On 23 July 2019, following the adoption of the recommendation submitted by the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), the Economic and Social Council of the UN (ECOSOC) officially granted ASTRA special consultative status. Consultative status for an organization enables it to actively engage with ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies, as well as with the United Nations Secretariat and other entities.
The ECOSOC is at the at the heart of the United Nations system to advance the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental. It is the central platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals.