FFAC/CAIWOF Gains UN Economic and Social Council Special Status

FFAC is honored to have been granted a Special Consultative Status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council, UN ECOSOC.

A process to gain the consultative status launched in May 2020, the approval decision was made public during the 2021 September session.

During sessions of the United Nations NGO Branch Committee organized between August and September 2021, FFAC was recommended for obtaining a consultative status and the decision was approved during the plenary assembly of the United Nations ECOSOC on November 1 2021.

FFAC is an organization working towards gender equality and empowering indigenous women and girls in Cameroon. This objective is achieved through the implementation of projects that promote the economic empowerment of women, promote girl’s education, end sexual and gender based violence, support political participation of women, promote leadership programmes, land rights, peace and security.

Consultative status provides NGOs with access to not only ECOSOC but also to its many subsidiary bodies, human rights mechanisms of the UN, ad-hoc processes on small arms as well as special events organized by the president of the General Assembly, UN grounds passes for their ability to enter conference rooms, interact with diplomats and UN staff, and the ability to participate in UN meetings.

An NGO with consultative status allowed to attend international conferences and events, make written and oral statements, organize side events, enter UN premises, have opportunities to network and lobby. With a consultative status, an NGO could serve as an early warning agent, help monitor and implement international agreements, help raise public awareness on relevant issues, play a major role in advancing UN goals and objectives, and provide expert analysis on issues directly from it field experience.