Open Letter to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
Subject: Request for the Withdrawal of Consultative Status of ACDHRS for Violations of Neutrality and Independence
To: His Excellency the President of ECOSOC
CC: Members of the Committee on NGOs
Dear Excellency,
We, the undersigned Independent UN Watch, a non governmental organisation which monitor the work of civil society within the UN and the UN agencies write to formally request that the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) initiate a review of the consultative status of the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) due to its violations of the principles of neutrality, independence, and integrity required of organizations holding this status. Recent evidence suggests that ACDHRS has engaged in activities that compromise its role as an impartial civil society actor by aligning itself with the political and foreign policy interests of specific UN member states.
Violations of ECOSOC’s Principles
ECOSOC grants consultative status to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) under the expectation that they remain independent from undue influence by any government or political entity. However, ACDHRS has reportedly been operating under the direct influence of lobbying groups representing the interests of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain. The organization has received substantial financial support from these entities and has subsequently refocused its advocacy efforts to align with their foreign policy agendas, undermining its credibility as an independent human rights organization.
Additionally, it has come to light that Mr. Biro Diawarra, a key figure within ACDHRS, has been actively involved in recruiting other African NGOs to work in favor of UAE interests in Geneva. Reports indicate that he operates under the direct guidance of Isa al Arabi, a Bahraini activist with close ties to Gulf state lobbying networks. This direct political engagement contradicts the fundamental principles that govern the relationship between civil society organizations and ECOSOC.
Breach of UN NGO Committee Standards
Under ECOSOC Resolution 1996/31, NGOs in consultative status are required to:
1. Maintain independence and neutrality, avoiding influence from any specific government.
2. Act in the interests of global civil society, rather than promoting the geopolitical objectives of individual states.
3. Contribute to the work of ECOSOC and the UN, rather than functioning as a lobbying tool for state actors.
By acting as a vehicle for UAE and Bahraini influence at the UN, ACDHRS has violated these core requirements. Instead of remaining an impartial human rights organization, it has become an instrument of soft power, facilitating diplomatic objectives rather than advocating for universal human rights.
Call for Action
Given these serious violations, we respectfully urge ECOSOC to:
• Launch a formal review of ACDHRS’s consultative status through the Committee on NGOs.
• Suspend or revoke its status if it is found to be operating in violation of Resolution 1996/31.
• Reaffirm the importance of NGO neutrality and independence in ECOSOC’s work.
We trust that ECOSOC will take this matter seriously and uphold the integrity of civil society engagement at the United Nations. We remain available to provide further information or testimony regarding these concerns.
Sincerely,
Laura J Adams
Independent UN Watch
