OUR  INTERNATIONAL  PRESENCE

United Nations - Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

In 1950 Soroptimist International joined the roster of organisations making a useful contribution to ECOSOC work and entitled to submit reports to Council meetings.

By 1984  we had attained Category 1 Consultative Status as a non-governmental organisation (NGO), the only women's service organisation to do so.

It is only through work at Club level that we maintain our national and international influence.

We have accreditation with:

• UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
• UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
• UN Development Organisation (UNIDO)
• UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) 
• Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO)
• International Labour Organisation (ILO) Special List
• World Health Organisation (WHO) - Official Relations

We were elected a member of the NGO Council for 1998 -2001 which makes decisions concerning the basic orientation of UNESCO for 2000 - 2010. 

We are represented on many NGO Committees including

• The Status of Women Commission
• The Human Rights Commission

Soroptimist International has worked with UN International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) on many projects using both funds and expertise. For example: provision of medical boats for the Maldives, and arranging safe water for villages in Senegal.

Soroptimist International, as a principal NGO at the United Nations, was instrumental in campaigning for the abolition of landmines - which resulted in the Ottawa Treaty, signed by over 100 countries.

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