India Freedom Now Refrains from Voting on UN Resolution on the American NGO

India has abstained from voting on a UN resolution that granted special consultative status to an American NGO that works to free political prisoners across the world. India was among the 11 countries that abstained from voting on the resolution in the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on 20th July to grant special consultative non-governmental Organization (NGO) status to the Freedom Now group.

  • The United Nations Economic and Social Council constitutes one of the principal organs of the United Nations. It is responsible for coordinating the economic, social and related work of 14 UN specialized agencies, their functional commissions and five regional commissions.
  • Of the 54 ECOSOC members present, 29 voted in favour of the resolution sponsored by Albania, Australia, Estonia, France, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, UK, US and Uruguay.
  • Nine nations, including China and Pakistan voted against the resolution.
  • Freedom Now said being granted the status is important not merely as acknowledgement of its important work but to provide the Organisation, its imprisoned clients, and their families a platform to address the UN Human Rights Council, ECOSOC, and the General Assembly during relevant discussions.
  • Freedom now is a US-based non-partisan NGO that works to free individual prisoners of conscience through focused legal, political, and public relations advocacy efforts.

Examrace Team at Jul 23, 2015