OSMTH Seats on Non-Governmental Organisation Committees

OSMTH is a Full Member Association of the Conference of NGOs in Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO).

OSMTH delegates sit as members of the following NGO Committees, that are organised by CoNGO:

Education, Learning and Literacy

The Education, Learning and Literacy NGO Committee (New York) highlights three focuses of work: education for global citizenship (engaging the multilateral system and impacting policy and issue formulation and action); learning for civic engagement (training and forming effective, relevant, and accountable NGO and Civil Society Organisation leaders); and literacy for empowerment.

OSMTH was instrumental in providing two committee members, who undertook the recent reorganisation and renewal of this NGO Committee in the period up to 2019.

The Family

The family is the basic building block of society. The mission of the UN NGO Committee on the Family (New York) is to ensure the family’s preservation and well-being.

OSMTH provides a member of the executive board of this NGO Committee.

Human Rights

The purpose of the NGO Committee on Human Rights (New York) is to encourage the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the United Nations Charter.

Intergenerational Solidarity

The mission of the NGO Committee on Intergenerational Solidarity (New York) is to enjoin NGOs to promote solidarity between generations in families, communities, and nations for the achievement of a society for all ages, through education and advocacy of policies affecting economic, social, and political participation and well-being, in accordance with the principles of the UN, by working with UN member states, the UN Secretariat, and wider civil society.

OSMTH was an inaugural member of this NGO Committee at its formation in 2018.

Language & Languages

The NGO Committee on Language and Languages (New York) will cover both language use at the UN (sexist language, the language of hate, the language of peace, human rights language) and the use of languages at the UN (provision of translation and interpretation, documentation, outreach to speakers of other languages, parity among languages, protection, and promotion of indigenous languages).

This NGO Committee is currently in the process of formation, and OSMTH has been invited to be an inaugural member.

Spirituality, Values, and Global Concerns

The NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values, and Global Concerns (New York) envisions a global culture of peace based on justice, solidarity, inclusiveness, shared responsibility, harmony, cooperation, compassion, love, wisdom, goodwill, and reverence for the sacredness of all life through active peaceful engagement.

OSMTH provides a member of the executive council of this NGO Committee.

Status of Women

The NGO Committee on the Status of Women (New York) supports the work of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and UN Women. By playing an active role in the UN Community, the Committee advocates for women’s rights and the advancement of women and girls worldwide.

Sustainable Development

The purpose of the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development (New York) is to monitor and influence the implementation of the commitments and agreements adopted by the United Nations that pertain to sustainable development as defined by the UN Conference on Environment and Development, the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, the Millennium Development Goals, the Sustainable Development Goals, Rio+20 and the Post-2015 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

An OSMTH delegate also sits as a member of the following separate NGO Committee:

Religious NGOs

The Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations (New York) is composed of the representatives of national and international organizations which define their work as religious, spiritual, or ethical in nature and are accredited to the United Nations.

Oral and Written Statements/

OSMTH also joins with the Conference of NGOs in Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO), and with other CoNGO member organisations, to submit Oral and Written Statements to UN bodies which focus on topics covered by OSMTH’s international advocacy and policy positions.

Such Statements have included the following topics:

• Geneva – 26 February 2010: Promotion and Protection of all Human Rights – Civil, Political, Social, Economic and Cultural Rights, including the Right to Development.
• New York – 2 March 2011: Gender Equality: Women’s Access to Affordable Water, Food and Renewable Energy Resources
• Geneva – 15 August 2015: Establishing a Trusted Roadmap for Peace in Jerusalem
• Vienna – 7 October 2015: Durable Solutions for Refugees from current Conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria.