International: Over 80 civil society organisations call for fair elections at UN Committee
27 February 2026: Today, on World NGO Day, PEN International celebrates the vital contributions of NGOs across the globe. From defending the right to freedom of expression to responding to humanitarian crises, civil society organisations play an essential role in building peaceful and inclusive societies.
For NGOs to share their expertise at the United Nations (UN), they must obtain ECOSOC consultative status, granted through the UN Committee on NGOs.
As an ECOSOC-accredited organisation, PEN International recognises the crucial role that civil society plays in advancing the UN’s founding principles as expressed in the UN Charter, and the role that the Committee plays as an effective gatekeeper for NGO participation at the UN. The member States sitting on this Committee directly shape which civil society organisations can engage with the UN system. For these reasons and more, competitive elections are essential.
As elections to this Committee approach, we join the International Service for Human Rights and NGOs from around the world calling on ECOSOC Member States to vote for candidates that support civil society access and participation at the UN.
The full joint letter can be found below:
To the Members of the regional groups of ECOSOC Member States
Cc: President of ECOSOC, President of the General Assembly, President of the Human Rights Council, UN Secretary-General.
We, the undersigned civil society organisations, write to you ahead of the April 2026 elections to the UN ECOSOC Committee on Non-Governmental Organisations (Committee on NGOs) to urge your regional group to demonstrate leadership in advancing civil society participation at the United Nations by fielding more candidates than the number of available seats.
The Committee on NGOs plays a pivotal role in determining which civil society organisations can obtain ECOSOC consultative status, which in turn enables these organisations to meaningfully engage with the work of the UN as a whole.
Unfortunately, in the upcoming election cycle, most regional slates are already closed or risk being non-competitive, meaning that candidate States will be elected without providing Member States with a genuine choice. Only one regional slate currently offers competition (the Eastern European group), underscoring a significant democratic deficit in this process.
Competitive elections matter because:
They foster accountability. When regional groups present more candidates than seats, Member States and civil society can engage meaningfully with prospective members, evaluate their records, and vote for the States that are most committed to supporting civic space and NGO participation at the UN.
They strengthen the legitimacy and integrity of the Committee on NGOs. A competitive field enhances confidence that elected members reflect the shared commitment of the UN Charter to inclusiveness, transparency, and principled engagement with civil society.
They open doors for diverse voices and expertise. Civil society organisations around the world provide indispensable insights on human rights, sustainable development, health, climate, and peace. A Committee on NGOs that is representative and committed to civil society access is essential to ensure that these voices are heard.
We therefore call on your regional group to:
Encourage additional Member States with strong records of supporting civil society to stand for the election so that the number of candidates exceeds the number of seats available;
Ensure that candidacies are confirmed and publicly announced in sufficient time before March 2026, allowing Member States and civil society to assess and engage with them; and
Commit to promoting a transparent, participatory and competitive election process for the Committee on NGOs.
By stepping forward with a competitive slate, your regional group can reinforce the principle that civil society access and participation are essential to a strong, effective multilateral system and help to safeguard the UN’s commitment to inclusive, informed decision-making.
We thank you for your attention and remain ready to support constructive engagement throughout this electoral process.
Respectfully,
List of signatories NGOs
In Africa:
Africa Development Interchange Network (ADIN)
Amnesty International Kenya
Association pour le Respect du Droit des Populations Autochtones du Développement Durable et du Droit de l’Homme (ARPA2DH)
Centre pour l’Information Environnementale et le Développement Durable
Champions for Nature Conservation of Liberia
Coalition Ivoirienne des Défenseurs des Droits Humains (CIDDH)
Coalition of Somali Human Rights Defenders (CSHRD)
Disability Peoples Forum Uganda
Dunia Salama Foundation
Emonyo Yefwe International
Friends with Environment in Development
Humanitaire Plus
JOINT: Liga de ONGs em Moçambique
Kutakesa
Ligue Burundaise des Droits de l’Homme ITEKA
Network of the Independent Commission for Human Rights in North Africa (CIDH AFRICA)
NGO: Amis des Etrangers au Togo (ADET)
Nigerian Women Agro Allied Farmers Association
Observatoire Africain des Droits de l’Homme, de l’Environnement et des Ressources Naturelles (OADHER-RDC)
One 4 Africa
Pastoralist Women for Livelihood and Social Support (PWLS)
Savie ASBL NGO LGBTQ DRC
Silver Lining for the Needy Initiative (SLNI)
Tanzania Child Welfare (TCW)
The Kesho Trust
The Lesbian and Gay Association of Liberia (LEGAL-Liberia)
Underprivileged Welfare Support Development Association
In Asia Pacific:
Aine Sohayata Kendro Asok Foundation
Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM)
Blue Diamond Society
Cisadane Resik Indonesia
Empower India
Human Rights Development Centre
ILGA Asia
International Centre for Ethnic Studies
Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law (KIBHR)
Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organization in Malaysia (MERHROM)
Pusat Komas
Salam for Democracy and Human Rights
In Eastern Europe:
Estonian Institute of Human Rights
In Latin America and the Caribbean:
AKAHATA A.C.
Aqualtune Lab
Casa Marielle Franco Brasil
Clima21
Coalizão Negra por Direitos
Corporacion Ilex Accion Juridica
Instituto Coletivo Black Divas
Instituto Marielle Franco
PerifaConnection
Sociedad Cooperativa Chac Lol
Synergía – Initiatives for Human Rights
In Western Europe and Other States:
Alliance for Democracy in Laos
ALQST for Human Rights
American Civil Liberties Union
Asociación Española para el Derecho Internacional de los Derechos Humanos (AEDIDH)
Coordination des Associations et des Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience
International Legal Initiative
Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada
National Alliance of Women’s Organisations (NAWO)
Refugee Council of Australia
US Women Connect
World Christian Life Community
International:
Amnesty International
British Black Anti Poverty Network
CIVICUS
Coalition for the UN We Need (C4UN)
Company of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul
Democracy Without Borders
Front Line Defenders
Humanists International
IFEX
International Council of Women (ICW-CIF)
International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
MENA Rights Group
International Planned Parenthood Federation*
PEN International*
Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center
The William Gomes Podcast
Transparency, Accountability & Participation Network
UN Antiracism Coalition (UNARC)
UPR Info
*Joint the letter after it was sent to regional groups