March 3, 2017

www.ngocongo.org

The Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship

with the United Nations

CoNGO Regional Committee in Asia-Pacific (RCAP)

Background Document
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

CoNGO HISTORY

Founded in 1948, CoNGO is an independent, international, non-profit membership association of

NGOs. CoNGO encourages and facilitates the participation of NGOs in United Nations debates and
decision-making, and has been committed to the same goals and values as the UN for the almost 70
years of its existence. CoNGO and its members have always supported and worked for the ideals
enshrined in the UN Charter, having frequently drawn critical attention to the need for UN Member
States to purposefully and faithfully adhere to, live up to, and give substance to the goals and values
of the Charter.

Respecting and supporting the role of the UN, CoNGO is committed to broad international action to
achieve its fundamental goals and values.

CoNGO AND ESCAP COMPLEMENTARITY

RCAP will work with United Nations ESCAP (UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the
Pacific) to pursue and accomplish mutual goals, and will endeavour to bolster the voice of civil
society throughout the region, with particular focus on the implementation of the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2030. RCAP will build upon and seek to enhance the existing
extensive regional cooperation between Asia-Pacific civil society and ESCAP.

CoNGO

Working from its international secretariat offices in Geneva, New York and Vienna, CoNGO is
engaged in an ambitious outreach programme, providing support for NGOs at regional and national
levels to enhance their involvement with the UN, through new partnerships, regional consultations
and co-sponsored events.

Monitoring changes taking place in the international arena including within the UN, CoNGO is well
placed to provide guidance and support to NGOs worldwide. Its structure includes a wide range of
Substantive Committees, providing advocacy and input on an ongoing basis to ECOSOC and many
other UN bodies in the economic, social, cultural, educational, health and related fields. CoNGO
Substantive Committees are also active in human rights, gender issues, sustainable development,
peace and disarmament and ageing, among others.

1/8
 March 3, 2017

www.ngocongo.org

Major objectives of CoNGO include:

1) Improving NGO accessibility and presence at all levels of the UN

2) Enhancing the effective engagement of NGOs with the UN
3) Strengthening the dialogue between the UN and NGOs
4) Engaging NGOs to work together on issues of common interest
5) Developing education and capacity
6) Working in partnership with UN civil society focal points
7) Advocating on the principles and goals that NGOs and the UN share
8) Defending the space for civil society organisations as policy advocates at national and international
levels

United Nations ESCAP

United Nations ESCAP’s mission to address regional challenges in the following core areas provides a
forum for its 53 Member States to promote regional cooperation: Sustainable Development, Social
Development, Environment and Development and sub-regional activities for development.

THE RCAP VISION

RCAP will be launched on May 12-13, 2017, prior to the ESCAP 73rd Commission Session. RCAP will
strive to support civil society organisations and informed, empowered and committed NGOs in the
Asia-Pacific region. The RCAP community will seek to be fully associated with UN decision-making
processes and programmes leading to a better world, a world of economic and social justice.

THE RCAP Mission

RCAP will join in the strengthening of a dynamic and informed Asia-Pacific NGO/CSO community
influencing policies and actions at all levels of the UN. It will foster active NGO/CSO participation in
Thematic Committees on the major issues facing the region, in particular those related to the SDGs.

Potential RCAP Themes

1) Civil Society Space 5) Health

2) Disarmament, Security and Nuclear 6) Human Rights

Non-proliferation/Peace 7) Information and Technology

3) Sustainable Development 8) Infrastructure

4) Finance and Economic Affairs 9) Social Development

2/8
 March 3, 2017

www.ngocongo.org

CoNGO Regional Committee in Asia-Pacific (RCAP)

Explanatory Memorandum and Invitation to Comment

1. Since its foundation in 1948, CoNGO has been an increasingly relevant and needed interface
between, on the one hand, the widest-ranging non-governmental and civil society communities and,
on the other hand, the complex and multifaceted United Nations System (consisting of more than 50
Commissions, Agencies, Secretariats, Offices, Institutes, Treaty Bodies, Platforms and other organs).

2. CoNGO defends and promotes the goals, values and principles that Civil Society and the United
Nation share, most of which are enshrined in The United Nation Charter. This aspirational and
inspirational document should be more fully and faithfully adhered to by the governments which
commit themselves to its principles by joining the United Nations Organization. One of those
principles is the Consultative Status for NGOs, complemented by a deepening set of other Civil
Society/UN relationships – partnerships, operational arrangements, contracted research and analysis,
involvement in policy debates and negotiations, citizenship education and public information
campaigns, input of scientific/technical/professional programmatic content, advocacy for and
attendance at Summits and Conventions, supporting and facilitating the implementation of
multilateral agreements, and even in certain cases fundraising for UN programmes.

3. Over its almost 70 years of existence, CoNGO has become a unique repository of knowledge on all
the above. CoNGO knows the precedents, knows the practices, knows the limitations, and most
importantly knows the opportunities in Civil Society – UN cooperation. Through the CoNGO Regional
Committee in Asia-Pacific (RCAP) CoNGO offers its experience to Civil Society and UN bodies in the
Asia-Pacific Region to develop further opportunities for cooperation.

4. Among its 450 member organisations, CoNGO has many International NGOs with affiliates
throughout the Asia-Pacific Region, as well as a good number of regional or national NGOs/CSOs.
These are all invited to the May 12-13 RCAP meeting together with many more that figure in
CoNGO’s Asia-Pacific database. There are of course several effective CSO and NGO cooperative
mechanisms implanted within the AP region, often directly related to the priorities and energies of
United Nations ESCAP. CoNGO has no desire – or means – to overlap with these, but will hope to
assist with identifying any gaps or new synergies in working with the UN System. CoNGO is firmly
committed to seeing a stronger, more effective UN System, better funded by its member
governments, and tasked by these member governments with using its competence to bring forth
lasting solutions to the world’s many interlinked problems. Competent and responsible input from
NGOs and CSOs enhances intergovernmental output, leading to decisions that are more coherent
bases for ground level implementation. One hoped-for outcome of the RCAP initiative will be the
opening up of broader AP NGO/CSO access throughout the UN System.

3/8
 March 3, 2017

www.ngocongo.org

5. It is in this context that the RCAP meeting will put the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in
the centre of discussions. The SDGs provide an unprecedented opportunity for both UN bodies and
CSOs to rise out of silos, to focus on the needs of future generations, to reinforce each other’s
commitments and practices. CoNGO has thus drawn up the attached document (Proposal for RCAP
Thematic Committees) which highlights CoNGO’s extensive network of Substantive Committees,
shows how their aims match with ESCAP’s themes, and the inter-linkages with the 17 SDGs. If the
RCAP meeting finds this useful and decides to pursue this initiative, this document provides
indication for follow-up thematic work. Whatever emphases are chosen will of course be based on
the experience and desiderata of the participating organisations. Form will follow content.

6. In addition, therefore, to providing the above explanatory notes on CoNGO’s outlook and
motivation, all invited organisations are invited to input comments and proposals. These will serve
to give shape to the detailed agenda. Please respond at your convenience to rcap@ngocongo.org.

Cyril Ritchie
President of CoNGO

4/8
 March 3, 2017

www.ngocongo.org

Proposed RCAP Thematic Committees

Relevant ESCAP Proposed RCAP related
No. CoNGO Topics
Committees Thematic Committees SDGs
1 Ageing Social Development Social Development 1
2 Children's Rights Human Rights 5
3 Civil Society Space Civil Society Space 17
Climate Change/
Environment/
Human Settlements/ Environment and 6,7,11,12,
4 Sustainable Development
Sustainable Energy/ Development 13,14,15
Sustainable
Development
Crime Prevention and
5 16
Criminal Justice
Development/
6 Social Development/ Social Development Social Development 1
Social Protection Floor
7 Disability Social Development 1

Disarmament, Security Disarmament, Security and

8 and Nuclear Non- Nuclear Non-proliferation/ 16
proliferation/ Peace Peace

9 Education Social Development 4

10 Family Social Development 1
Freedom of Religion &
11 Human Rights All
Belief
12 HIV/AIDS Social Development Health 3
13 Human Rights Human Rights All
ICT and Disaster Risk ICT and Disaster Risk Information and
14 9
Reduction/ Outer Space Reduction Technology

Rights of Indigenous
15 Human Rights All
Peoples

Macroeconomic
Policy,
Macroeconomic Policy,
Poverty Reduction Finance and Economic
16 Poverty Reduction and 1,2,8,10,12
and Affairs
Inclusive Development
Inclusive
Development

5/8
 March 3, 2017

www.ngocongo.org

17 Mental Health Health 3

18 Migration and Refugees Social Development Social Development 1
19 Narcotic Drugs Health 3

Population incl. Sexual

20 and Reproductive Health Social Development Social Development 3, 5
and Rights

21 Rare Diseases Health 3

Spirituality, Values &
22
Global Concerns
Information and
23 Statistics Statistics 9
Technology
Status of Women/
24 Social Development Human Rights 5
Gender Equality
Trade and Finance and Economic
25 Trade and Investment 9, 10
Investment Affairs
26 Transport Transport Infrastructure 7, 9

6/8
 March 3, 2017

www.ngocongo.org

RCAP Practical Information

1. The meeting will be held on Friday May 12 and Saturday May 13, 2017 from 09.30 to 13.00 and
from 14.30 to 17.30 each day. Part of the meetings will be in Plenary Session and part in thematic
groups. The meeting rooms will be indicated on the Siam University maps that will be included in
participants` folders.

2. The meeting will be conducted in English.

3. As is known, following the regretted death on October 13, 2016 of the Thai Monarch, His Majesty
King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the Thai authorities decided a national twelve-month mourning period.
The Thai authorities expect that residents and visitors will not wear technicolor clothes during the
national mourning period.

4. Siam University has provided information (p.8/8) on hotels in the neighbourhood. All participants
are responsible for making and paying for their hotel bookings. Choosing a hotel close to a BTS (the
metropolitan light-railway system) station is recommended, as the BTS is by far the most efficient
way to get around Bangkok. Siam University is around 500 meters away from Bangwa station. For
information on BTS, http://www.transitbangkok.com/bts/html

5. Self-service lunches will be available in Siam University on both days. For evening meals, many
restaurants are available in the vicinity, including in the hotels.

6. During the 2 days a RCAP Conference Office will be open a short distance from the meeting rooms.
CoNGO personnel and Siam University interns will be available to respond to participants’ questions.

7. Participants are welcome to bring posters and printed material illustrating their organisations’
programmes and constituencies. A display area will be available close to the meeting rooms. Posters
may be approximately 80cm x 40cm, and can be hung in the display area from May 11 or 12.

8. CoNGO Facebook Page: To get information on the RCAP Meeting, NGOs and CSOs in Asia-Pacific
may go to https://www.facebook.com/ngocongoRCAP/ or type 'The Conference of NGOs RCAP' at
Facebook.

7/8
 March 3, 2017

www.ngocongo.org

Bangkok Hotel List

1. Bed By Tha-Pra Hotel & Apartment (0.7km from BTS Bangwa)
https://www.hotels.com, www.booking.com

Price: Approximately 650 baht with breakfast

Address: 134/12-14 Phet Kasem Rd, Khwaeng Pak Khlong Phasi Charoen, Khet Phasi
Charoen, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10160, Bangkok
Phone: +66 2 868 6888

2. Private room condo (0.1km from BTS Bangwa)

www.booking.com

Price: Approx. 1200-1800 baht

Address: 398/16, D Condo Campus Resort Rachaphruk - Charan 13, Rachaphruk
Road, Bang Waek, Phasi Charoen, 10160 Bangkok, Thailand

3. A House Boutique Guest house (0.7km from Bts)

www.agoda.com/Hotels/Deals ‎, www.booking.com

Price: Approx. 600 baht

Address: 273/169 Soi Tedthai 53 paseechaleon, Bangkok, BM 10210
Phone: +66 2 869 1288

4. Jolly Suites & Spa Hotel (Near Talardphu BTS)

www.jollysuites.com/index.php/pet-th-home, www.agoda.com/Hotels/Deals

Price: Approx. 1100 Baht

Address: 1421 Soi Ratchada-Thapra 13 Rim Thang Rod Fai RD., TalardPhu, Thonburi,
Bangkok, 10600

5 Holiday Inn Bangkok Silom (Near Sursak BTS)

www.holidayinn.com/Bangkok, https://www.agoda.com

Price: Approx. 3000 Baht

Address: 981 Silom Rd, Khwaeng Silom, Khet Bang Rak, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon
10500 / Phone: +66 2 238 4300

8/8