NEW YORK -- On Thursday, May 23rd, the United Nations Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO Committee) recommended the Assyrian Universal Alliance -- Americas Chapter, Inc. (AUA Americas) for Special Consultative Status. The recommendation came during the Committee's 2013 Resumed Session convened May 20-29 at the UN Headquarters in New York. AUA Americas joins over 3,000 other non-governmental organizations currently in Consultative Status, including the Assyrian Aid Society -- Iraq (AAS-I), which received Special Consultative Status in 2011. The status expands ongoing Assyrian advocacy efforts by permitting AUA Americas access to participate in UN meetings, to submit written reports and to issue oral interventions at various UN sponsored events open to NGO participation. AUA Americas' past UN advocacy efforts include participation in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Forum on Minority Issues hosted at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. AUA Americas extends its gratitude to AUA Foundation for their generosity throughout the application process and to various delegates of UN Member States, including Dr. William Ishaya Odisho Deputy Permanent Representative of Iraq to the UN in New York, for their continued support and encouragement. The NGO Committee's Recommendations for Consultative Status are submitted to the UN's Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for formal adoption during ECOSOC's July session.