The Syriac Universal Alliance (SUA) is the umbrella organization of the Syriac Aramean Federations worldwide. In July 1999, SUA gained recognition as "Non-Governmental Organization [NGO] in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and the Social Council [ECOSOC] of the United Nations [UN]."

This meant, among other things, that SUA was granted the right to delegate representatives to the UN Headquarter in New York as well as to the UN Offices in Vienna (Austria) and Geneva (Switzerland). Hence, SUA has three Main Representatives each of them coordinating a team.

The SUA status as an NGO is significant because NGOs can give their opinions on social and economic matters in the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. This status allows some direct participation in the intergovernmental process. Such status also allows for accreditation to conferences and other events, which can permit considerable participation and lobbying in informal sessions. 1

In the opinion of Secretary General Kofi Annan, "Non-governmental organizations are now seen as essential partners of the United Nations, not only in mobilizing public opinion, but also in the process of deliberation and policy formulation and -- even more important -- in the execution of policies, in work on the ground." 2

For information about SUA's NGO activities, please click on the respective place names in the menu on your left.


References:

1. Cf. for a detailed account regarding the NGO position in the UN system http://www.globalpolicy.org/ngos and especially Antti Pentikäinen, Creating Global Governance: The Role of the Non-Governmental Organizations in the United Nations (Helsinki: Edita, 2000) available on the referenced website.
2. See his speech dealing with the necessity of NGO Partnership at the Opening Address to the Fiftieth DPI/NGO Conference (10 September 1997) at http://www.globalpolicy.org/ngos/docs97/kofi997.htm.