Washington, D.C. – Safari Club International Foundation has been recognized by the United Nations as an official Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).

Technically, SCIF now has “special consultative status” with the Economic and Social Council of the U.N. General Assembly. As such, SCIF will have continuing access to meetings, will be able to submit position papers and otherwise have input on matters affecting international hunting.

The vote took place last Friday during the meeting of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, in Geneva, Switzerland.

“This is no small accomplishment,” said Dennis Anderson, President of SCI and SCIF. “The rulings of the U.N. have a great impact on the international hunter, especially in regard to the transport of firearms internationally for legitimate hunting purposes.”

Anderson went on to explain that revenues from hunting were often critical to wildlife conservation, thus restrictions on firearms could indirectly affect conservation and this needed to be brought to the attention of policy-makers at the United Nations.

The U.N. is in negotiations to regulate the trade and transfer of small arms to help prevent armed conflict in nations around the world. SCI has been involved with this issue via the World Forum of Shooting Sports Activities in an effort to protect the rights of international hunters as they travel overseas legitimately with their firearms.

“This recognition by the U.N. will enable SCIF to have automatic entry to relevant UN conferences in the future,” said Thomas Mason, Executive Secretary for the World Forum of Shooting Sports Activities. “It also makes SCIF a part of a very important group of hunting and sporting organizations that realize that what happens in the international arena affects us all.”

Contacts:
Ken Schwartz
Governmental Affairs and
Communications Manager
kschwartz@sci-dc.org
(202) 543-8733

Media Contact:
Ken Schwartz (202) KSchwartz@safariclub.org