United
Nations Headquarters, New York City, May 17, 2023
Bonaire
Human Rights Organization (BHRO) granted Special Consultative Status of United
Nations (UN) Economic and Social Council
The BHRO
delegation marked the 420th day on the road as they continue to lobby in Latin
America and Caribbean. Last Sunday, they traveled to the UN Headquarters in New
York City to take up the Invitation of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
of the UN, to attend meetings from 15th - 23rd May.
The ECOSOC is
one of the six principal organs of the UN, responsible for the direction and
coordination of the economic, social, humanitarian, and cultural activities.
These
meetings will be from 10 am to 6 pm every day at the UN. Members of the
commission are comprised of 54 countries, 14 from Africa, 11 from Asia, 6 from
Eastern Europe, 10 from Latin America and Caribbean, 13 from Western Europe and
other areas including countries, such as Sweden, Brazil, Italy, Mexico, etc., and
four permanent members of the Security Council, United States, Russia, United
Kingdom and France. Fortunately for us, The Netherlands was not re-elected
after 2021 as a member of the ECOSOC.
The BHRO
delegation’s objective is to witness and participate in the 2023 Resumed
Session of the Committee meetings, and to witness if BHRO will be considered as
a Special Consultative Status in the UN.
On Day 2,
May 16, 2023, at 10:45 BHRO was called up for consideration by the Honorable
Chair Mrs. Petronellas Nyagura of Zimbabwe. There was a 2-minute silence for
the Commission members delegates of ECOSOC to question or object. Both members
of BHRO were very nervous, since many organizations were questioned by them for
various reasons. If rejected, BHRO would have to wait possibly another year or
more to be considered again. Fortunately,
no member delegates had questions nor objections, and BHRO was instantly
granted this groundbreaking historical Special Consultative Status of the UN’s
ECOSOC.
BHRO
continues to make rapid development internationally in the field of Human
Rights of Bonaire, as our organization was granted the world highest
recognition as civil society NGO of Special Consultative Status of the UN. That
will officially open new doors and possibilities for BHRO and its trajectory to
re-list Bonaire on the UN’s Non-Self-Governing-Territories. In addition to this
great milestone, last month, BHRO was granted Special Status of Associate
Member by CARICOM Reparations Commission.
With the
decision of UN Commission taken on this historical day, May 16, 2023, where for
the first time in history our Bonaire People and their Human Rights have been
internationally recognized and accredited representation at the UN, our People’s
voices will be heard.
BHRO will
strive together with the UN’s ECOSOC for possibilities to realize the deferred Social
and Economic Rights of our Bonerian People.