This is a transitional arrangement only, based on the idea that civil society entities will have to individually apply for the ECOSOC Consultative Status to continue to participate in the CSTD sessions from 2009 onward. The ECOSOC resolution also specified that applications for Consultative Status by WSIS accredited entities should be considered as expeditiously as possible.

The application process for ECOSOC Consultative Status is processed by the NGO Section of UN DESA. It is therefore time to start considering the application process for the ECOSOC consultative status for your respective WSIS accredited CS entities. Indeed, complete application must be received by the UN Secretariat (DESA NGO Section) before June 1^st 2007 in order to be considered by the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs at its 2008 Session.

The application of an NGO for the ECOSOC consultative status is a two step process:

-          First, an official letter of intent must be sent to the UN DESA NGO Section;

-          Then, the application questionnaire and all supporting documents must be submitted to the UN DESA NGO Section.

See an informal information sheet prepared by CONGO (in English and French)

Links 
Comprehensive and official information on the application for the ECOSOC Consultation Status can be found on the following United Nations websites:

     - UN DESA NGO Section website: http://www.un.org/esa/coordination/ngo/ 
     - UN Office in Geneva NGO Liaison Office: www.unog.ch/ngo. 
     - More details on how to obtain Consultative Status: http://www.un.org/esa/coordination/ngo/howtoapply.htm 
     - Information note by the CSTD Secretariat: http://stdev.unctad.org/docs/ngo.pdf 
     - Full list of NGOs accredited to WSIS is still available here: http://www.itu.int/wsis/participation/accreditation/lists/civil-society.pdf.