A/HRC/21/24 40. As at 1 September 2011, there were 3,536 non-governmental organizations accredited by the Council, including organizations engaged in indigenous peoples’ issues. 41. Under resolution 1996/31, non-governmental organizations can seek one of three kinds of consultative status: general consultative status, special consultative status or a listing on the Roster. General consultative status applies to organizations that are concerned with most of the activities of the Council and its subsidiary bodies and can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Council that they have substantive and sustained contributions to make to the achievement of the objectives of the United Nations in fields of activity covered by the Council. They also need to be closely involved with the economic and social life of the peoples of the areas that they represent and their membership, which should be considerable, should be broadly representative of major segments of society in a large number of countries in different regions of the world. 42. Special consultative status applies to organizations that have a special competence in, and are concerned specifically with, only a few of the fields of activity covered by the Council and its subsidiary bodies, and that are known within the fields for which they have or seek consultative status. In addition, organizations to be accorded special consultative status because of their interest in the field of human rights should pursue the goals of promotion and protection of human rights in accordance with the spirit of the Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. 43. Other organizations that do not have general or special consultative status but that the Council, or the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Council or its Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations, considers can make occasional and useful contributions to the work of the Council or its subsidiary bodies or other United Nations bodies within their competence are included on the Roster. This list may also include organizations in consultative status or a similar relationship with a specialized agency or a United Nations body. These organizations are to be available for consultation at the request of the Council or its subsidiary bodies. 44. Representatives of non-governmental organizations in general or special consultative status with the Council may participate as observers in public meetings of the Council, its committees and sessional bodies, pursuant to rule 81 of the rules of procedure. Pursuant to the same rule, those on the Roster may have representatives present at such meetings when matters within their field of competence are being discussed. The provisional agenda of the Council, or commissions and other subsidiary organs of the Council, is to be communicated to organizations in general consultative status and special consultative status and to those on the roster, and organizations in general consultative status may propose to the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations that the Committee request the Secretary-General to place items of special interest to the organizations in the provisional agenda of those bodies. 45. Pursuant to rule 82, the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations may consult organizations with general consultative status and special consultative status on matters within their competence, other than items on the agenda, by request of the Council, the Committee or the organization. Pursuant to rules 83 and 84, such consultation may also occur with regard to items on the Council’s provisional agenda. Pursuant to rule 84, the Committee is to make recommendations to the Council as to which organizations in general consultative status should make an oral presentation to the Council and on which items they should be heard. Such organizations are entitled to make one statement to the Council, subject to the approval of the Council. Furthermore, whenever the Council discusses the substance of an item proposed by a non-governmental organization in general consultative status and included in the agenda of the Council, such an organization is entitled to present orally to the Council an introductory statement. Such an organization may be invited by the 11