Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council is the highest status granted by the United Nations to non-governmental organizations, thereby allowing them to participate in the work of the United Nations. Consultative Status is divided into three categories:
General Consultative Status (formerly Consultative Status 1), the highest level, which may be granted to organizations that are concerned with most of the activities of the Council, that are making substantive and sustained contributions in many fields, with a considerable membership, and that are broadly representative of major segments of society in a large number of countries. These organizations are entitled to deliver oral presentations during the Council's meetings.
Special Consultative Status (formerly Consultative Status 2), which may be granted to organizations concerned with only a few of the fields of activity covered by the Council
Roster, which are "other organizations that do not have general or special consultative status but that the Council, or the Secretary-General of the United Nations in consultation with the Council or its Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations, considers can make occasional and useful contributions to the work of the Council."
Consultative Status, depending on level, gives the organizations a number of rights to participate in the work of the UN, to present their views and deliver testimony.
As of January 2017, there are 143 organizations in general consultative status, 3,544 in special consultative status and 978 on the Roster.
The UN also maintains a database through which the current set of organizations in consultative status can be accessed.
