|
Advocacy Blog
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Legislation Introduced Conditioning U.N. funding on Dissociating itself from NGOs Tied to Terrorism
Shortly before Congress left for their August recess, Rep. Zack Wamp (R-TN) introduced HR 3348, the United Nations Economic and Social Council Accountability Act of 2007. The bill calls on the Secretary of State to withhold funds from the UN unless it removes consultative status for all charitable organizations with any terrorist connections. While it directs the UN to investigate such organizations, it seems to conclude that the designation of an organization by the US or the UN is irrefutable. This should point the discussion back to the problem that there is a lack of due process and transparency in the designation process. The U.N. NGO committee is now reviewing the matter.
According to the New York Sun; "The effort comes amid reports that a humanitarian organization awarded 'consultative status' by the U.N. Economic and Social Council, the Saudi Arabia-based International Islamic Relief Organization, has separately been designated by the Treasury Department and the United Nations as being a front for Al Qaeda."
Posted by Amanda Adams
|