Frequently Asked Questions on NGO Accreditation and Participation

Summary: Frequently asked questions including accreditation of NGOs; registration, NGO participation, formal sessions, side events, etc.

Participation in Preparatory Committee Meetings and the Special Session Second Substantive Session of the Preparatory Committee, 29 January - 2 February 2001 Frequently Asked Questions on NGO Accreditation and Participation: I. Accreditation of Non-governmental Organizations Q1. How were NGOs accredited to the preparatory process of the Special Session? A1. Non-governmental organizations that have established consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) or with UNICEF, are invited to attend the meetings of the Preparatory Committee and the Special Session. NGOs accredited with ECOSOC are not required to apply for accreditation to the preparatory process. NGOs that have a "collaborative relationship and partnership with UNICEF" can also be invited to attend. However, NGOs in this category have to be nominated by UNICEF country and regional offices or by National Committees on UNICEF and Headquarters. Once NGOs are nominated, they are placed on an accreditation list that is submitted to the Preparatory Committee for approval. Note: NGOs cannot self-nominate for accreditation. Q2. Can NGOs still be nominated for accreditation to the preparatory process of the Special Session? A2. No. Following the decision of the Preparatory Committee at its First Substantive Session, a list of non-governmental organizations was submitted to the Preparatory Committee by 30 September 2000. All NGOs approved on a no objection basis by 31 October 2000 have been included. No new NGOs can now be nominated for accreditation. NGO accreditation to the preparatory process and the Special Session is a formal process that requires approval by governments. Q3. How do we know if an NGO has been invited? A3. NGOs approved by the Preparatory Committee for accreditation are invited to attend the Substantive Sessions of the Preparatory Committee and the Special Session. Invitations for the Second Substantive Session were sent to the headquarters of all listed NGOs in mid-to-late November 2000. An "official list" of all NGOs accredited to the preparatory process and the Special Session will be available on 29 January 2001. For ECOSOC accredited NGOs, the mailing address registered with ECOSOC was used. Q4. My NGO has not received an invitation package. What should I do? A4. Invitation packages were sent to the NGO headquarters and not to any organization's branch or local office. NGO representatives who feel they should have received an invitation should therefore contact their headquarters. NGOs that have consultative status with the Economic and Social Council should contact the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs and verify their current address with them. Representatives can also contact the NGO Accreditation Unit, UNICEF New York at one of the following fax numbers if they have not received an invitation package: Fax: +1 212 303 7990, +1 212 326 7594, +1 212 824 6466. Q5. Will NGOs that received an invitation to the First PrepCom, be invited to the Second and Third PrepCom and the Special Session? A5. Yes. NGOs are accredited to the preparatory process of the Special Session and not to a specific session itself. Accredited NGOs are invited to attend all Substantive Sessions of the Preparatory Committee and the Special Session in 2001. II. Registration Q6. Each NGO can bring 4 representatives. Why? A6. More than 3600 NGOs have been invited to attend. For safety and security reasons and to ensure an equitable and fair representation of all NGOs that attend, the total number of representatives per NGO has been limited to four. This is a result of the innovative process of NGO accreditation and participation in the preparatory process and the Special Session on Children. Not only are all NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC and UNICEF accredited, but NGOs having a "collaborative relationship and partnership with UNICEF" are also invited to attend. As a result, nearly half of the NGOs accredited are UNICEF partner organizations. Of these NGOs, an overwhelming majority are from developing countries. Hence, in the process of developing a new global agenda for children, the decision was taken to ensure that these voices from grassroots organizations receive an equal opportunity to participate. Q7. Are additional passes required to attend the Preparatory Committee meeting? A7. Yes. Due to the large number of government delegates, UN staff representatives and NGO representatives expected to attend, the capacity to accommodate all representatives during the formal sessions will be limited. In light of this, and to enable and facilitate the participation of all NGOs, two special passes (transferable among the four representatives) will be issued to each NGO to access the meeting rooms where the official proceedings will be held. Q8. Where will registration be held? A8. Registration for the Second Substantive Session of the Preparatory Committee will be held on Saturday, 27 January 2001 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Labouisse Hall, UNICEF House, New York. For representatives attending the NGO consultation session on Sunday, 28 January 2001, additional registration will be available at the UN from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Late registration (Monday 29 January - 2 February 2001) will be available at the registration desk located at Labouisse Hall in UNICEF House. Q9. What do we need to register for the meeting? A9. To register and receive conference passes, NGO representatives must bring: 1) A copy of the confirmation letter faxed to them and 2) A valid photo Identification ( e.g. passport, drivers license). III. NGO Participation, Formal Sessions, Side Events, etc. Q10. Where can I find the programme of the Preparatory Committee meeting? A10. A provisional agenda of the 2nd Substantive Session of the Preparatory Committee is included in the invitation package. The final programme will be available in the NGO Information Kit to be distributed during registration. The Information kit will include, among other items, a programme of the NGO orientation and consultation sessions, a draft programme of side events, reports on the preparatory process of the Special Session, report of the Preparatory Committee of its First Substantive Session, copies of the CRC, CEDAW. An Information Note will be included to provide information on NGO access to the UN, speaking arrangements, room allocations, participation in side events and more. The Information Kit will be available in English, French and Spanish. Q11. Can NGO representatives make oral statements at the formal sessions? A11. For the First Substantive Session of the Preparatory Committee, the Committee decided that representatives of NGOs could speak on behalf of NGO networks or caucuses. The NGO Steering Group in consultation with the Substantive Secretariat will facilitate speaking arrangements for NGOs at the Preparatory Committee meeting. A proposal for speaking arrangements for the Second Substantive Session is currently being made. Decision on speaking arrangements for the Special Session will be discussed at the Second Substantive Session of the Preparatory Committee. Q12. What information will be available at the orientation session? A12. The orientation session on Saturday 27 January 2001 is an opportunity for NGOs to familiarize themselves with UN rules and procedures on NGO access to UN premises and conference rooms, on participation in the Preparatory Committee meetings including making presentations, addressing delegations and participating in side events. NGOs will also be briefed on the role of the NGO Committee on UNICEF, the Substantive Secretariat (UNICEF) and the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee. Additional information on the orientation session will be available in the NGO Information Kit. Q13. What is the NGO consultation session on 28 January 2001? A13. The consultation session is a one-day event organized by the NGO Steering Group of the NGO Committee on UNICEF. The consultation session will provide information on the preparatory process and the substantive issues that will be the focus during the week. Representatives of the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee and NGO representatives will make presentations. Among other issues, NGO representatives will have the opportunity to discuss the draft Provisional Outcome Document prepared by the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee for the Special Session with support from UNICEF as Substantive Secretariat (available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Chinese) The afternoon session is an opportunity for NGOs to consult on issues that will be addressed through the Preparatory Committee sessions and the Special Session itself. Information on the consultation session will be sent to NGO representatives by the organizers who have indicated their interest to participate in their pre-registration forms. Q14. My NGO would like to organize a side event? What do I need to do? A14. A Side Events Request Form was enclosed with each invitation package. Please note that the extended deadline for submitting requests was 18 December 2000. The NGO Steering Group will make every effort to allocate slots for the requests received. NGOs will be informed by the NGO Steering Group on the arrangements for each workshop once the schedule is complete. Those NGOs who will sponsor side events need to make their own funding arrangements. Q15. Does UNICEF provide funding to attend the Second Substantive Session of the Preparatory Committee? A15. UNICEF does not have central funding to assist NGOs to participate. The costs of travel, daily subsistence, accommodation, travel and visa arrangements and other practical necessities are the responsibility of the participants themselves. NGOs must make their own funding arrangements where necessary. Q16. Where can I find additional information on the Special Session? A16. Additional information is available on the UNICEF website (Highlights, Special Session on Children) at the following addresses: English: http://www.unicef.org/SpecialSession/ French: http://www.unicef.org/french/specialsession/ Spanish: http://www.unicef.org/spanish/specialsession/ For information on NGO participation in the Substantive Session, you may contact: NGO Committee on UNICEF 3 U.N. Plaza, H-8F New York, NY 10017 USA Fax: +1 212 824 6466 [email protected]