CONGO E-Update • 09 February 2009

Special Edition

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10th Session of the Human Rights Council – Call for written statements – delegate accreditation

The 53rd Session of the Commission of the Status of Women

10th Session of the Human Rights Council – Call for written statements – delegate accreditation, 2 – 27 March 2009, Geneva

NGO written statements:

NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC may submit written statements relevant to the work of the Human Rights Council (in accordance with paragraphs 36 and 37 of ECOSOC resolution 1996/31). The HRC Secretariat wishes to draw the attention of NGOs to that resolution, which authorizes written statements of:

a) 2,000 words for NGOs in general consultative status

b) 1,500 words for NGOs in special consultative status and on the roster.

NGO written statements are to be submitted in accordance with the “guidelines for the submission of NGO written statements.” NGOs may submit their written statements to the Council Secretariat electronically to hrcngo@ohchr.org. Please note that the deadline for the submission of written statements is 13 February 2009. The Council Secretariat will not be able to ensure the timely circulation of written statements submitted later than the deadline.

Accreditation:

NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC wishing to accredit representatives to the 10th session of the Human Rights Council are invited to fax their letter of accreditation request(s) to the Secretariat of the Council as of 16 February 2009,to

the attention of Ms. Francoise Kenfack,Accreditation Officer who can be reached at:

Phone: +41 22 917 96 41

Fax: +41 22 917 90 08

E-mail: fkenfack@ohchr.org

Please note that the Accreditation Officer will be located at Pregny Gate of the Palais des Nations during the duration of the session.

The letter requesting accreditation should:

*Be submitted on the official letterhead of the organization.

*Clearly state the title and duration of the session the organization wishes to attend, e.g. "Name of NGO, in consultative status with ECOSOC, wishes to send the following members to attend the [insert relevant session number] session of the HRC ([insert dates of session])..."·

*Be signed by the President or the Main Representative of the organization·

*Also indicate the name(s) (first name and family name) of the person(s) who will represent the organization at the HRC session. Names of persons must appear exactly as they appear in the ID document and family name(s) must be capitalised.

Once in Geneva, participants may then proceed to the accreditation office at the “Pregny Gate” security entrance (avenue de la Paix 8-14). Upon presentation of personal identification and a copy of the accreditation request from the concerned NGO, the accreditation officer will issue a photo-badge granting access to the Palais des Nations. This badge will remain valid for the duration of the session and will permit the badge-holder unrestricted access to the conference rooms.

Annual or temporary NGO representatives in possession of an identity badge issued by the UNOG Security and Safety Section, and valid for the duration of the session, will have unrestricted access to the conference rooms.

Assistance for requesting travel visas:

Upon request, the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) NGO Liaison Office (not the Council Secretariat) may issue relevant 'attestation of accreditation' for visa application purposes. In order to obtain such an attestation, NGOs enjoying consultative status with ECOSOC should explicitly indicate their need in the accreditation request faxed to the HRC Secretariat. The latter will accordingly transmit the request to the UNOG NGO Liaison Office which will issue the attestation and transmit it to the concerned NGO headquarters. The UNOG NGO Liaison Office may be

contacted at the following address:

United Nations Office at Geneva

NGO Liaison Office, Office of the Director-General

Room 153 Palais des Nations

1211 Geneva 10

Tel: + 41 (0)22 917 21 27

Fax: +41 (0)22 917 05 83

Email: ungeneva.ngoliaison@unog.ch

The 53rd Session of the Commission of the Status of Women

2-13 March 2009, New York The fifty-third session of the Commission on the Status of Women will be held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 2 to 13 March 2009. The priority theme of the Commission will be “The equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS.” The emerging issue of “the gender perspectives of the financial crisis” will be considered as well through an interactive expert panel.

NGOs wishing to speak during the general discussion or during the interactive panels should submit a request to the official CSW e-mail address at csw53@un.org no later than 27 February 2009. Click here.

to find details about submitting a request and other important information for NGO participants.

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The Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the UN is an international membership association that facilitates the participation of NGOs in United Nations debates and decisions. Founded in 1948, CONGO's major objective is to ensure the presence of NGOs in exchanges among the world's governments and United Nations agencies on issues of global concern. CONGO has its offices and international secretariat in New York, Geneva and Vienna.

The CONGO E-Update is a weekly email information service of the Conference of NGOs, informing members and affiliated networks of relevant upcoming events sponsored by the UN, CONGO, CONGO members and its affiliated committees and task forces, and other major civil society-related initiatives. Subscription to the E-Update list is generally restricted to the UN offices and headquarters of members of the Conference of NGOs. For more information or to advise on an event, please send a message to congo@ngocongo.org, at least three weeks prior to the event. To unsubscribe please send an email to congo@ngocongo.org.