Global G.L.O.W. Receives Special Consultative Status by the UN ECOSOC

Global G.L.O.W. is honored to have received special consultative status by the UN ECOSOC. This achievement enables Global G.L.O.W. to formally consult international policymakers by expanding the organization’s access and influence to international conferences, such as the Commission on the Status of Women and International Day of the Girl, to ensure that girls’ voices are reflected in international policy decisions. Executed by the UN ECOSOC and outlined in Article 71 of the UN Charter, non-governmental organizations holding a consultative role have the ability to meaningfully engage in and address UN deliberations. Consultative status is granted upon recommendation by the Committee on NGOs, which is comprised of 19 Member States to “NGOs which have a special competence in and are concerned specifically with, only a few of the fields of activity covered by the ECOSOC.” Global G.L.O.W. was recommended by the Committee of NGOs in February of 2020, then granted Consultative Status by ECOSOC during their review session this past summer.

Global G.L.O.W. will contribute to ECOSOC’s work in advancing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals focusing on achieving gender equality, promoting girls’ health and wellbeing, reducing inequalities, promoting quality education and seeking to advance decent future work and economic growth through our unique girl-centered programming. In turn, our programming which supports girls’ socio-emotional development, self-advocacy, health, wellbeing and future economic opportunities, will contribute to the social and economic development of the communities within which we operate.

Global G.L.O.W. has long been active in UN programming to commemorate International Day of the Girl Child, and the achievement of this consultative status provides a formal gateway to participate in policy recommendations for girls’ rights as well. Prior to achieving this honor, girls enrolled in Global G.L.O.W. programs were represented during the International Day of the Girl Speak Out, highlighting issues of Economic Justice and Rights for girls and Menstrual Equity. This new accreditation will further enable Global G.L.O.W. to continue the work of elevating girls’ voices in the sphere of international politics. Joining 5,450 current NGOs holding active consultative status with ECOSOC, Global G.L.OW. is proud to be collaborating with organizations who also focus on worldwide gender equality.

Global G.L.O.W. participant Shreeya of Nepal speaks during the International Day of the Girl Speak Out event.

With special consultative status with ECOSOC, Global G.L.O.W. will be able to collectively advocate for girls’ rights with ally organizations by signing joint statements to present to UN policy makers. To this end, we eagerly signed on to our first written statement to be presented to the 65th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW65) as members of the Working Group on Girls, “in full support of girls’ rights in all stages of her life.” The Working Group on Girls (WGG) is a coalition of over 40 national and international, non-governmental, UN accredited organizations who advocate with and for girls to elevate their voices within the UN system to ensure the inclusion of their needs in its international agreements and priorities. 

In addition to signing on to written statements of ally organizations, special consultative status will also allow Global G.L.O.W. to draft and submit written statements to commissions of ECOSOC to be considered for policy recommendations. Additionally, special consultative status creates an avenue through which commissions of ECOSOC may contact Global G.L.O.W. for consultations pertaining to our expertise as a girl-focused organization.

Along with participating in CSW65 and the 10th anniversary of International Day of the Girl Child in 2021, Global G.L.O.W. will be exploring innovative ways to use this great privilege to further promote gender equality and girls’ education, health, wellbeing and future economic opportunities in the UN system so that girls everywhere can thrive.

Written by Lyndsey Reynolds, Senior Program Manager at Global G.L.O.W.