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Authority and accountability · Claim record

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York applied in 1991 for association with the United Nations Department of Public Information as an NGO, was granted association in 1992, and by accepting association agreed to criteria including 'support and respect of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations' and conducting 'effective information programmes … about UN activities'.

Claim ID claim-authority-1992-2001-un-dpi-ngo-associationConcerns 1992Independent finding
Independent finding · 1992 Verified

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York applied in 1991 for association with the United Nations Department of Public Information as an NGO, was granted association in 1992, and by accepting association agreed to criteria including 'support and respect of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations' and conducting 'effective information programmes … about UN activities'. United Nations Department of Public Information, NGO Section, 4 March 2004United Nations Civil Society (Department of Global Communications), 19 September 2026

The organisation’s position or later explanation: The organisation says the registration was 'for the sole purpose of getting access to the extensive library of the United Nations'.

Show the evidence (2 sources)
Official public record Verified

United Nations Department of Public Information, NGO Section, “Letter 'To Whom It May Concern' re association of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York with DPI”

4 March 2004 · pp.1-2 · Paul Hoeffel, Chief, NGO Section, Department of Public Information · United Nations

“This organization applied for association with DPI in 1991 and was granted association in 1992. By accepting association with DPI, the organization agreed to meet criteria for association, including support and respect of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and commitment and means to conduct effective information programmes with its constituents and to a broader audience about UN activities. In October 2001, the Main Representative of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York to the United Nations, Ciro Aulicino, requested termination of its association with DPI. Following this request, the DPI made a decision to disassociate the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York as of 9 October 2001.”

The letter also reproduces the paragraph 'included in all letters sent to NGOs approved for association in 1992' (its ‘principle purpose’ [sic]: 'redissemination of information … about the United Nations'; asks NGOs to send 'issues of your relevant publications') and lists the criteria: share the ideals of the UN Charter; not-for-profit; demonstrated interest in UN issues; commitment and means to conduct effective information programmes.

Official source Archived or alternative copy Scan of original

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Downloaded the PDF from un.org and read both pages as images in this session; wording above transcribed from the scan.

Scan provenance. United Nations (un.org file store, linked from https://www.un.org/en/civil-society/watchtowerletter); two-page scanned PDF with DPI/NGO letterhead and signature

Corroborated by. src-un-2026-0000-civil-society-watchtower-page, src-archive-2022-0224-un-letter-copy, src-guardian-2001-1008-jw-link-to-un-queried

Notes. Also reachable via https://www.un.org/en/file/92547. A lawful scan exists at the official URL — the site can link rather than host.

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-un-2004-0304-hoeffel-dpi-letter

Official public record Supported

United Nations Civil Society (Department of Global Communications), “Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society”

19 September 2026 · United Nations

“In response to inquiries, the UN reposted a 2004 letter regarding this association (paraphrase of page content); links to 'Watchtower Letter - Paul Hoeffel-2004.pdf' and JPG images of the same”

Live UN page confirming the association and hosting the 2004 letter. A January 2017 screenshot of the UN Dag Hammarskjöld Library 'Ask DAG' FAQ ('The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society was affiliated with the Department of Public Information (DPI) of the United Nations from 1992 to 2001') was viewed on jwfacts.com.

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Opened the live un.org page (content paraphrased by the fetch tool; PDF opened separately). The Ask DAG FAQ itself no longer surfaces in the ask.un.org search. Downgraded to supported after review: the page was opened but the wording or date recorded here was tool-summarised, translated or inferred rather than confirmed by eye; re-read before upgrading.

Corroborated by. src-un-2004-0304-hoeffel-dpi-letter

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-un-2026-0000-civil-society-watchtower-page

Claim page

A direct link to this claim is https://jwtruth.org/evidence/claim-authority-1992-2001-un-dpi-ngo-association/. Every source above opens the original document or the best available copy. If you believe the wording, date or context is wrong, report an error.