Were requirements for NGOs different in 1991?
Some Jehovah's Witnesses have said that the criteria for becoming an NGO may
have been different when the Watchtower applied for NGO status in 1991. I
will try and explain what the situation would have been back in 1991/1992 when
the Watchtower applied for associate status.
The criteria used by DPI for accrediting NGOs was officially listed in the
Resolutions passed in 1968 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
For the record, Article 71 of the United Nations Charter puts the ECOSOC
committee in charge of NGOs.
The ECOSOC resolution 1297 of 27 May 1968 authorized formal NGO association with
DPI. The URL link is as follows:
http://www.un.org/partners/civil_society/docs/ngo1297.htm#association
Note what paragraph 6 in Resolution 1297 states:
6. Recommends that the Secretary-General bear in mind the letter and spirit of
Council resolution 1296 (XLIV) governing consultative status, in associating
international and national non-governmental organizations with the Office of
Public Information;
For the record, Office of Public Information equals Department of Public
Information (or DPI).
Paragraph 6 in Resolution 1297 means that all NGOs who want to associate with
DPI must meet "the letter and spirit of Council resolution 1296 (XLIV)
governing consultative status".
So what does Resolution 1296 (XLIV) say?
Please refer to the following URL to see ECOSOC committee Resolution 1296 that
was issued in 1967:
http://www.globalpolicy.org/ngos/ngo-un/info/res-1296.htm