United States General Accounting Office

GAO Report to Congressional Requesters

February 1996 UNITED NATIONS

U.S. Participation in

the Fourth World

Conference on Women

GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR

GAO United States

General Accounting Office

Washington, D.C. 20548

National Security and

International Affairs Division

B-270733 

February 15, 1996

The Honorable Jesse Helms

Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations

United States Senate

The Honorable Christopher H. Smith

Chairman, Subcommittee on International Operations

 and Human Rights

Committee on International Relations

House of Representatives

In response to your August 17 and July 28, 1995, requests, we examined

certain issues related to the United Nations’ (UN) Fourth World Conference

on Women. As agreed with your staffs, this report provides information on

(1) the cost of U.S. participation in the UN’s Fourth World Conference on

Women and the parallel, independently-convened nongovernmental

organizations’ (NGO) Forum, (2) the UN process for accrediting NGOs, and

(3) the handling of Conference travel visas by the Chinese. A summary of

our discussions with 28 U.S. NGOs regarding their perspectives on the

accreditation process, adequacy of accommodations, and physical access

to Conference and Forum facilities is provided in an appendix to this

report.

We provided a briefing on these issues to your staffs on December 15,

1995. Our briefing document appears after this letter.

Background The UN held its Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China,

from September 4 to 15, 1995. The purpose of the Conference, as stated by

the participating governments, was to advance equality, development, and

peace for all women. About 17,000 participants registered at the

Conference, including official delegations from 189 countries and

representatives from 1,700 NGOs. Previous UN Conferences on Women were

held in Mexico (1975), Copenhagen (1980), and Nairobi (1985).

Parallel to the Conference, nongovernmental organizations independently

organized a forum to (1) provide opportunities for networking; (2) plan

strategies for improving the lives of women through education, human and

legal rights, health, and other areas; and (3) enable NGOs to influence the

outcome of Conference activities. The NGO Organizing Committee

negotiated with the Chinese government for a forum site and collected

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B-270733 

donations from corporations, governments, and others to fund organizing

activities. The Forum was held in Huairou, China—53 kilometers (about 

30 miles) from Beijing—from August 31 to September 8, 1995. About

30,000 people attended the Forum, and some participated in both the

Forum and Conference. U.S. officials estimated that about 7,000 U.S.

citizens traveled to China for Conference and Forum activities.

Results in Brief The UN estimated the costs of convening the Conference to be

approximately $13 to $14 million, with financial support coming from

voluntary donations, the host government, and the UN regular budget. The

total cost to the United States for the Conference and Forum was

approximately $5.9 million. This amount includes $4.8 million in direct

costs incurred by 13 U.S. government agencies and the White House, and

approximately $1.1 million of the UN cost for the Conference, which was

paid out of the UN regular budget.1

 Of the $4.8 million direct expenditures,

$2.2 million was spent for preparatory activities, $1.8 million for

participation in the Conference, and $0.8 million for Forum activities.

The UN invited NGOs to apply for accreditation to participate in Conference

activities. Of the 2,450 NGOs worldwide that applied for accreditation, 277

were not accredited. Of the 588 U.S. NGOs that applied, 69 were not

accredited. The UN’s process for accrediting NGOs, although it underwent

changes to include a broader representation of NGOs, was generally viewed

by U.S. officials as fair and unbiased. We did not identify a pattern or

particular agenda among U.S. NGOs not recommended for accreditation.

Although two Tibet-based NGOs were accredited, no NGOs based in Taiwan

were accredited to the Conference because they did not meet the

Conference Secretariat’s requirement of being incorporated in their

country of origin. Taiwanese interests were represented by NGOs from

other countries, including the United States.

U.S. officials characterized the access to the UN Conference from the

Huairou site of the NGO Forum as adequate. The Chinese provided buses to

shuttle NGO participants from the Forum site in Huairou to the Conference

in Beijing, and electronic communications linked the two sites.

Although the Chinese were late in processing visas, an official of the U.S.

Mission to the UN stated that most applicants did receive one. Possible

causes of problems include the overwhelming number of visa requests

received by the Chinese (about three times the expected number) and the

1

The United States is assessed 25 percent of the UN regular budget.

Page 2 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
B-270733 

requirement to have a confirmed hotel reservation before applying for a

visa.

Agency Comments We discussed the information contained in this briefing with officials from

the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development,

the White House, and the UN Conference Secretariat. We incorporated

their comments where appropriate.

Scope and

Methodology

To determine the costs associated with U.S. participation in the

Conference, we compiled expenditure data provided to us by the White

House; the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Energy,

Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior,

Labor, State; the Environmental Protection Agency; Small Business

Administration; U.S. Agency for International Development; U.S.

Information Agency; Peace Corps; Postal Service; and the Resolution Trust

Corporation and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. We examined

documents supporting the expenditure data provided by the agencies, but

we did not independently verify that data. We obtained estimates on the

overall costs of the Conference from the UN.

We gathered information on NGO’s participation in the Conference from the

UN and the United States’ Representative to the UN Economic and Social

Council, the Department of State, and the NGO Forum Planning Committee.

We examined the list of U.S. NGO applicants for patterns that would have

indicated exclusion of particular points of view on women’s issues. We

discussed the accreditation and visa processes with 23 U.S. NGOs that were

accredited to the Conference and 5 that were not accredited. We also

obtained information from the 23 accredited U.S. NGOs on NGO access to

the Conference.

We performed our review between August and December 1995 in

accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards.

Appendix I lists members of the official U.S. delegation to the Conference.

Appendix II provides detailed information on travel and nontravel

expenditures by federal agency. Appendix III shows federal agency

expenditures specifically for the Conference, appendix IV provides federal

expenditures for participation in UN and NGO preparatory commissions and

U.S. regional meetings, and appendix V shows federal expenditures for the

NGO Forum 95. Appendix VI shows funding for countries assisted by the

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B-270733 

U.S. Agency for International Development to participate in regional

preparatory activities and the Conference and NGO Forum. Appendix VII

provides a list of federal nontravel expenditures that supported

Conference and Forum activities. Appendix VIII lists accredited U.S. NGOs,

and appendix IX lists nonaccredited U.S. NGOs and reasons for

nonaccreditation. Appendix X discusses the perspectives of 28 NGOs on the

UN accreditation process and procedures and NGO access to the

Conference.

We are sending copies of this briefing report to the Chairmen and Ranking

Minority Members of the Senate and House Committees on

Appropriations; the Senate Committtee on Governmental Affairs and the

House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight; the Secretaries

of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Energy, Health and Human

Services, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, and State; the

Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United

Nations; the Administrators of the U.S. Agency for International

Development, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Small

Business Administration; the Directors of the U.S. Information Agency and

the Office of Management and Budget; and the Counsel to the President.

Copies will be made available to others on request.

Please contact me on (202) 512-4128 if you or your staff have any

questions concerning this report. Major contributors to this report were

LeRoy W. Richardson, Margaret G. Morgan, and Olivia L. Parker.

Benjamin F. Nelson

Director, International Relations

 and Trade Issues

Page 4 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Page 5 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Contents

Letter 1

Briefing Section I 

Background

10

Introduction 10

Briefing Section II 

Costs of U.S.

Participation

12

UN Conference Funding Mechanisms 12

U.S. Expenditures to Support Conference and NGO Forum

Activities

14

Federal Entities Participating in Conference and NGO Forum

Activities

16

State and USAID Expenditures Comprise 70% of Total Costs 18

USAID Expenditures for Conference and NGO Forum Activities 20

U.S. Direct Expenditures for Conference 22

U.S. Direct Expenditures for Forum 23

Briefing Section III 

UN Accreditation

Process

24

UN Accreditation Process and Procedures 24

Criteria for NGO Accreditation 26

UN Directed Changes in Accreditation Procedures 28

NGO Accreditation Results 30

Taiwan/Tibet NGO Accreditation 32

Briefing Section IV 

Handling of

Conference Travel

Visas by the Chinese

34

Problems in Visa Process 34

Appendix I 

Official U.S.

Delegation to the UN

Fourth World

Conference on

Women

36

Delegation Leadership 36

Government Delegates 36

Nongovernment Delegates 37

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Contents

Appendix II 

Federal Agency

Expenditures for the

Conference,

Preparatory

Commissions, and the

NGO Forum

38

Appendix III 

Federal Agency

Expenditures for the

Conference

39

Appendix IV 

Federal Agency

Expenditures for UN

and U.S. Preparatory

Commissions and

Regional NGO

Meetings

40

Appendix V 

Federal Agency

Expenditures for NGO

Forum

41

Appendix VI 

Funding for

USAID-Assisted

Countries

42

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Contents

Appendix VII 

Nontravel

Expenditures by

Federal Agencies

44

Appendix VIII 

U.S. NGOs Accredited

for Participation in

the UN Fourth World

Conference on

Women

47

Appendix IX 

U.S. NGOs Not

Accredited for

Participation in the

UN Fourth World

Conference on

Women

61

Appendix X 

U.S. NGO Views on

UN Accreditation

Process and Access to

Conference

64

U.S. NGO Opinions on the Fairness and Transparency of the

Accreditation Process Mixed

64

Distance Between Conference and Forum Cited as Major

Obstacle

64

Abbreviations

E/NI Europe and Newly Independent States Bureau

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

HHS U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

NGO Nongovernmental organization

UN United Nations

USAID U.S. Agency for International Development

USIA U.S. Information Agency

Page 8 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Page 9 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Briefing Section I 

Background

GAO Introduction

Conference goals were equality, development, 

and peace.

UN Division for the Advancement of Women 

served as Conference Secretariat.

UN has held three previous conferences on 

women:

1975 (Mexico)

1980 (Copenhagen)

1985 (Nairobi).

7,000 U.S. citizens attended the Conference 

and NGO Forum.

Page 10 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Briefing Section I 

Background

The Fourth World Conference on Women was held September 4 to 15,

1995, in Beijing, China. The purpose of the conference, as stated by the

participating governments, was to advance the goals of equality,

development, and peace for all women.

The United Nations (UN) Commission on the Status of Women acted as the

preparatory body for the Conference. The UN Division for the

Advancement of Women served as the Secretariat. The duties of the

Secretariat included all conference planning and operations, including

receiving applications for nongovernmental organization (NGO)

accreditation. The Division for the Advancement of Women served as the

Secretariat for the previous conferences on women held in 1975 (Mexico),

1980 (Copenhagen), and 1985 (Nairobi). About 17,000 people registered to

attend the Conference, including official delegations from 189 countries

and representatives of 1,700 of the accredited NGOs. The members of the

official U.S. delegation are listed in appendix I.

NGOs interested in women’s issues held a parallel meeting—NGO Forum on

Women Beijing ’95—from August 31 to September 8, 1995, in Huairou,

China, which is 53 kilometers (about 30 miles) from the Conference site.

The Forum was organized by an NGO planning committee and financed by

donations from governments, multilateral institutions, and private donors.1

According to NGO organizers, the Forum provided an opportunity for NGOs

to be involved in analyzing the forces that shape women’s lives, presenting

innovative NGO activities, and discussing future strategies. The Forum was

open to all who wished to register, and about 30,000 people participated in

over 4,000 scheduled activities.

About 7,000 U.S. citizens went to China— the largest movement ever of

civilian Americans to a single destination, according to State Department

officials—to participate in the Conference and NGO Forum. The State

Department posted two additional consular officers in Beijing to provide

assistance. State also published a leaflet (for distribution at the

Conference and NGO Forum) on whom to call for consular assistance.

1

Donors included Apple Computer, Inc., The World Bank, The Ford Foundation, the government of

Spain, the Swedish International Development Agency, NORAD (Norway) Overseas Development

Administration, and U.S. Agency for International Development, among others. Four UN agencies to

which the United States makes voluntary contributions—the UN Development Fund for Women, the

UN Development Programme, the UN Fund for Population Activities, and the UN Children’s

Fund—also provided support to the Conference. These contributions are not included in the U.S.

totals.

Page 11 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Briefing Section II 

Costs of U.S. Participation

GAO UN Conference Funding Mechanisms

Trust fund contributions: $6 million

Host country contributions: $3 million

UN regular budget: $4-5 million

Total: $13-14 million

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Briefing Section II 

Costs of U.S. Participation

The UN Secretariat estimated costs for convening the Conference at $13 to

$14 million.1

 Funding came from three sources: a Conference trust fund,

host country contributions, and the UN’s regular budget.

Donations for the trust fund could come from UN member nations (apart

from their assessed contributions) or private sources. According to a UN

official, the trust fund received donations of about $6 million, with much

of the funding used to assist planning efforts in less developed countries

and regions.2

 As host country, China was required to contribute an amount

equal to the increased costs of holding the conference in China rather than

New York or Geneva where the UN has conference facilities. China’s

contribution totaled about $3 million. The remainder of the total, some

$4 million to $5 million, was funded through the UN’s regular budget

process. The U.S. share was 25 percent of the budgeted costs, or about

$1.1 million.

1

The UN does not have a centralized accounting system, so costs for UN agencies other than the

Secretariat that might have participated in the Conference were not available within the time frames of

our audit.

2

The United States made a voluntary contribution of $300,000 to the trust fund for Conference planning

activities and to support travel of representatives of least-developed countries to regional conferences.

This amount is included in expenditures for conference planning.

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Briefing Section II 

Costs of U.S. Participation

GAO U.S. Expenditures to Support 

Conference and NGO Forum Activities

Agency support: $4.8 million

Conference $4.0 million

Forum $0.8 million

U.S. share of UN costs: $1.1 million

Total: $5.9 million

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Briefing Section II 

Costs of U.S. Participation

Total costs for U.S. participation in the Conference and NGO Forum,

including preparatory activities, were approximately $5.9 million. This

total includes the U.S. share of UN budgeted costs of $1.1 million,

$4.0 million in federal agencies’ direct expenditures related to the

Conference, and $0.8 million in direct expenditures related to the Forum.

Appendix II shows travel and other costs by agency. Appendix III shows

expenditures by federal agency specifically for the Conference, 

appendix IV shows federal expenditures for planning and preparation.

Appendix V shows expenditures for the NGO Forum. Appendix VI shows

expenditures for USAID-assisted countries. Appendix VII details other

nontravel expenditures for conference preparation and participation.

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Briefing Section II 

Costs of U.S. Participation

GAO Federal Entities Participating in 

Conference and NGO Forum Activities

Agriculture

Commerce

Education

Energy

EPA

HHS

Interior

Justice

Labor

Peace Corps

State

USAID

USIA

White House

Page 16 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Briefing Section II 

Costs of U.S. Participation

The State Department took the lead in coordinating U.S. government

preparations for the Conference. Other federal agencies and organizations

and the White House took part in the Conference activities. The agencies

represented different women’s issues from labor and health issues to

economic concerns.

The Departments of State and Labor jointly convened 10 official

preparatory meetings in each of the 10 federal regions of the country

under the theme “Women Thinking Globally, Acting Locally: On the Road

to Beijing and the 21st Century.” The meetings, open to the public, were

designed to (1) provide information about the Conference and issues

affecting the advancement of women, (2) identify successful strategies and

actions taken for the advancement of women since the 1985 conference on

women, (3) identify what still needs to be done, and (4) provide an

opportunity for citizens to talk with government representatives.

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Briefing Section II 

Costs of U.S. Participation

GAO State and USAID Expenditures

Comprise 70% of Total Costs

Other

State

USAID

29.7%

20.8%

49.6%

Page 18 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Briefing Section II 

Costs of U.S. Participation

Thirteen federal agencies and the White House spent $4.8 million in

appropriated funds to support Conference and Forum activities.3 USAID and

the State Department together spent 70 percent of the federal resources

expended on the conference activities. USAID expended the largest amount

of resources, spending $2.4 million primarily for support of USAID-assisted

countries’ participation in regional planning activities, the Conference, and

the NGO Forum. The State Department, which paid for travel to Beijing for

U.S. delegation leadership and State Department staff4

 as well as for travel

to international preparatory meetings, spent about 62 percent of its

conference funds for travel costs. Travel costs to Beijing also comprised

about 88 percent of expenditures for the White House. (See app. II.) Other

officials who flew with the First Lady included her staff; the U.S.

Ambassador to the UN; certain UN, State Department, National Security

Council, and Secret Service employees; and accompanying press corps.5

The White House expects to be reimbursed for travel on Air Force One by

members of the press, which will reduce travel costs to the U.S.

government.

3

The U.S. Postal Service sent a representative and sponsored an exhibit at the NGO Forum at a cost of

$25,921. The Resolution Trust Corporation/Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation sent a

representative at a cost of $5,627. These expenditures do not come from appropriated funds and are

not included in our analysis.

4

The State Department paid for travel by federal officials of cabinet rank. Other agencies were

responsible for travel costs of their employees.

5

The White House expenditures do not include costs for protection of the First Lady. The Secret

Service said releasing information from which security tactical strength and resources could be

assessed might compromise its ability to provide a secure environment for the First Lady. The Secret

Service separately briefed the requesters’ staff on these costs.

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Briefing Section II 

Costs of U.S. Participation

GAO USAID Expenditures for Conference 

and NGO Forum Activities

Total: $2,388,502

ENI UN Grant

Forum Grant

UN Trust

Africa Official Travel

Latin America

Asia/Near East

E/NIS

USAID/W

Administrative

Tech. Support

NGO Prep.

25,000

150,000

300,000

346,323 36,223

51,223

208,313

12,047

499,830

6,000

400,000

353,543

Page 20 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Briefing Section II 

Costs of U.S. Participation

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) spent more than

other federal agencies on Conference and NGO Forum-related activities,

with expenditures of $2.4 million distributed among pre-Conference

activities, the Conference itself, and the NGO Forum. (App. VI details

expenditures for USAID-assisted countries.) Of this amount, USAID official

travel amounted to $36,223, or 1 percent of USAID’s total. Many of the

expenditures supported planning activities as follows:

• USAID provided $300,000 to the UN Special Conference Trust Fund. The

Trust Fund, created by the UN specifically for the Conference, was used to

finance additional activities of the preparatory process and the

Conference, in particular the participation of least-developed countries.

According to USAID officials, USAID’s grant was used specifically to fund

travel for NGOs to Conference preparatory meetings and for computer

equipment for the Conference Secretariat.

• USAID granted $150,000 to the NGO Planning Committee.

• USAID’s Europe and the Newly Independent States (E/NI) bureau gave a

grant of $25,000 to the UN for a regional preparatory meeting in Europe.

• USAID also funded workshops and other activities designed to prepare NGOs

to participate in the Conference at a total cost of $353,543. Workshops

addressed topics such as women involved in law and development, women

in policy-making roles, and women’s health issues.

• USAID contracted technical support in conference planning activities at a

cost of $400,000. Contractors supported program office staff by

conducting research, writing position papers, and developing materials for

participants in planning meetings.

• Other expenditures totaling $6,000 covered various administrative costs.

• USAID/Washington bureaus provided $499,830 to facilitate travel by NGOs to

regional meetings and the NGO Forum. These funds were spent on travel

costs for delegates from least developed countries, according to USAID

officials.

• USAID missions spent $617,906 to support travel to preparatory activities,

the Conference, and the NGO Forum by representatives from USAID

mission-assisted countries in Europe and the Newly Independent States

($12,047), Asia and the Near East ($208,313), Latin America ($51,223), and

Africa ($346,323).

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Briefing Section II 

Costs of U.S. Participation

GAO U.S. Direct Expenditures for 

Conference

Preparatory Meetings for Conference 

 $2.2 million

Conference: $1.8 million

Total $4.0 million

The total direct cost to the United States to support the activities of the

Conference were $4.0 million. Of this amount, $2.2 million went for

preparatory activities, including travel and other expenditures for 8

international preparatory meetings, 10 U.S. regional preparatory meetings,

and international working meetings. This figure also includes support for

participation by USAID-assisted countries. An additional $1.8 million

supported Conference attendance and participation by U.S.

representatives.

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Briefing Section II 

Costs of U.S. Participation

GAO U. S. Direct Expenditures for Forum

Mission-funded assistance

$0.4 million

USAID/Washington $0.2 million

Agency participation $0.2 million

Total: $0.8 million

U.S. direct expenditures in support of the NGO Forum totaled $0.8 million.

About $433,920 or 55 percent of this funding came from USAID missions,

which supported participation of NGO representatives from assisted

countries. An additional $228,777 was provided by USAID/Washington

bureaus to support NGO participation at the Forum. (See app. V.) The

remainder supported exhibits sponsored by the Departments of Energy

and Agriculture and travel for representatives from each of these

departments.

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Briefing Section III 

UN Accreditation Process

GAO UN Accreditation Process and 

Procedures

Applications reviewed by Secretariat.

Secretariat made recommendations for 

accreditation of NGOs to preparatory body.

Member countries challenged recommendation 

for some NGOs which were set aside for 

case-by-case reviews.

Preparatory body decided to accredit the 

recommended NGOs.

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Briefing Section III 

UN Accreditation Process

On December 20, 1993, the UN General Assembly directed the Conference

Secretariat to receive and preliminarily evaluate NGO applications for

accreditation to the Conference. As it reviewed NGO applications, the

Secretariat presented lists of NGOs recommended for accreditation at

preparatory meetings in March 1994 and March 1995. At each meeting,

action was taken by the preparatory body to accredit the list of NGOs

recommended by the Secretariat and not challenged by a member country

delegation.

NGOs that were challenged by country delegations at the meetings were set

aside from the list to be considered separately. A working group was

established to review the basis for the challenge and the Secretariat’s

recommendation and to report to the preparatory body for a final

determination.

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Briefing Section III 

UN Accreditation Process

GAO Criteria for NGO Accreditation 

Each organization had to prove that it 

was a bona fide NGO,

was competent, and 

conducted activities relevant to the work of the 

Conference.

Indicators that an organization was bona fide 

and competent were 

an independent governing body,

a stable financial history, and

incorporation in country of origin.

Page 26 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Briefing Section III 

UN Accreditation Process

The UN invited NGOs to apply for accreditation to participate in the

Conference and set out application criteria and a deadline for application.

The Secretariat reviewed applicants to ensure they were bona fide NGOs,1

had national or international scope, and had a purpose related to

Conference objectives. NGOs were asked to provide evidence of their

competence and relevance to the work of the Conference. They were

instructed to include the following documentation with their applications:

• purpose of the organization,

• information on its programs and activities in areas relevant to the

Conference,

• confirmation of the organization’s activities at the national or international

level,

• copies of annual reports with financial statements and a list of the

members of the governing body, and

• a description of its membership.

1

According to U.S. and UN officials, indicators that an applicant was a bona fide NGO and competent

to participate in the Conference included incorporation in the country of origin, an independent

governing body, and a stable financial history.

Page 27 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Briefing Section III 

UN Accreditation Process

GAO UN Directed Changes in Accreditation 

Procedures

Dissatisfaction with the accreditation process led 

to General Assembly Resolution 49/243, which

clarified members' desire for broad NGO 

participation and

directed Secretariat to

give reasons for nonrecommendation,

provide opportunities for NGOs to submit 

additional supporting information, and

extend the deadline for application to April 

1995.

After NGOs and member countries’ representatives expressed

dissatisfaction with the review process and application of criteria during

initial preparations for the Conference, the Secretariat’s interpretation of

the criteria evolved. According to a UN official, the Secretariat initially

believed that the Commission on the Status of Women wanted to accredit

only NGOs actively engaged in women’s issues on a national or

international level and, therefore, applied the registration criteria that an

NGO be a national or international organization very strictly. However, this

Page 28 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Briefing Section III 

UN Accreditation Process

interpretation excluded many NGOs active in women’s issues on a more

local level. Further, time constraints did not always allow the Secretariat

to solicit additional information from all applicants before it made

recommendations for accreditation. According to U.S. and UN officials,

there was no standard procedure by which NGOs were notified of the status

of their applications or allowed to submit additional supporting

information. The perceived lack of fairness and transparency led NGOs to

complain to the Secretariat and their countries’ missions.

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations was a leader in drafting and

galvanizing support for General Assembly Resolution 49/243, which

directed the Secretariat to (1) extend the deadline for NGO applications to

April 28, 1995, and (2) communicate in writing to the NGOs that had not

been recommended for accreditation and invite them to submit additional

information relevant to their qualifications for accreditation. The

Conference Secretariat complied with General Assembly resolution 49/243

by extending the period it would accept applications to April 28, 1995;

inviting NGOs not yet accredited to submit additional information by

May 31, 1995; and re-reviewing a number of NGOs’ applications. The

Secretariat interpreted the requirement that an NGO have a national or

international scope of activities more broadly, giving primary weight to the

requirement that an applicant be a bona fide NGO, and recommended for

accreditation many NGOs not previously recommended.

Because the deadline for application was extended past the last scheduled

meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women, its parent

organization, the Economic and Social Council, accredited the final group

of NGOs to the Conference.2

 The Council voted on the last group of NGOs

recommended for accreditation at its June 26 to July 28, 1995, meeting in

Geneva, Switzerland. This group comprised organizations that applied

before the April 28, 1995, deadline, including organizations that did not

meet the requirements for the preliminary review but, on the basis of

additional information supplied, appeared to the Secretariat competent

and relevant to the Conference.

2

The Commission on the Status of Women is one of eight functional commissions of the UN Economic

and Social Council.

Page 29 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Briefing Section III 

UN Accreditation Process

GAO NGO Accreditation Results

Secretariat recommended 2,184 of the 

2,450 applicants.

19 challenged

11 denied accreditation

 8 accredited

Secretariat recommended 523 of the 588 

U.S. applicants.

7 challenged

3 accredited

4 denied accreditation

Page 30 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Briefing Section III 

UN Accreditation Process

Of the 2,450 applicants for accreditation, 277 were not accredited.3 The

Conference Secretariat recommended 2,184 for accreditation and did not

recommend 266. The recommendations for 19 NGOs were challenged by

particular countries. Eleven of the recommended NGOs were not

accredited after challenges by particular countries. The Secretariat cited

the following reasons for recommendations against accreditation for each

nonrecommended applicant: the applicant (1) was not a bona fide NGO,

(2) did not have a purpose clearly related to the Conference objectives,

(3) did not have a national or international scope of activities, or (4) did

not provide enough information for the Secretariat to recommend

accreditation.

Of the 588 U.S. NGO applicants, 519 were accredited and 69 were not

accredited. The Secretariat did not recommend 65 U.S. NGOs for

accreditation. In 62 of these cases the Secretariat cited incomplete

information as one reason for nonrecommendation. In reviewing the lists

of NGOs that were recommended for accreditation, we found a variety of

different perspectives on women’s issues. We did not discern a pattern or

particular agenda among those U.S. NGOs that were not accredited. State

Department and U.S. Mission to the UN officials agreed with our analysis.

The Secretariat’s recommendation to accredit was challenged in the cases

of seven U.S. NGOs. China challenged the recommendation to accredit four

U.S. NGOs: Human Rights in China, International Committee of Lawyers for

Tibet, Sunray Meditation Society, and Tibetan Rights Campaign. India

challenged the recommendation for accreditation of the Ananda Marga

Universal Relief Team, and Iran challenged the recommendation for the

Association of Iranian Women and the National Committee of Women for

Democratic Iran. After consideration of the recommendation and the

challenge, three of these NGOs—Human Rights in China, Sunray Meditation

Society, and the National Committee of Women for Democratic

Iran—were accredited. The remaining NGOs were not accredited.

3

NGOs in consultative status to the Commission on the Status of Women or the Economic and Social

Council were automatically accredited to attended the Conference. Over 1,000 NGOs hold such

consultative status.

Page 31 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Briefing Section III 

UN Accreditation Process

GAO Taiwan/Tibet NGO Accreditation

 No NGOs based in Taiwan met requirement 

of incorporation in the country of origin.

 Two Tibet-based organizations were 

accredited.

 5 U.S.-based NGOs with Taiwan/Tibet 

interests applied for accreditation:

1 accredited without challenge.

2 accredited after challenge.

2 denied accreditation.

Page 32 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Briefing Section III 

UN Accreditation Process

According to a UN official, the requirement that NGOs must be incorporated

in the country of origin—used as an indicator of an NGOs’ bona fides at

other conferences—did have the effect of precluding participation by

Taiwanese organizations. Two Tibetan organizations were accredited. The

Secretariat recommended for accreditation groups with Tibetan or

Taiwanese interests that were incorporated in other countries.

China challenged the recommendation to accredit five NGOs with

Taiwan/Tibet interests: Human Rights in China (United States),

International Committee of Lawyers for Tibet (United States), the Sunray

Meditation Society (United States), Tibetan Rights Campaign (United

States) and Tibetan Women’s Organization (Switzerland). After review by

a working group of the Economic and Social Council, two of these

NGOs—Human Rights in China and the Sunray Meditation Society—were

accredited.

Page 33 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Briefing Section IV 

Handling of Conference Travel Visas by the

Chinese

GAO Problems in Visa Process 

Some U.S. travelers received visas late, and a 

few never received them.

Possible causes of the problems are the 

following

China received three times the expected 

number of visa requests.

Requirement of confirmed hotel reservations 

caused problems.

Page 34 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Briefing Section IV 

Handling of Conference Travel Visas by the

Chinese

According to officials of the U.S. Mission to the UN, host countries for UN

conferences agree to give visas to accredited participants of the

conference. The officials believed that most applicants for visas did

receive them. However, delays in getting visas from China caused much

frustration for Conference and NGO Forum participants. U.S. officials

attributed at least some of the delays to the overwhelming response to the

meetings. Instead of the expected 10,000 to 15,000 visa applications, China

received about 35,000.

China’s requirement that persons traveling to the Conference or NGO

Forum have confirmed hotel reservations, in addition to documentation of

accreditation to the Conference or NGO Forum registration, before they

could apply for visas also contributed to delays in processing visas. Hotel

reservation confirmations were late in arriving, which delayed

participants’ applications for visas. Some travelers received them only a

few days before they were to depart for Beijing, and a few never received

visas. Near the meetings’ start dates, the Chinese government made efforts

to speed up visa delivery by providing needed hotel confirmations via an

overnight delivery service.

Page 35 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix I 

Official U.S. Delegation to the UN Fourth

World Conference on Women

Delegation Leadership The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton, Honorary Chair

The Honorable Madeleine K. Albright, Chair and Head; U.S. Ambassador to

 the UN

The Honorable Donna Shalala, Co-Chair; Secretary of Health and Human

 Services

The Honorable Carol Browner, Co-Chair; Administrator of the

 Environmental Protection Agency

The Honorable Timothy Wirth, Alternate Chair and Alternate Head;

 Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs

The Honorable Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky, Deputy Chair; former

 Member of Congress from Pennsylvania

The Honorable J. Veronica Biggins, Vice Chair; Executive Search

 Consultant, Heidrick & Struggles; former Assistant to the President

 and Director of Presidential Personnel, the White House

The Honorable Geraldine A. Ferraro, Vice Chair; U.S. Ambassador to the

 UN Human Rights Commission

The Honorable Thomas H. Kean, Vice Chair; President of Drew University;

 former Governor of New Jersey

Government

Delegates

Evan Bloom, Attorney Advisor, Department of State

Iris J. Burnett, Chief of Staff, U.S. Information Agency

Bonnie J. Campbell, Director, Violence Against Women, Department of

 Justice

Mary Curtin, Human Rights Officer, Department of State

Nils Daulaire, Deputy Assistant Administrator, U.S. Agency for

 International Development

Kathleen Hendrix, Special Assistant, Global Conference Secretariat,

 Department of State

Judith Heumann, Assistant Secretary, Special Education and Rehabilitative

 Services, Department of Education

Melinda Kimble, Deputy Assistant Secretary, International Organization

 Affairs, Department of State

Sharon Kotok, Officer in Charge of International Women’s Programs,

 International Organization Affairs, Department of State

Sarah Kovner, Special Assistant to the Secretary, Department of Health and

 Human Services

Madeleine M. Kunin, Deputy Secretary, Department of Education

Ginger Lew, General Counsel, Department of Commerce

Ambassador Victor Marrero, U.S. Representative to the Economic and

 Social Council of the UN

Page 36 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix I 

Official U.S. Delegation to the UN Fourth

World Conference on Women

Ellen Marshall, Acting Senior Coordinator, Bureau of Population, Refugees

 and Migration, Department of State

Jean Nelson, Counselor to the Administrator, Environmental Protection

 Agency

Karen Nussbaum, Director, Women’s Bureau, Department of Labor

Jan Piercy, U.S. Executive Director, World Bank

Sally Shelton, Assistant Administrator, U.S. Agency for International

 Development

David Stewart, Assistant Legal Advisor, Department of State

Bisa Williams Manigault, Advisor, U.S. Mission to the UN

Nongovernment

Delegates

Laila Al-marayati, M.D., Obstetrician and Gynecologist; Assistant Professor,

 University of Southern California School of Medicine; Vice-Chair,

 Muslim Women’s League

Maria Antionetta Berriozabal, Lecturer/Consultant; Hispanas Unidas, U.S.

 Delegate to the Inter-American Commission on Women

Myrna Blyth, Editor-in-Chief and Publishing Director, Ladies’ Home Journal

Elizabeth J. Coleman, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief

 Executive Officer, Maidenform, Inc.; Vice Chair, President’s Export

Council

Lynn Cutler, Senior Vice President, The Kamber Group

Felice D. Gaer, Director, Jacob Blausteen Institute for the Advancement of

 Human Rights of the American Jewish Committee

Adrienne Germain, Vice President and Program Director, International

 Women’s Health Coalition

Arthenia L. Joyner, Attorney and Founding Partner, Stewart, Joyner,

 Jordan-Holmes, Holmes, PA

Sister Dorothy Ann Kelly, O.S.U., President, College of New Rochelle

Dorothy V. Lamm, Columnist, Denver Post; Faculty Member, Estes Park

 Institute

Marilyn Monahan, Secretary-Treasurer, National Education Association

San Juanita Munoz, Youth Delegate; Fellow, Carnegie Mellon University,

 Heinz School of Public Policy

Julia Taft, President and Chief Executive Officer, InterAction, The

 American Council for Voluntary International Action

Linda Tarr-Whelan, President and Chief Executive Officer, Center for

 Policy Alternatives

Virginia Trotter Betts, J.D., M.S.D., R.N., President, American Nurses

 Association

Susan Roosevelt Weld, Ph.D., Professor of Chinese and Japanese Law,

 Boston College

Marie C. Wilson, President, Ms. Foundation for Women

Page 37 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix II 

Federal Agency Expenditures for the

Conference, Preparatory Commissions, and

the NGO Forum

Agency Travel Nontravel Total

USAID $1,153,959a $1,234,543 $2,388,502

State 618,310a 382,585 1,000,895

The White House 629,598a,b 83,888 713,486

USIA 85,466 154,131 239,597

Energy 42,715 107,255 149,970

EPA 35,526 95,248 130,774

Labor 19,388 44,445 63,833

Education 31,108 9,871 40,979

HHS 36,618 0 36,618

Commerce 12,966 20,000 32,966

Agriculture 9,451 0 9,451

Justice 6,370 0 6,370

Interior 450 3,889 4,339

Peace Corps 242 0 242

Total $2,682,167 $2,135,855 $4,818,022

aAgency expenditures include some cost estimates.

bThe White House expects to be reimbursed for travel costs incurred by accompanying members

of the press.

Page 38 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix III 

Federal Agency Expenditures for the

Conference

Agency Travel Nontravel Total

State $362,666 $362,307 $724,973

The White House 629,598 83,888 713,486

USIA 61,110 154,131 215,241

EPA 8,808 45,000 53,808

Education 28,112 9,871 37,983

Energy 27,316 850 28,166

HHS 24,803 0 24,803

USAID 21,596 0 21,596

Justice 6,370 0 6,370

Labor 5,872 0 5,872

Commerce 5,851 0 5,851

Interior 0 0 0

Agriculture 0 0 0

Peace Corps 0 0 0

Total $1,182,102 $656,047 $1,838,149

Page 39 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix IV 

Federal Agency Expenditures for UN and

U.S. Preparatory Commissions and Regional

NGO Meetings

Agency Travel Nontravel Total

USAID $469,666 $1,234,543 $1,704,209

State 255,644 20,278 275,922

EPA 26,718 50,248 76,966

Labor 13,516 44,445 57,961

Commerce 7,115 20,000 27,115

USIA 24,356 0 24,356

HHS 11,815 0 11,815

Interior 450 3,889 4,339

Education 2,996 0 2,996

Peace Corps 242 0 242

Agriculture 0 0 0

Justice 0 0 0

Energy 0 0 0

The White House 0 0 0

Total $812,518 $1,373,403 $2,185,921

Page 40 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix V 

Federal Agency Expenditures for NGO

Forum

Agency Travel Nontravel Total

USAID $662,697 $0 $662,697

Energy 15,399 106,405 121,804

Agriculture 9,451 0 9,451

Total $687,547 $106,405 $793,952

Page 41 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix VI 

Funding for USAID-Assisted Countries

Benin $71,741

Burundi 18,214

Cote de’Ivoire 5,659

Gambia 900

Ghana 53,505

Guinea 17,056

Malawi 36,670

Mali 11,207

Mozambique 3,735

Namibia 3,527

Niger 23,580

Senegal 35,311

Tanzania 10,773

Uganda 43,659

Regional Economic Development Office 10,786

Bangladesh 6,241

Egypt 36,088

Indonesia a

Jordan 13,110

Lebanon 28,015

Mongolia 392

Morocco a

Philippines 7,015

Tunisia 42,300

West Bank/Gaza 17,298

Yemen 28,499

Fiji 7,383

Korea 6,512

Thailand 8,662

Reg. Supp./Thailand 6,798

Reg. Office Thailand a

Bolivia 5,455

Brazil 7,661

El Salvador 16,240

Honduras 17,142

Reg. Housing Office 2,360

Latin American

Bureau 2,365

(continued)

Page 42 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix VI 

Funding for USAID-Assisted Countries

Poland 10,247

Russia 1,800

Total $617,906

aInformation was not provided in time for inclusion into this report.

Page 43 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix VII 

Nontravel Expenditures by Federal Agencies

Category

Representation $5,000

Office and administrative expenses

Lodging 5,088

Fax machine rentals and fax charges 13,342

Copier machine 10,958

Computer rental 6,560

Printers 1,525

Transport government property 5,000

Rental office space and media control

rooms 78,632

Phone lines, equipment, and installation 13,461

Radios and telephones 1,135

Office furniture 12,480

Office equipment rental 19,359

Automated data processing equipment 14,518

Paper supplies 4,830

Office supplies 1,313

Service and vehicle rentals 52,590

Field travel 9,800

Supplies and materials 6,931

Federal Express 381

Taxicab rides 1,330

Office supplies, registration fees 3,430

Boxes for wheelchair ramp 160

Accessible van 1,552

Equipment, supplies, and vehicles 83,888

Personnel and Related Costs

Overtime U.S. personnel 13,896

Temporary base pay for Americans 260

Temporary base pay for Americans for First Lady 1,260

Salary (Deputy Chair) 65,141

Contract Salary 25,507

Salary 14,857

Labor Service 3,440

Assistant for Conference Secretariat 4,500

Conference assistants 8,813

Language interpreter in Beijing 1,400

State Department overtime pay 102

(continued)

Page 44 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix VII 

Nontravel Expenditures by Federal

Agencies

Category

Contract services for attendant 1,105

Communications

Internet access 150

Broadcasting WORLDNET

Production 17,175

Translation 5,375

Travel 10,143

Transmission 65,000

Publications

Media guidebook printing & shipping 8,330

Media guidebook development and

design 15,600

Internet website development activities 4,057

Newsletter publications 9,445

Printing 9,989

Exhibit materials 850

Program Planning

Department of Commerce

Cooperative agreement with Department of Labor 20,000

Preparatory meeting costs 35,000

Oakland Conference (meeting rooms 

& equipment) 17,248

Interagency agreement 8,000

National Council of Negro Women

(Grant) 40,000

Women’s Environmental Development

Organization (Grant) 30,000

Research 21,000

American Women in Science 65,405

Oak Ridge National Laboratory 20,000

NGO Forum Planning Committee 150,000

U.N, Central Trust Fund 300,000

UN (Grant) 25,000

Technical support 400,000

InterAction (Grant) 150,000

PVO preparatory activities 140,000

Official NGO reports 4,300

Peruvian NGO workshops 40,000

NGO workshops 15,457

Administrative expenses 6,000

(continued)

Page 45 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix VII 

Nontravel Expenditures by Federal

Agencies

Category

Workshops 3,786

National Museum of Women In the Arts

(Grant) 5,000

Total $2,135,855

Page 46 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix VIII 

U.S. NGOs Accredited for Participation in

the UN Fourth World Conference on Women

3HO Foundation

8th Day Center For Justice

9 TO 5, National Association of Working Women

Academic Council on the United Nations System

Academy for Educational Development

Accion International

Adventist Development & Relief Agency (ADRA International)

Adventures in Health, Education and Agricultural Development (AHEAD,

 Inc.)

Advocates for Youth

African Women’s Organization

African-American Institute, The

Alan Guttmacher Institute

Alberto Vollmer Foundation, Inc.

All Pakistan Women’s Association

America 21, Family Values for the 21st Century

American Association for the Advancement of Science

American Association of Jurists

American Association of Retired Persons

American Association of University Women

American Bar Association

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

American Council for Voluntary International Action (InterAction)

American Family Therapy Academy

American Forum for Global Education

American Friends Service Committee, Inc.

American Jewish Committee, The

American Jewish World Service, Inc.

American Life League, Inc.

American Medical Women’s Association

American Planning Association

American Public Health Association

American Society of International Law

American Society of Women Accountants

Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

Anglican Consultative Council

Appalachian Women’s Guild

Appropriate Technology International

Arab Women Solidarity Association

Armenian International Women’s Association

Armenian Relief Society, Inc.

Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in

 America, Radcliffe College

Page 47 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix VIII 

U.S. NGOs Accredited for Participation in

the UN Fourth World Conference on Women

Asia Foundation, The

Asian & Pacific Islanders for Reproductive Health

Asian Law Caucus, Inc.

Asociación Para la Educación Teológica Hispana (Association for

 Hispanic Theological Education)

Association for Experiential Education

Association for Women in Development - American University

Association for Women in Mathematics

Association for Women in Science

Association for World Education

Association Internationale de Droit Penal

Association of the Bar of the City of New York, The

Assumption College/Women’s Studies

AVSC International

Ayuda

B’nai B’rith Women

Bar Association of San Francisco, The

Black Women’s Agenda, Inc.

Boston Women’s Health Book Collective, Inc.

Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organization

California Women Lawyers

Campaign for the Earth Foundation

Care USA

Caritas-A Fund of the TIDES Foundation

Carter Center, The

Catholics for a Free Choice

Center for Constitutional Rights

Center for Development of International Law

Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law

Center for International Strategy, Technology & Policy

Center for Justice and International Law

Center for Policy Alternatives

Center for Population and Family Health/Prevention of Maternal Mortality

 Program

Center for Psychology and Social Change

Center for Reproductive Law and Policy, The

Center for Research on Women with Disabilities/Baylor College of

 Medicine

Center for the Study of the Global South

Center for the Study of Women and Society

Center for Women’s Global Leadership

Center of Concern

Page 48 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix VIII 

U.S. NGOs Accredited for Participation in

the UN Fourth World Conference on Women

Centre for Development and Population Activities

Centre for International Cooperation

Centre for Women, the Earth, the Divine, The

Child Health Foundation

Child Hope

Children’s Express Foundation

Children’s Fund for Southern Africa, Inc.

Chinese Immigrants Service, Inc.

Chinese Women’s Association of America

Christian Brothers University

Christian Children’s Fund

Church Women United

Church World Service and Witness

Citizens Network, The

Coalition Against Trafficking in Women

Coalition on Women and Religion/Church Council of Greater Seattle

Commission of the Churches on International Affairs

Committee of 200, The

Commonweal

Communication for Change, Inc.

Communications Coordination Committee for the United Nations

Concerned Women for America

Conference of Nongovernmental Organizations

Congregations of Saint Joseph

Congressional Human Rights Foundation

Connective Ministries

Conservation International

Consultation on Church Union

Consultative Group on Biological Diversity

Cooperative Housing Foundation

Coordinating Board of Jewish Organizations

Coordination in Development, Inc. (CODEL)

Council of World Organizations Concerned About AIDS

Council on Peace Research in History

Counterpart Foundation

Couple to Couple League International, Inc.

Cousteau Society

Covington Community Center

Creative Associates International, Inc.

Defence for Children International

Development Group for Alternative Policies, The (The Development GAP)

Dialogue on Diversity, Inc.

Page 49 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix VIII 

U.S. NGOs Accredited for Participation in

the UN Fourth World Conference on Women

Dimock Community Health Center

Dr. Med. Letten F. Saugstad Fund

Eagle Forum

Earth Island Institute

Earthways Projects of Earth Trust Foundation

Ecumenical Coalition on Women and Society (Institute on Religion and

 Democracy)

Elliot Institute for Social Sciences Research

Endometriosis Association

Environmental and Energy Study Institute

Environmental Defense Fund

Equality Now

Family Care International, Inc.

Family Health International

Family Life Council, Inc.

Family of the Americas Foundation, Inc.

Family Research Council

Family Therapy Practice Center

Family Violence Prevention Fund

Federally Employed Women, Inc.

Feminist Majority Foundation, The

Feminist Press

Feministas en Marcha

FLARE (Family, Life, America, Responsible Education)

Focus on the Family

Food for the Hungry International

Ford Foundation, The

Foundation for a Compassionate Society

Foundation for Global Community

Franciscan Health System

Franciscans International, Inc.

Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights

Fraternite Notre Dame, Inc.

Freedom Forum

Freedom From Hunger

Freedom House

Friedrich Ebert Foundation

Friends of the Earth

Friends of the Pennsylvania Commission for Women

Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quaker United Nations Office)

Page 50 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix VIII 

U.S. NGOs Accredited for Participation in

the UN Fourth World Conference on Women

Friendship Ambassadors Foundation

General Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Church

General Federation of Women’s Clubs

Girls Incorporated

Girls’ International Forum for Tomorrow

Global Alliance for Women’s Health

Global Coalition for Africa

Global Education Associates

Global Exchange

Global Focus: National Museum of Women in the Arts

Global Fund for Women, The

GlobaLearn

Grassroots Organizations Operating Together in Sisterhood

Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Council

Gullah Heritage Society

Haitian American Women Advocacy Network, Inc.

Harlem Women’s Committee/New Future Foundation, Inc.

Harvard Institute for International Development/MIT Women in

Development Group

Health for Humanity

Heifer Project International

Helen Keller International

Hmong National Development, Inc.

Human Lactation Center, Ltd., The

Human Rights Advocates

Human Rights in China

Human Rights Watch

Hunger Project

Indigenous Women’s Network

Indigenous World Association

Institute for Development Training

Institute for Global Security Studies

Institute for Reproductive Health

Institute for Urban Research/Morgan State University

Institute for Women’s Policy Research

Institute for Women, Law and Development

Institute of Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

Inter-American Parliamentary Group on Population and Development

International Association Against Torture

International Association for Advancement, Inc.

International Association for Feminist Economics

Page 51 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix VIII 

U.S. NGOs Accredited for Participation in

the UN Fourth World Conference on Women

International Association of Educators for World Peace

International Association of Women Judges & International Women Judges

 Foundation

International Catholic Child Bureau, Incorporated

International Center for Research on Women

International Coalition on Women and Credit

International Confederation of Christian Family Movements

International Organization of Indigenous Resource Development

International Cross-cultural Black Women’s Studies Institute

International Educational Development/Humanitarian Law Project

International Federation for the Protection of the Rights of Ethnic,

 Religious, Linguistic and Others

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission

International Health Awareness Network

International Human Rights Internship Program

International Human Rights Law group

International Immigrants Foundation

International Indian Treaty Council

International Institute for Human Resources Development in Health and

 Human Services

International Institute of Rural Reconstruction

International Lactation Consultant Association

International League for Human Rights

International Mahavir Jain Mission

International Network of Women of Color in Preparation for the Fourth

 World Conference on Women

International Planned Parenthood Federation/Western Hemisphere Region

International Political Science Association

International Projects Assistance Services

International Public Policy Institute

International Reproductive Rights Research Action Group

International Society for Community Development

International Studies and Programs

International Studies Association

International Synergy Institute

International Women’s Anthropology Conference

International Women’s Democracy Center

International Women’s Health Coalition

International Women’s Human Rights Law Clinic

International Women’s Human Rights Project of the Center for Law &

 Public Policy/St. John’s University School of Law

Page 52 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix VIII 

U.S. NGOs Accredited for Participation in

the UN Fourth World Conference on Women

International Women’s Media Foundation

International Women’s Rights Action Watch

International Women’s Tribune Center

International Women’s Writing Guild

IPAS (International Projects Assistance Services)

Iranian Women’s Studies Foundation (Bonyad E Pajuhesh-haye Zanane

 Iran)

Islamic African Relief Agency

John Snow, Inc. Research & Training Institute

Johns Hopkins Program for International Education in Reproductive

 Health

Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, Inc.

Katalysis North/South Development Partnership

Korean American Coalition on Jungshindae, Inc.

La Leche League International

Laubach Literacy International

Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

Leadership America

Leadership Conference for U.S. Dominican Religious

Leadership Conference of Women Religious

League of Women Voters of the United States

Legion of Good Will

Life Choices, Inc.

Loretto Community

MacArthur Foundation (The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur

 Foundation)

Madre, Inc.

Magee Womencare International

Majority Peoples’ Fund for the 21st Century

Margaret Sanger Center, International Planned Parenthood of New York

Marian College

Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic, Inc.

Massachusetts Citizens for Life, Inc.

Mathematical Association of America

Mautner Project for Lesbians With Cancer, The

Michigan State University (International Studies Program)

Midwives Alliance of North America

Mills College (Women’s Leadership Institute)

Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights

Mira Med Institute

Moa Foundation

Page 53 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix VIII 

U.S. NGOs Accredited for Participation in

the UN Fourth World Conference on Women

Mobility International U.S.A.

Moral Re-armament, Inc.

Mothers and Others for a Livable Planet

Mothers at Home

Ms. Foundation for Women

Multicultural Family and Youth Foundation

Muslim Women’s League

Muslim World League

N.C. Council for Women

Na’amat USA, The Women’s Labour Zionist Organization of America, Inc.

NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund

National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League

National Asian Women’s Health Organization

National Association of Human Rights Workers

National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs,

Inc.

National Association of Women Business Owners

National Association of Women Lawyers

National Audubon Society

National Bar Association/Women’s Division and the International Law

Section

National Black Women’s Health Project, Inc.

National Breast Cancer Coalition, The

National Center on Women and Family Law, Inc.

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

National Coalition of 100 Black Women

National Committee for Democratic Iran

National Committee on the United Nations Convention on the Elimination

 of Discrimination Against Women

National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, Inc.

National Congress of Neighborhood Women

National Council for International Health

National Council for International Health (DC)

National Council for Research on Women

National Council of Jewish Women

National Council of Negro Women

National Council of Women of the United States, Inc.

National Council on Family Relations

National Family Farm Coalition

National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association

National Federation of Press Women

National Foundation for Women Business Owners

Page 54 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix VIII 

U.S. NGOs Accredited for Participation in

the UN Fourth World Conference on Women

National Hispanic Council on Aging

National Institute for Leadership Development

National Institute of Womanhood, The

National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council

National Latina Health Organization

National Lawyers Guild

National Network of Women’s Funds

National Organization for Women, Inc.

National Organization of Arab-American Women, Inc.

National Organization of Italian American Women

National Political Congress of Black Women (National Office)

National Resource Center on Domestic Violence/Pennsylvania Coalition

 Against Domestic Violence

National Right to Life/Educational Trust Fund

National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States

National Wildlife Federation

National Women and HIV/AIDS Project, Inc.

National Women’s Conference Center

National Women’s Economic Alliance

National Women’s Law Center1

National Women’s Political Caucus

National Women’s Studies Association

Native American Community Board

Natural Resources Defense Council

Network of East-West Women

Network of Light

New Humanity

North America Taiwanese Women’s Association

North-South Center

Nuclear Age Peace Foundation

Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, The

Office of Higher Education/American Council on Education

Older Women’s League

One World Now, Inc.

Opportunities Industrialization Centers International, Inc.

Organizing Committee/People’s Decade of Human Rights Education

Oxfam America

Pacific Rim Institute for Development and Education (PRIDE)

PACT (Private Agencies Collaborating Together) Pan Pacific & Southeast

Asia Women’s Association International

Parents United for Child Care

Page 55 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix VIII 

U.S. NGOs Accredited for Participation in

the UN Fourth World Conference on Women

Park Ridge Center

Parliamentarians for Global Action

Partners in Health Protection, Inc.

Partners of the Americas

Pathfinder International

Pathways to Peace

Peace Action

Peace History Society (formerly Council on Peace Research in History)

Peace Links, Inc.

Peacepower Foundation

People-Centered Development Forum

Philadelphia Congress of the National Political Congress of Black Women

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends

Philippine American Foundation

Physicians for Social Responsibility

Pittsburgh Beijing ’95 and Beyond

Plan International

Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Plenty

Plutonium Free Future Women’s Network

Population Action International

Population Communications

Population Communications International

Population Institute

Population Reference Bureau, Inc.

Population Resource Center

Presbyterian Church (USA)

Prison Fellowship International

Pro Women (Programs for Women)

Project Kesher

Proutist Universal, Inc.

Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Religious Consultation on Population, Reproductive Health and Ethics

Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Research Action Information Network for Bodily Integrity of Women

Results, Inc.

Ribbon International

Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights

Rockford Institute Center on the Family in America, The

Rural Development Leadership Network

Rutherford Institute, The

Page 56 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix VIII 

U.S. NGOs Accredited for Participation in

the UN Fourth World Conference on Women

Sacramento Women’s Network of the CSUS Multi-Cultural Center

San Diego Economic Conversion Council

San Diego State University/International Institute for Human Resources

 Development

Save the Children Foundation

Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women and Youth, National Conferences for

 Catholic Bishops

Seep Network, Inc.

Servas International (U.S.)

Shaler Adams Foundation

Sigma Delta Epsilon Graduate Women in Science, Inc.

Sisterhood Is Global Institute

Sisterlove, Inc.

Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace

Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues

Sociologists for Women in Society

Solar Cookers International

Southwest Community Resources, Inc.

Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice

St. Joan’s International Alliance

Synergos Institute, The

Sunray Meditation Society

Talking Leaves Deep Ecology Education Project

Tam Cam Foundation, Inc.

Task Force for Child Survival and Development, The

Temple of Understanding

Temple University (Commonwealth)

Tinker Institute on International Law & Organizations

Tonantzin Land Institute

Trickle Up Program

True Majority, Inc., The

U & O Development Corporation, The

UCC Office for Church in Society

Union of Arab Lawyers

Unitarian Universalist Association

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee

United Church of Christ (United Church Board for Ministries and United

 Church of Christ Coordinating Committee)

United Methodist Church/General Board of Church and Society

United Methodist Office, United Nations Association of USA

United Nations Association of San Diego

United Nations Association of USA

United Neighborhood Centres of America, Inc.

Page 57 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix VIII 

U.S. NGOs Accredited for Participation in

the UN Fourth World Conference on Women

United States Catholic Conference

United States Committee for UNICEF

United States Committee for UNIFEM

Universal Institute, Inc./Women of Peace

University of Global Education

U.S.-China People’s Friendship Association

Utah Association of Women

Value of Life Committee, Inc.

Vietnamese Women Overseas Association

W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Wakefield Women’s Institute

Wellstart International

Western Consortium for Public Health (aka Pacific Institute for Women’s

 Health)

Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development-Women’s

 Leadership Program

Wittenberg Center for Alternative Resources, Inc., The

Woman’s National Democratic Club-Educational Foundation

Women Empowering Women of Indian Nations

Women for Faith and Family

Women for International Peace and Arbitration

Women for Meaningful Summits

Women in Film (Los Angeles)

Women in International Security

Women of All Colors

Women of Color Resource Center

Women of Reform Judaism, The Federation of Temple Sisterhoods

Women of the World

Women of Vision

Women Organized Resources for Liberia’s Development, Inc. (WORLD,

 Inc.)

Women Refugees Project at Cambridge and Somerville Legal

 Services/Harvard Immigration and Refugee Program

Women’s Action for New Directions, Inc.

Women’s Affairs Committee of U.S.-Shanghai Association for Economic

 and Technological Exchange

Women’s American ORT (Organization for Rehabilitation Through

 Training)

Women’s Caucus, International AIDS Society (New York State Psychiatric

 Institute/HIV Center for Clinic & Behavioural Studies)

Page 58 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix VIII 

U.S. NGOs Accredited for Participation in

the UN Fourth World Conference on Women

Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children

Women’s Council of Dallas County

Women’s Council of the University of Missouri-Kansas City

Women’s Environment and Development Organization

Women’s Federation for World Peace, International

Women’s Freedom Network

Women’s Information Network

Women’s Initiative for Self Employment

Women’s International Zionist Organization

Women’s Leadership Project

Women’s League for Conservative Judaism

Women’s Research and Education Fund, Inc., of The National Association

 of Commissions for Women

Women’s Sports Foundation

Women’s Studies Center

Women’s World (World Organization for Rights, Literature and

 Development)

Women’s World Banking

Women, Men and Media

World Alliance of Reformed Churches

World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation—U.S. Branch

World Association of Former United Nations Interns and Fellows, Inc.

World Conference on Religion and Peace

World Council for Curriculum and Instruction

World Council of Credit Unions

World Federalist Association

World Federalist Movement

World Federation for Mental Health

World Federation of Methodist Women

World Federation of Public Health Associations

World Hunger Year

World Information Transfer

World Jewish Congress

World Muslim Congress

World Organization for the Family

World ORT Union

World Population Society

World Press Freedom Committee

World Share, Inc.

World Sustainable Agriculture Association

World Union for Progressive Judaism

World Vision International

Page 59 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix VIII 

U.S. NGOs Accredited for Participation in

the UN Fourth World Conference on Women

Worldwide Network (Women in Development and Environment)

YWCA of USA

Zero Population Growth

Zigen Fund, The

Zonta International

Source: Conference Secretariat, the UN Fourth World Conference on Women.

Page 60 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix IX 

U.S. NGOs Not Accredited for Participation

in the UN Fourth World Conference on

Women

The Secretariat did not recommend 65 U.S. NGOs for accreditation. Four

U.S. NGOs recommended by the Secretariat were not accredited after their

accreditation was challenged by a particular country. Following are the

Secretariat’s reasons for not recommending NGOs:

(1) The organization was strictly local or provided insufficient evidence to

demonstrate that it had national or international membership/activities.

(2) The primary objective and/or purpose of the organization was either

not clearly relevant or seemed to be outside the substantive scope of the

Conference and its preparatory process.

(3) Not enough information was supplied to enable the Secretariat to

complete its review.

(4) The group was not a well-established, bona fide nongovernmental

organization and/or did not provide information to demonstrate that it was

an incorporated organization in the country in which it maintained its

headquarters.

In the following list we name the 69 U.S. NGOs that were not accredited to

the UN Fourth World Conference on Women. After each name, we list the

reasons for nonaccreditation. We express these reasons by listing either

the numbers that correspond to the reasons cited above or the name of the

country that objected to an NGO’s accreditation.

Akosua Visions (1) (3)

American Indian Law Alliance (3)

Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team (India)

Asian Pacific Environmental Network (2) (3)

Association of Iranian Women USA (Iran)

Atlantic County Advisory Commission on Women (1) (3)

Behavioral Science Department, Raymond Walters College/

 University of Cincinnati (1) (3)

Black Americans for Life (1) (3)

California Displaced Homemakers Network (1) (3)

Carondelet Lifecare Ministries (1) (3)

Catholic Campaign for America, The (2) (3)

Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights (2) (3)

Center for Experiential Learning, The (2) (3)

Center for Natural and Traditional Medicines (2) (3)

Page 61 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix IX 

U.S. NGOs Not Accredited for Participation

in the UN Fourth World Conference on

Women

Centre for Women’s and Children’s Policy Research and Development

 (1) (4) (3)

Clergywomen’s Interfaith Institute in the Berkshires (1) (3)

Clergywomen’s Interfaith Institute (1) (3)

Coalition of Under-Represented Women (1) (3)

Community College of Denver (1) (3)

Conrad Program (3)

Demographic & Health Surveys Program, Macro International, Inc. (4) (3)

Diana Foundation, The (1) (3)

Fielding Institute, The (1) (2) (3)

Fund for New Priorities in America (2) (3)

Getting It Gazette (3)

Global Black Women’s Network (1) (4) (3)

Global Interactive Marketing, Ltd. (Formerly Nu-Graphic Design A New

 York Corp.) (1) (4) (3)

Good Karma, Inc. (2) (3)

Highlander Research and Education Center (3)

Institute for Environmental Studies/University of Wisconsin-Madison (1)

International Campaign for Tibet (2)

International Committee of Lawyers for Tibet (China)

International Leadership Institute (4) (3)

Islamic Society of North America (3)

John Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs (1) (2) (3)

Kentucky Commission on Human Rights (1) (3)

Lorain County Community College—Women’s Link (1) (3)

Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas (1) (3)

Minnesota International Center (1) (3)

Missouri Women’s Council (1) (3)

National Coalition Building Institute (2) (3)

National Committee of Women for Democratic Iran (Iran)

National League of Cities (2) (3)

National Organization of Catholic Home Educators (2) (3)

Neighborhood Community Development Center of Urban Mission Min.

 Cor. (1) (3)

North Shore Women’s Newspaper (1) (4) (3)

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and Its Committee on

 Women and Ireland (1) (3)

Northern New Jersey Chinese Association (1) (3)

Pacific and Asian American Center for Theology and Strategies (2) (3)

Peace Initiatives (2) (3)

Reprotect LC (4) (3)

Page 62 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix IX 

U.S. NGOs Not Accredited for Participation

in the UN Fourth World Conference on

Women

Roots International—Rebirth of Old Time Truths and Systems (2) (3)

Samhati (1) (3)

Social Innovations, Inc. (4) (3)

Society for Calligraphy (2)

Southerners for Economic Justice (1) (3)

Southwest Organizing Project (A Project of Southwest Community

 Resources, Inc.) (1) (3)

Tibetan Rights Campaign (China)

The Trusteeship (1) (3)

United University Professions (1) (3)

Vermont-National Education Association (1) (3)

Very Special Arts, South Carolina (1) (3)

Way of the Cross Baptist Church Ministries, The (2) (3)

Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ (1) (3)

Womanspace in Great Neck (1) (3)

Women’s Group, Inc. (4) (3)

Women’s Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program (1) (3)

Women’s Way (1) (3)

World League for Freedom and Democracy (2) (3)

Page 63 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix X 

U.S. NGO Views on UN Accreditation

Process and Access to Conference

We talked to 28 U.S. NGOs that applied for accreditation to the

Conference—23 that were accredited to attended the Conference and 5

that were not accredited.1

 Of the accredited NGOs, 13 had prior UN

conference and forum experience and were able to compare their

experience in China with other conferences. Their views are summarized

below.

U.S. NGO Opinions on

the Fairness and

Transparency of the

Accreditation Process

Mixed

The UN instructed the Conference Secretariat to notify NGOs that had not

been accredited of the status of their applications and to accept additional

supporting information. Of the 23 accredited NGOs we interviewed, 16 said

that both the accreditation process was fair and reasons for decisions

clear, while 7 said they did not understand the process by which the

decisions were made. Sixteen NGOs we spoke with were accredited on the

basis of their initial applications, while 6 said they were asked for

additional information to support their applications before being

recommended for accreditation. Information in that regard could not be

obtained for the remaining NGO.

Of the five NGOs we interviewed that were not recommended for

accreditation or were recommended but not granted accreditation, one

believed that the process was fair and reasons for decisions were clear.

The other four nonaccredited NGOs asserted that the decision-making

process was not transparent and questioned its fairness. Three NGOs not

accredited stated that they were never notified of the status of their

applications or the reasons for nonaccreditation. Two of the five

nonaccredited NGOs believed that they were not accredited because of

political reasons. Two others said their organizations were not given an

opportunity to submit additional information or were not informed of the

opportunity to submit more information in time to collect the necessary

documentation.

Distance Between

Conference and

Forum Cited as Major

Obstacle

The site of the NGO meetings that paralleled those of UN conferences are

negotiated by the NGO organizing committees, completely separate from

agreements between the UN and the host country. An agreement to hold

the NGO Forum in Huairou, China, was reached in June 1995 after China

retracted its offer of the Beijing Workers’ Sports Center as the NGO meeting

site.

1

We attempted to talk with 48 NGOs selected from UN lists of accredited and nonaccredited NGOs. We

were able to discuss issues with 28.

Page 64 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
Appendix X 

U.S. NGO Views on UN Accreditation

Process and Access to Conference

The distance between the two sites—53 kilometers—was cited as the

primary obstacle to accessibility of the Conference. Ten of the NGOs who

attended the Conference and Forum said that the distance between the

meeting sites in Beijing and Huairou obstructed interchange between NGOs

and Conference official delegations. The Chinese provided buses and a

dedicated road to facilitate movement between the two sites, but five NGO

representatives complained that the buses were crowded and the

schedules were not always convenient. Electronic communications that

linked the two meetings were available.

Opinions also varied about the adequacy of the facilities for the NGO

Forum. Ten NGOs that commented on the facilities found them adequate,

whereas eight noted the lack of handicapped access and muddy conditions

of the meeting areas to support their assessment that facilities were

inadequate. NGOs with Taiwan/Tibet interests also reported acts of

intimidation by Chinese authorities.

(711156) Page 65 GAO/NSIAD-96-79BR United Nations
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