CoNGO Statement on the U.S. Withdrawal from Multilateral Institutions
(U.S. Presidential Executive Order, January 7, 2026)
For nearly 78 years, the Conference of NGOs (CoNGO) in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO) has upheld the principles and values of the United Nations Charter — a binding commitment of all Member States. Our support for the UN system has always been principled: we celebrate progress, challenge shortcomings, and hold both the UN and its Member States accountable to the Charter’s vision of peace, justice, and human dignity.
With the active engagement of civil society, the United Nations system has achieved tangible progress worldwide — advancing peace, development, social justice, gender equity, environmental stewardship, education, and health. CoNGO has consistently called for strong and timely support for the UN, recognizing that its mandates are set by governments but realized through collective action.
Against this backdrop, CoNGO is deeply dismayed by the recent announcement that a Permanent Member of the Security Council will withdraw from 66 international organizations, including UN entities, research institutions, and programmatic bodies. This action threatens the architecture of international cooperation built over eight decades and undermines the legal and moral foundations of multilateralism.
The consequences are immediate and far-reaching: reduced U.S. influence in global standard-setting, increased fragmentation of governance, and heightened uncertainty for NGOs and civil society. These withdrawals risk destabilizing funding, weakening diplomatic protections, and emboldening efforts to restrict civic space and reshape international norms. The impact will be felt most by the millions who depend on these institutions for security, opportunity, and hope.
CoNGO responds with firm resolve. We call for a strengthened and accountable multilateral system, rooted in the United Nations, that advances the rule of law, social justice, gender equity, human development, and peace. We will work with responsible governments and civil society worldwide to counter both the immediate and long-term effects of these decisions.
We stand in solidarity with those who work within and benefit from the organizations targeted for withdrawal — including those now facing job loss and the loss of vital international assistance. We urge responsible governments to act swiftly to mitigate these harms and reaffirm their commitment to multilateral cooperation.
Now more than ever, CoNGO’s mission is clear: to amplify civil society voices, sustain dialogue, and protect space for meaningful NGO participation in global governance. We will adapt, diversify, and build resilient coalitions to ensure that multilateral cooperation endures.
CoNGO remains a convener and connector — undaunted, united, and unwavering in our pursuit of a just and peaceful world.