AD HOC GROUP OF INTERNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS' REPRESENTATIVES TO FAO RESIDING IN ROME (AHG)

Mr. Filippo Cortesi, Coordinator of the Ad Hoc Group of International Non-Governmental Organizations Residing in Rome (AHG)

The international NGOs have special roles to play in achieving food security, especially in a world where dialogue and decisions at the global level are as important as participation and activities at the national and local levels. Our ad hoc group is composed of international non-governmental organizations having status with FAO and deeply involved in agricultural and food-related activities. The group has been active since 1979, liaising with its member organizations with FAO, thus facilitating cooperation in the respective technical fields.

The ad hoc group has been actively involved in the preparation of the World Food Summit and of the NGO forum. Our international organizations have participated in all the meetings of the Committee on World Food Security and of its international working groups for the Summit. Comments and suggestions have been submitted on the Rome Declaration and Plan of Action, both directly and through the report of the FAO/NGO Consultation held in Rome in September 1996. The group wishes to express its support for the text of the Declaration and Plan of Action as finalised for submission at the Summit.

The seven Commitments of the Plan of Action are of interest and concern, in various degrees to all group members whose organizations are directly or indirectly involved in the fight against malnutrition and in achieving sustainable food security in the world. The results of the Summit and the final approved text will be brought to the attention of all members of the NGOs represented in the group throughout the world. All efforts will be made to support the Food for All campaign, proposed as a follow-up to the Summit. It is expected that each of our NGOs will be able to contribute in the near future to sensitizing the public and stimulating activities to achieve the goals of this important conference.

AD HOC GROUP OF INTERNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS' REPRESENTATIVES TO FAO RESIDING IN ROME (AHG)

Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW); Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC); Caritas Internationalis (CI); European Association of Agricultural Economists (EAAE);

Federación Mundial de Trabajadores de la Agricultura y Alimentación (FEMTAA); Fédération internationale des femmes des carrières juridiques (FIFCJ); International Alliance of Women (IAW); International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE); International Catholic Rural Association (ICRA); International Movement of Catholic Agricultural and Rural Youth (MIJARC); International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU);

International Cooperative Alliance (ICA); International Council of Catholic Men (ICCM); International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW); International Council on Jewish Social and Welfare Services (INTERCO); International Council of Women (ICW); International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP); International Federation of Home Economics (IFHE); International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA); International Union for Cooperation towards Development (UNICOS); International Union of Families' Organizations (IUFO); International Union of Latin Notaries (UINL); International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC); Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF); World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS); World Conference of Labour (WCL); World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU); World Organization of the Scout Movements (WOSM); World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations (WUCWO).