b. Consultation with Non-Governmental Organizations
A further function of the Economic and Social Council is to consult with non-governmental organizations concerned with matters falling within the Council’s competence. The Council recognizes that these organizations should have the opportunity to express their views and that they often pos- sess special experience or technical knowledge of value to the Council and its work. Those NGOs having consultative status may send observers to public meetings and submit written statements relevant to the Council’s work.

Over 1,500 non-governmental organizations have consultative status with the Council. They are classified in the following three categories:
• General consultative status – for large, international NGOs whose area of work covers most of the issues on the Council’s agenda.
• Special consultative status – for NGOs that have special competence in a few fields of  the Council’s activity.
• Inclusion on the Roster – for NGOs whose competence enables them to make occasional and useful contributions to the work of the United Nations and who are available for consultation upon request. NGOs on the Roster may also include organizations having consultative status with a specialized agency or other United Nations body.

c. Sessions
The Economic and Social Council generally holds one five to six-week sub- stantive session each year, alternating between New York and Geneva, and one organizational session in New York. The substantive session includes a high-level special meeting, attended by Ministers and other high officials, to discuss major economic and social issues. The year-round work of the Coun- cil is carried out in its subsidiary bodies – commissions and committees – which meet at regular intervals and report back to the Council.