Egale Canada granted ECOSOC Special Consultative Status
In August 2025, the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) officially granted Egale Canada special consultative status. This is a huge win for 2SLGBTQI human rights – better enabling us to uplift 2SLGBTQI voices and issues into global spaces.
Read the below guide to understand what ECOSOC is, how this consultative status functions, and what potential impact this can have on 2SLGBTQI advocacy.
What is ECOSOC?
The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is one of the six main bodies of the United Nations and tackles economic, social, and environmental global issues. ECOSOC links together a wide range of advisory bodies and groups that provide guidance and support to the wider UN system. As ECOSOC acts as a central platform for economic, social, and environmental topics, gaining access to ECOSOC unlocks opportunities to influence the UN policies and decisions that directly impact 2SLGBTQI individuals globally.
What is ECOSOC Consultative Status?
ECOSOC consultative status is a formal title granted by ECOSOC to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), or organizations who operate independently of government control, who meet certain criteria. It allows organizations like Egale to participate in UN events, attend meetings, submit written statements, and engage with UN agencies on issues related to economic, social, and humanitarian rights.
Egale has special consultative status. What does this mean?
There are three categories of consultative statuses for organizations. These are general consultative status, special consultative status, and roster status. Egale was awarded special consultative status, granted to organizations who are specialized in only a few fields of ECOSOC’s activities, such as LGBTQI human rights.
General consultative status is often awarded to larger NGOs whose work covers a large portion of the issues that ECOSOC works on while roster status is awarded to organizations who do not fit into the other two categories.
What opportunities does this create for Egale?
ECOSOC consultative status adds greater legitimacy to our advocacy work by providing our organization with a stronger voice on the global stage. We can now attend and contribute to UN sessions, participate in events at major UN conferences, and submit official written statements for consideration by UN bodies. These opportunities strengthen our ability to advocate for 2SLGBTQI communities and on issues that matter the most for our communities. Without this status, Egale could only participate in UN events if a separate organization with consultative status sponsored us. As a result, UN events are much more accessible to us now with our special consultative status.
ECOSOC consultative status also gives Egale more organizational legitimacy outside of the UN system as it can also be used as a vetting tool, often opening doors for greater funding opportunities and partnerships.
Where can Egale use its status?
Egale can use its ECOSOC status in several strategic ways across the UN system, which include gaining access to the following spaces:
- United Nations Offices: Organizations can use their status to gain entry to major UN locations, including at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva.
- ECOSOC and its commissions: ECOSOC has both regional and functional commissions, such as the Commission on the Status of Women, which aims to promote gender equality and inclusive practices worldwide. By holding consultative status, an organization can participate at these commissions, such as by attending a Commission’s event.
- Human rights mechanisms: ECOSOC consultative status also gives an organization access to the Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, which is a body made up of 47 states, responsible for promoting and protecting human rights globally. The HRC helps hold states accountable to its human rights commitments, such as through a country’s Universal Periodic Review. ECOSOC consultative status enables an organization to contribute to a country’s Universal Periodic Review submissions, deliver oral statements during HRC sessions, and attend events not open to the public. The HRC is an important UN body to further 2SLGBTQI human rights and hold countries accountable to ongoing human rights abuses.
How can this consultative status benefit our partners?
This milestone strengthens our influence and expands our international network, creating new opportunities for collaboration while ensuring that our partner voices are elevated to the global stage. In particular, an organization with consultative status can sponsor other organization’s ground passes, helping NGOs without consultative status attend UN events – broadening our partner’s access and impact at the UN level.
How does an organization get ECOSOC status?
An organization earns ECOSOC consultative status through a formal application and review process managed by the UN Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations, a committee which is part of ECOSOC.
Following an application, the organization is reviewed by a Committee on NGOs, composed of 19 member states. Once approved by the committee, the organization’s application goes before the entire ECOSOC membership for approval. Egale was successfully approved August 2025.
Who is eligible for ECOSOC status?
Prior to an application for ECOSOC consultative status, an organization must meet several requirements, such as being a non-governmental or non-profit entity, having existed for at least two years with a democratic governance structure, and align with ECOSOC’s mandate.
How long does consultative status last?
Egale’s special consultative status is ongoing, provided we meet the UN’s reporting requirements. Every four years, we must submit a report demonstrating our continued activity and compliance with the UN guidelines for NGOs. Maintaining this status requires transparency, accountability, and active engagement with the UN system.
Do many LGBTQI+ organizations have ECOSOC status?
In 2007, the first two LGBTQI+ human rights groups gained ECOSOC status: Coalition gaie et lesbienne du Québec (CGLQ) and the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights (RFSL). Since then, getting LGBTQI+ organizational voices at the United Nations has been a hard-fought battle – one fraught by an increasingly far-right and anti-LGBTQI political climate. Now, as one of the few Canadian LGBTQI+ organizations to ever receive ECOSOC status, Egale has an even greater responsibility to ensure that 2SLGBTQI voices are heard and represented at the world stage.