PHM-Exch> WHO criticised for not following policy on recognising NGOs

[Claudio Schuftan]

Times of India
WHO criticised for not following policy on recognising NGOsJan 31, 2014,
09.34PM IST TNN[ Rema Nagarajan ]

NEW DELHI: Civil society groups have expressed disappointment with the
number of "industry groupings" that have "incorrectly gained NGO status"
with the World Health Organization (WHO). There are 187 organizations or
networks recognized as NGOs in official relations with the WHO.

According to the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), a new
entrant into this WHO list of NGOs, industry groups which have been
recognized as NGOs by WHO include Croplife International (representing
Monsanto, Syngenta, Bayer, CropScience, Dow Agrosciences, DuPont and other
companies promoting GMO technologies ) the International Federation of
Pharmaceutical Manufactures and Associations, International Life Sciences
Institute (representing Nestle, Coca Cola, Kellogg, Pepsi, Monsanto,
Ajinomoto, Danone, General Mills and others) and the Industry Council for
Development (representing Nestle, Mars, Unilever and Ajinomoto). "All are
guided by market profit-making logic (whose primary interest clashes with
that of WHO). Their inclusion goes against WHO's current NGO policy," said
a statement issued by IBFAN.

One of the main criteria for admission of NGOs into official relations with
the WHO is that "its aims and activities shall be in conformity with the
spirit, purposes and principles of the Constitution of WHO, shall centre on
development work in health or health-related fields, and shall be free from
concerns which are primarily of a commercial or profit-making nature."

WHO's principles governing relations with NGOs states: "The objectives of
WHO's collaboration with NGOs are to promote the policies, strategies and
programmes derived from the decisions of the Organization's governing
bodies; to collaborate with regard to various WHO programmes in jointly
agreed activities to implement these strategies; and to play an appropriate
role in ensuring the harmonizing of intersectoral interests among the
various sectoral bodies concerned in a country, regional or global
setting."

During the Executive Board's debate on WHO's Framework on Non State Actors,
Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO's Director General, said, "We need to make sure
there is no influence in the policy space that is countries' prerogative,
or in the technical standard setting space which is the second space. I
call it the Red Lines. Two Red Lines. No industry. No Business Interest
organisation or any organisations who want to influence the work of WHO to
their benefit should be allowed in those two spaces."

"If WHO is to fulfill its constitutional mandate, it has to develop
policies that address the complexity of today's world and protect its
independence, integrity in decision-making and trustworthiness. It must not
fall into the trap of confusing the 'not-for profit' legal status with 'not
working in the interest of profit-making.' There is a big difference
between public-interest actors (who are guided by a public health mission)
and those who follow the market profit-making logic (transnational
corporations, corporate and venture philanthropic foundations, business
associations and front groups, public-private partnerships and other hybrid
entities)," said Patti Rundall, co-chair of IBFAN's Global Council.

While activists and civil society groups have expressed satisfaction with
the WHO's decision to not grant NGO status to the International Special
Dietary Foods Industries (ISDI), they have expressed reservations about the
entry of Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) into the list of
NGOs in official relations with WHO. "ISDI represents the "global
specialized nutrition industry" including 24 infant feeding associations
and notoriously irresponsible baby feeding industry which includes global
giants Nestle and Danone," said Rundall adding that identifying ISDI as a
business group was not difficult. "But entities like GAIN that were set up
to open up markets, but cleverly hide this true purpose, are trickier. I
hope that Dr Chan stays true to her word and develops distinct policies
that will keep the NGO 'space' for those whose only mission is public
health," said Rundall.

Meanwhile, GAIN Executive Director Marc Van Ameringen said: "We are
delighted to receive confirmation from the World Health Organization of our
new relationship status and look forward to strengthening our partnership
with WHO." After consideration by its Standing Committee on
Non-governmental Organizations, the WHO Executive Board confirmed GAIN's
position in support of WHO's nutritional policies, including those on
infant feeding and the promotion of complementary food, said a statement
issued by GAIN.

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