
Asociaci�n Para la Educaci�n Teol�gica Hispana (Association for
Hispanic Theological Education)
Association for Experiential Education
Association for Women in Development - American University
Association for Women in Mathematics
Association for Women in Science
Association for World Education
Association Internationale de Droit Penal
Association of the Bar of the City of New York, The
Assumption College/Women's Studies
AVSC International
Ayuda
B'nai B'rith Women
Bar Association of San Francisco, The
Black Women's Agenda, Inc.
Boston Women's Health Book Collective, Inc.
Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organization
California Women Lawyers
Campaign for the Earth Foundation
Care USA
Caritas-A Fund of the TIDES Foundation
Carter Center, The
Catholics for a Free Choice
Center for Constitutional Rights
Center for Development of International Law
Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
Center for International Strategy, Technology & Policy
Center for Justice and International Law
Center for Policy Alternatives
Center for Population and Family Health/Prevention of Maternal
Mortality
Program
Center for Psychology and Social Change
Center for Reproductive Law and Policy, The
Center for Research on Women with Disabilities/Baylor College of
Medicine
Center for the Study of the Global South
Center for the Study of Women and Society
Center for Women's Global Leadership
Center of Concern
Centre for Development and Population Activities
Centre for International Cooperation
Centre for Women, the Earth, the Divine, The
Child Health Foundation
Child Hope
Children's Express Foundation
Children's Fund for Southern Africa, Inc.
Chinese Immigrants Service, Inc.
Chinese Women's Association of America
Christian Brothers University
Christian Children's Fund
Church Women United
Church World Service and Witness
Citizens Network, The
Coalition Against Trafficking in Women
Coalition on Women and Religion/Church Council of Greater Seattle
Commission of the Churches on International Affairs
Committee of 200, The
Commonweal
Communication for Change, Inc.
Communications Coordination Committee for the United Nations
Concerned Women for America
Conference of Nongovernmental Organizations
Congregations of Saint Joseph
Congressional Human Rights Foundation
Connective Ministries
Conservation International
Consultation on Church Union
Consultative Group on Biological Diversity
Cooperative Housing Foundation
Coordinating Board of Jewish Organizations
Coordination in Development, Inc. (CODEL)
Council of World Organizations Concerned About AIDS
Council on Peace Research in History
Counterpart Foundation
Couple to Couple League International, Inc.
Cousteau Society
Covington Community Center
Creative Associates International, Inc.
Defence for Children International
Development Group for Alternative Policies, The (The Development GAP)
Dialogue on Diversity, Inc.
Dimock Community Health Center
Dr. Med. Letten F. Saugstad Fund
Eagle Forum
Earth Island Institute
Earthways Projects of Earth Trust Foundation
Ecumenical Coalition on Women and Society (Institute on Religion and
Democracy)
Elliot Institute for Social Sciences Research
Endometriosis Association
Environmental and Energy Study Institute
Environmental Defense Fund
Equality Now
Family Care International, Inc.
Family Health International
Family Life Council, Inc.
Family of the Americas Foundation, Inc.
Family Research Council
Family Therapy Practice Center
Family Violence Prevention Fund
Federally Employed Women, Inc.
Feminist Majority Foundation, The
Feminist Press
Feministas en Marcha
FLARE (Family, Life, America, Responsible Education)
Focus on the Family
Food for the Hungry International
Ford Foundation, The
Foundation for a Compassionate Society
Foundation for Global Community
Franciscan Health System
Franciscans International, Inc.
Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights
Fraternite Notre Dame, Inc.
Freedom Forum
Freedom From Hunger
Freedom House
Friedrich Ebert Foundation
Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Pennsylvania Commission for Women
Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quaker United Nations
Office)
Friendship Ambassadors Foundation
General Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Church
General Federation of Women's Clubs
Girls Incorporated
Girls' International Forum for Tomorrow
Global Alliance for Women's Health
Global Coalition for Africa
Global Education Associates
Global Exchange
Global Focus: National Museum of Women in the Arts
Global Fund for Women, The
GlobaLearn
Grassroots Organizations Operating Together in Sisterhood
Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Council
Gullah Heritage Society
Haitian American Women Advocacy Network, Inc.
Harlem Women's Committee/New Future Foundation, Inc.
Harvard Institute for International Development/MIT Women in
Development Group
Health for Humanity
Heifer Project International
Helen Keller International
Hmong National Development, Inc.
Human Lactation Center, Ltd., The
Human Rights Advocates
Human Rights in China
Human Rights Watch
Hunger Project
Indigenous Women's Network
Indigenous World Association
Institute for Development Training
Institute for Global Security Studies
Institute for Reproductive Health
Institute for Urban Research/Morgan State University
Institute for Women's Policy Research
Institute for Women, Law and Development
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
Inter-American Parliamentary Group on Population and Development
International Association Against Torture
International Association for Advancement, Inc.
International Association for Feminist Economics
International Association of Educators for World Peace
International Association of Women Judges & International Women
Judges
Foundation
International Catholic Child Bureau, Incorporated
International Center for Research on Women
International Coalition on Women and Credit
International Confederation of Christian Family Movements
International Organization of Indigenous Resource Development
International Cross-cultural Black Women's Studies Institute
International Educational Development/Humanitarian Law Project
International Federation for the Protection of the Rights of Ethnic,
Religious, Linguistic and Others
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission
International Health Awareness Network
International Human Rights Internship Program
International Human Rights Law group
International Immigrants Foundation
International Indian Treaty Council
International Institute for Human Resources Development in Health and
Human Services
International Institute of Rural Reconstruction
International Lactation Consultant Association
International League for Human Rights
International Mahavir Jain Mission
International Network of Women of Color in Preparation for the Fourth
World Conference on Women
International Planned Parenthood Federation/Western Hemisphere Region
International Political Science Association
International Projects Assistance Services
International Public Policy Institute
International Reproductive Rights Research Action Group
International Society for Community Development
International Studies and Programs
International Studies Association
International Synergy Institute
International Women's Anthropology Conference
International Women's Democracy Center
International Women's Health Coalition
International Women's Human Rights Law Clinic
International Women's Human Rights Project of the Center for Law &
Public Policy/St. John's University School of Law
International Women's Media Foundation
International Women's Rights Action Watch
International Women's Tribune Center
International Women's Writing Guild
IPAS (International Projects Assistance Services)
Iranian Women's Studies Foundation (Bonyad E Pajuhesh-haye Zanane
Iran)
Islamic African Relief Agency
John Snow, Inc. Research & Training Institute
Johns Hopkins Program for International Education in Reproductive
Health
Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, Inc.
Katalysis North/South Development Partnership
Korean American Coalition on Jungshindae, Inc.
La Leche League International
Laubach Literacy International
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Leadership America
Leadership Conference for U.S. Dominican Religious
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
League of Women Voters of the United States
Legion of Good Will
Life Choices, Inc.
Loretto Community
MacArthur Foundation (The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur
Foundation)
Madre, Inc.
Magee Womencare International
Majority Peoples' Fund for the 21st Century
Margaret Sanger Center, International Planned Parenthood of New York
Marian College
Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic, Inc.
Massachusetts Citizens for Life, Inc.
Mathematical Association of America
Mautner Project for Lesbians With Cancer, The
Michigan State University (International Studies Program)
Midwives Alliance of North America
Mills College (Women's Leadership Institute)
Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights
Mira Med Institute
Moa Foundation
Mobility International U.S.A.
Moral Re-armament, Inc.
Mothers and Others for a Livable Planet
Mothers at Home
Ms. Foundation for Women
Multicultural Family and Youth Foundation
Muslim Women's League
Muslim World League
N.C. Council for Women
Na'amat USA, The Women's Labour Zionist Organization of America, Inc.
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League
National Asian Women's Health Organization
National Association of Human Rights Workers
National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's
Clubs, Inc.
National Association of Women Business Owners
National Association of Women Lawyers
National Audubon Society
National Bar Association/Women's Division and the International Law
Section
National Black Women's Health Project, Inc.
National Breast Cancer Coalition, The
National Center on Women and Family Law, Inc.
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
National Coalition of 100 Black Women
National Committee for Democratic Iran
National Committee on the United Nations Convention on the
Elimination
of Discrimination Against Women
National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, Inc.
National Congress of Neighborhood Women
National Council for International Health
National Council for International Health (DC)
National Council for Research on Women
National Council of Jewish Women
National Council of Negro Women
National Council of Women of the United States, Inc.
National Council on Family Relations
National Family Farm Coalition
National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association
National Federation of Press Women
National Foundation for Women Business Owners
National Hispanic Council on Aging
National Institute for Leadership Development
National Institute of Womanhood, The
National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council
National Latina Health Organization
National Lawyers Guild
National Network of Women's Funds
National Organization for Women, Inc.
National Organization of Arab-American Women, Inc.
National Organization of Italian American Women
National Political Congress of Black Women (National Office)
National Resource Center on Domestic Violence/Pennsylvania Coalition
Against Domestic Violence
National Right to Life/Educational Trust Fund
National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States
National Wildlife Federation
National Women and HIV/AIDS Project, Inc.
National Women's Conference Center
National Women's Economic Alliance
National Women's Law Center1
National Women's Political Caucus
National Women's Studies Association
Native American Community Board
Natural Resources Defense Council
Network of East-West Women
Network of Light
New Humanity
North America Taiwanese Women's Association
North-South Center
Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, The
Office of Higher Education/American Council on Education
Older Women's League
One World Now, Inc.
Opportunities Industrialization Centers International, Inc.
Organizing Committee/People's Decade of Human Rights Education
Oxfam America
Pacific Rim Institute for Development and Education (PRIDE)
PACT (Private Agencies Collaborating Together) Pan Pacific &
Southeast Asia Women's Association International
Parents United for Child Care
Park Ridge Center
Parliamentarians for Global Action
Partners in Health Protection, Inc.
Partners of the Americas
Pathfinder International
Pathways to Peace
Peace Action
Peace History Society (formerly Council on Peace Research in History)
Peace Links, Inc.
Peacepower Foundation
People-Centered Development Forum
Philadelphia Congress of the National Political Congress of Black
Women
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
Philippine American Foundation
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Pittsburgh Beijing '95 and Beyond
Plan International
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Plenty
Plutonium Free Future Women's Network
Population Action International
Population Communications
Population Communications International
Population Institute
Population Reference Bureau, Inc.
Population Resource Center
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Prison Fellowship International
Pro Women (Programs for Women)
Project Kesher
Proutist Universal, Inc.
Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Religious Consultation on Population, Reproductive Health and Ethics
Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Research Action Information Network for Bodily Integrity of Women
Results, Inc.
Ribbon International
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights
Rockford Institute Center on the Family in America, The
Rural Development Leadership Network
Rutherford Institute, The
Sacramento Women's Network of the CSUS Multi-Cultural Center
San Diego Economic Conversion Council
San Diego State University/International Institute for Human
Resources
Development
Save the Children Foundation
Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women and Youth, National Conferences
for
Catholic Bishops
Seep Network, Inc.
Servas International (U.S.)
Shaler Adams Foundation
Sigma Delta Epsilon Graduate Women in Science, Inc.
Sisterhood Is Global Institute
Sisterlove, Inc.
Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace
Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues
Sociologists for Women in Society
Solar Cookers International
Southwest Community Resources, Inc.
Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice
St. Joan's International Alliance
Synergos Institute, The
Sunray Meditation Society
Talking Leaves Deep Ecology Education Project
Tam Cam Foundation, Inc.
Task Force for Child Survival and Development, The
Temple of Understanding
Temple University (Commonwealth)
Tinker Institute on International Law & Organizations
Tonantzin Land Institute
Trickle Up Program
True Majority, Inc., The
U & O Development Corporation, The
UCC Office for Church in Society
Union of Arab Lawyers
Unitarian Universalist Association
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
United Church of Christ (United Church Board for Ministries and
United
Church of Christ Coordinating Committee)
United Methodist Church/General Board of Church and Society
United Methodist Office, United Nations Association of USA
United Nations Association of San Diego
United Nations Association of USA
United Neighborhood Centres of America, Inc.
United States Catholic Conference
United States Committee for UNICEF
United States Committee for UNIFEM
Universal Institute, Inc./Women of Peace
University of Global Education
U.S.-China People's Friendship Association
Utah Association of Women
Value of Life Committee, Inc.
Vietnamese Women Overseas Association
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Wakefield Women's Institute
Wellstart International
Western Consortium for Public Health (aka Pacific Institute for
Women's
Health)
Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development-Women's
Leadership Program
Wittenberg Center for Alternative Resources, Inc., The
Woman's National Democratic Club-Educational Foundation
Women Empowering Women of Indian Nations
Women for Faith and Family
Women for International Peace and Arbitration
Women for Meaningful Summits
Women in Film (Los Angeles)
Women in International Security
Women of All Colors
Women of Color Resource Center
Women of Reform Judaism, The Federation of Temple Sisterhoods
Women of the World
Women of Vision
Women Organized Resources for Liberia's Development, Inc. (WORLD,
Inc.)
Women Refugees Project at Cambridge and Somerville Legal
Services/Harvard Immigration and Refugee Program
Women's Action for New Directions, Inc.
Women's Affairs Committee of U.S.-Shanghai Association for Economic
and Technological Exchange
Women's American ORT (Organization for Rehabilitation Through
Training)
Women's Caucus, International AIDS Society (New York State
Psychiatric
Institute/HIV Center for Clinic & Behavioural Studies)
Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children
Women's Council of Dallas County
Women's Council of the University of Missouri-Kansas City
Women's Environment and Development Organization
Women's Federation for World Peace, International
Women's Freedom Network
Women's Information Network
Women's Initiative for Self Employment
Women's International Zionist Organization
Women's Leadership Project
Women's League for Conservative Judaism
Women's Research and Education Fund, Inc., of The National
Association
of Commissions for Women
Women's Sports Foundation
Women's Studies Center
Women's World (World Organization for Rights, Literature and
Development)
Women's World Banking
Women, Men and Media
World Alliance of Reformed Churches
World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation--U.S. Branch
World Association of Former United Nations Interns and Fellows, Inc.
World Conference on Religion and Peace
World Council for Curriculum and Instruction
World Council of Credit Unions
World Federalist Association
World Federalist Movement
World Federation for Mental Health
World Federation of Methodist Women
World Federation of Public Health Associations
World Hunger Year
World Information Transfer
World Jewish Congress
World Muslim Congress
World Organization for the Family
World ORT Union
World Population Society
World Press Freedom Committee
World Share, Inc.
World Sustainable Agriculture Association
World Union for Progressive Judaism
World Vision International
Worldwide Network (Women in Development and Environment)
YWCA of USA
Zero Population Growth
Zigen Fund, The
Zonta International
Source: Conference Secretariat, the UN Fourth World Conference on
Women.
U.S. NGOS NOT ACCREDITED FOR
PARTICIPATION IN THE UN FOURTH
WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN
========================================================== Appendix IX
The Secretariat did not recommend 65 U.S. NGOs for accreditation.
Four U.S. NGOs recommended by the Secretariat were not accredited
after their accreditation was challenged by a particular country.
Following are the Secretariat's reasons for not recommending NGOs:
(1) The organization was strictly local or provided insufficient
evidence to demonstrate that it had national or international
membership/activities.
(2) The primary objective and/or purpose of the organization was
either not clearly relevant or seemed to be outside the substantive
scope of the Conference and its preparatory process.
(3) Not enough information was supplied to enable the Secretariat to
complete its review.
(4) The group was not a well-established, bona fide nongovernmental
organization and/or did not provide information to demonstrate that
it was an incorporated organization in the country in which it
maintained its headquarters.
In the following list we name the 69 U.S. NGOs that were not
accredited to the UN Fourth World Conference on Women. After each
name, we list the reasons for nonaccreditation. We express these
reasons by listing either the numbers that correspond to the reasons
cited above or the name of the country that objected to an NGO's
accreditation.
Akosua Visions (1) (3)
American Indian Law Alliance (3)
Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team (India)
Asian Pacific Environmental Network (2) (3)
Association of Iranian Women USA (Iran)
Atlantic County Advisory Commission on Women (1) (3)
Behavioral Science Department, Raymond Walters College/
University of Cincinnati (1) (3)
Black Americans for Life (1) (3)
California Displaced Homemakers Network (1) (3)
Carondelet Lifecare Ministries (1) (3)
Catholic Campaign for America, The (2) (3)
Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights (2) (3)
Center for Experiential Learning, The (2) (3)
Center for Natural and Traditional Medicines (2) (3)
Centre for Women's and Children's Policy Research and Development
(1) (4) (3)
Clergywomen's Interfaith Institute in the Berkshires (1) (3)
Clergywomen's Interfaith Institute (1) (3)
Coalition of Under-Represented Women (1) (3)
Community College of Denver (1) (3)
Conrad Program (3)
Demographic & Health Surveys Program, Macro International, Inc. (4)
(3)
Diana Foundation, The (1) (3)
Fielding Institute, The (1) (2) (3)
Fund for New Priorities in America (2) (3)
Getting It Gazette (3)
Global Black Women's Network (1) (4) (3)
Global Interactive Marketing, Ltd. (Formerly Nu-Graphic Design A New
York Corp.) (1) (4) (3)
Good Karma, Inc. (2) (3)
Highlander Research and Education Center (3)
Institute for Environmental Studies/University of Wisconsin-Madison
(1)
International Campaign for Tibet (2)
International Committee of Lawyers for Tibet (China)
International Leadership Institute (4) (3)
Islamic Society of North America (3)
John Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs (1) (2) (3)
Kentucky Commission on Human Rights (1) (3)
Lorain County Community College--Women's Link (1) (3)
Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas (1) (3)
Minnesota International Center (1) (3)
Missouri Women's Council (1) (3)
National Coalition Building Institute (2) (3)
National Committee of Women for Democratic Iran (Iran)
National League of Cities (2) (3)
National Organization of Catholic Home Educators (2) (3)
Neighborhood Community Development Center of Urban Mission Min.
Cor. (1) (3)
North Shore Women's Newspaper (1) (4) (3)
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and Its Committee on
Women and Ireland (1) (3)
Northern New Jersey Chinese Association (1) (3)
Pacific and Asian American Center for Theology and Strategies (2) (3)
Peace Initiatives (2) (3)
Reprotect LC (4) (3)
Roots International--Rebirth of Old Time Truths and Systems (2) (3)
Samhati (1) (3)
Social Innovations, Inc. (4) (3)
Society for Calligraphy (2)
Southerners for Economic Justice (1) (3)
Southwest Organizing Project (A Project of Southwest Community
Resources, Inc.) (1) (3)
Tibetan Rights Campaign (China)
The Trusteeship (1) (3)
United University Professions (1) (3)
Vermont-National Education Association (1) (3)
Very Special Arts, South Carolina (1) (3)
Way of the Cross Baptist Church Ministries, The (2) (3)
Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ (1) (3)
Womanspace in Great Neck (1) (3)
Women's Group, Inc. (4) (3)
Women's Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program (1) (3)
Women's Way (1) (3)
World League for Freedom and Democracy (2) (3)
U.S. NGO VIEWS ON UN
ACCREDITATION PROCESS AND ACCESS
TO CONFERENCE
=========================================================== Appendix X
We talked to 28 U.S. NGOs that applied for accreditation to the
Conference--23 that were accredited to attended the Conference and 5
that were not accredited.\1 Of the accredited NGOs, 13 had prior UN
conference and forum experience and were able to compare their
experience in China with other conferences. Their views are
summarized below.
--------------------
\1 We attempted to talk with 48 NGOs selected from UN lists of
accredited and nonaccredited NGOs. We were able to discuss issues
with 28.
U.S. NGO OPINIONS ON THE
FAIRNESS AND TRANSPARENCY OF
THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS MIXED
--------------------------------------------------------- Appendix X:1
The UN instructed the Conference Secretariat to notify NGOs that had
not been accredited of the status of their applications and to accept
additional supporting information. Of the 23 accredited NGOs we
interviewed, 16 said that both the accreditation process was fair and
reasons for decisions clear, while 7 said they did not understand the
process by which the decisions were made. Sixteen NGOs we spoke with
were accredited on the basis of their initial applications, while 6
said they were asked for additional information to support their
applications before being recommended for accreditation. Information
in that regard could not be obtained for the remaining NGO.
Of the five NGOs we interviewed that were not recommended for
accreditation or were recommended but not granted accreditation, one
believed that the process was fair and reasons for decisions were
clear. The other four nonaccredited NGOs asserted that the
decision-making process was not transparent and questioned its
fairness. Three NGOs not accredited stated that they were never
notified of the status of their applications or the reasons for
nonaccreditation. Two of the five nonaccredited NGOs believed that
they were not accredited because of political reasons. Two others
said their organizations were not given an opportunity to submit
additional information or were not informed of the opportunity to
submit more information in time to collect the necessary
documentation.
DISTANCE BETWEEN CONFERENCE AND
FORUM CITED AS MAJOR OBSTACLE
--------------------------------------------------------- Appendix X:2
The site of the NGO meetings that paralleled those of UN conferences
are negotiated by the NGO organizing committees, completely separate
from agreements between the UN and the host country. An agreement to
hold the NGO Forum in Huairou, China, was reached in June 1995 after
China retracted its offer of the Beijing Workers' Sports Center as
the NGO meeting site.
The distance between the two sites--53 kilometers--was cited as the
primary obstacle to accessibility of the Conference. Ten of the NGOs
who attended the Conference and Forum said that the distance between
the meeting sites in Beijing and Huairou obstructed interchange
between NGOs and Conference official delegations. The Chinese
provided buses and a dedicated road to facilitate movement between
the two sites, but five NGO representatives complained that the buses
were crowded and the schedules were not always convenient.
Electronic communications that linked the two meetings were
available.
Opinions also varied about the adequacy of the facilities for the NGO
Forum. Ten NGOs that commented on the facilities found them
adequate, whereas eight noted the lack of handicapped access and
muddy conditions of the meeting areas to support their assessment
that facilities were inadequate. NGOs with Taiwan/Tibet interests
also reported acts of intimidation by Chinese authorities.
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