BKs at the UN

Setting the Record Straight

The Brahma Kumaris core expertise at the United Nations is: “The cultivation of pure awareness and reaffirming faith in the dignity and worth of the human person. The “spiritual technology”: awareness, attitude, vision, action, and the world.

The first time that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) took a role in formal UN deliberations was through the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 1946. Article 71 of the UN Charter opened the door for suitable arrangements for consultation with NGOs. This relationship with ECOSOC is governed today by ECOSOC resolution 1996/31. International, regional and national NGOs, non-profit public or voluntary organizations are eligible to obtain consultative status. There are three categories of status: General, special and roster consultative status. There are presently 3743 organizations in Consultative Status with ECOSOC. 146 of them have General Consultative Status.

The Brahma Kumaris have been in Consultative Status with ECOSOC since 1983. From 1983 to 1997 they held a Roster status, and in 1998, they were granted a General Consultative Status. The Brahma Kumaris also is in consultative status with UNICEF, and affiliated to the Department of Public Information (DPI). It is accredited observer organization to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).