NGO Working Group on the Security Council

The Working Group brings together thirty major NGOs for a series of meetings with Council ambassadors. Since the Council's decisions affect nearly all NGO constituencies -- in such areas as human rights, humanitarian relief, disarmament, the environment, and the concerns of women and children -- the Working Group has a diverse membership. Since 1997, the Working Group has met increasingly regularly with delegations. In 2002 it held nearly fifty meetings, mostly with ambassadors, but also including UN officials. Typically, one of the meetings each month is with the ambassador in the Council presidency.