"This is the gateway for NGOs into the United Nations," said Eleanor Openshaw of the U.S.-based International Service for Human Rights. UN credentials also give them access to the top human rights policy-making body: the Human Rights Council in Geneva. These include women's rights, reproductive rights, minority rights, freedom of expression and association as well sensitive country-specific issues. "It is increasingly clear that the NGO committee acts more and more like an anti-NGO committee," Samantha Power said at the time. 'The NGO committee acts more and more like an anti-NGO committee,' said then U.S. ambassador to the UN Samantha Power in 2016.

Source: CBC News January 21, 2018 10:00 UTC