UN Elections Threaten to Undermine Voice of Civil Society
By [Your Name], International Editor
New York – United Nations elections next month for the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are raising concerns that countries actively hostile to civil society will further consolidate control over which groups gain access to the world body. The committee, established in 1946, acts as a gatekeeper, accrediting NGOs that wish to engage with the UN.
The elections, scheduled for April, will determine the 19 members of the committee. At a time when governments globally are increasingly restricting the work of non-governmental organizations – through defunding, blocking foreign grants, and even criminalization – the stakes are particularly high.
Currently, a majority of the committee’s seats are held by governments with poor records on civil society freedoms, effectively turning the body into what critics describe as an “anti-NGO committee.” Instead of facilitating engagement, the committee has increasingly blocked applications, particularly those from human rights organizations.
The most competitive race so far is for the two seats allocated to the Central and Eastern Europe Group. Belarus, where civil society has been effectively outlawed and human rights defenders are prosecuted, is competing with Estonia and Ukraine. Observers say Belarus’s candidacy should be rejected outright.
Elsewhere, the picture is less encouraging. All four candidates for the Asia-Pacific Group – Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, India, and China – have documented histories of restricting civil society. Authorities in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and India routinely silence activists and human rights workers, sometimes through counterterrorism laws. China not only prevents groups from operating domestically but has also, according to reports, retaliated against Chinese activists involved in UN forums.
In the Western Group, Israel, Türkiye, and the United States – under the Trump administration – have all demonstrated hostility towards civil society groups. The United Kingdom, while publicly stating its commitment to civil society participation, has recently enacted legislation restricting protest and criminalizing certain forms of activism, including support for Palestinian rights and climate action.
The Latin America and Caribbean Group sees Cuba, Nicaragua, and Peru vying for a seat. Cuba suppresses dissent and detains critics, Nicaragua has closed thousands of organizations, and Peru recently approved legislation further restricting civil society. The African Group has yet to announce its candidates.
The UK has called for reforms to the NGO committee, and advocates say a crucial first step would be ensuring that governments supportive of civil society engagement outnumber those that are hostile. This would require stronger candidates and genuinely competitive elections to prevent countries like Belarus from gaining a seat.
The outcome of these elections will have a significant impact on the ability of civil society organizations to contribute to the UN’s work and advocate for critical issues on the global stage.
