NGO Participation in the Second Substantive Session of the Preparatory Committee

Summary: Guidelines for NGOs attending the Second Preparatory Committee meeting for the Special Session on Children.

NGO Participation in the Second Substantive Session of the Preparatory Committee

More than 3600 non-governmental organizations have been invited to attend the Second Substantive Session of the Preparatory Committee to be held from 29 January to 2 February 2001.
Each invited organization wishing to participate is required to pre- register and to nominate its representatives. A pre-registration form is enclosed with each invitation package. Due to safety and security reasons and to promote an equitable participation of all NGOs, the number of representatives per organization has been limited to four for access to the UN premises and two for access to the formal sessions of the Preparatory Committee.
To promote the active involvement of youth in the preparatory process, NGOs are encouraged to nominate young people as part of their delegation.
Additional information including a provisional programme of the Second Substantive Session and general information on NGO participation and on NGO events organized prior to the meeting are also included with the invitation package.
Non-governmental organizations may wish to attend the formal sessions of the Preparatory Committee. They can also participate in side events including workshops, caucus events, panel discussions, presentations, poster sessions and more.
The NGO Committee on UNICEF has established an NGO Steering Group to work with the Substantive Secretariat to facilitate and organize the participation of NGOs. This includes coordination and facilitation of NGO sponsored activities and side events, as well as speaking arrangements at the formal sessions. The deadline for submission of requests for side events was 18 December 2000.
The NGO Steering Group has scheduled an orientation session on 27 January 2001 and an NGO consultation session on 28 January 2001 to brief NGOs about UN procedures, participation in the formal sessions and side events, and to provide an opportunity to discuss issues related to the Substantive Session.
For further information on the above NGO events, NGOs may contact the NGO Committee Secretariat at the following address:

NGO Committee on UNICEF

UNICEF, 3 U.N. Plaza, H-8F, New York, NY 10017, USA

Fax: 00 1 212 824 6466, Email [email protected]
Questions regarding NGO accreditation and registration can be addressed to:

NGO Accreditation

UNICEF 3 U.N. Plaza, H-8F, New York, NY 10017

Fax: 00 1 212 3037990, 00 1 212 326 7594
Key milestones in NGO accreditation, registration and participation process:

* October 31, 2000: Approval of NGOs for accreditation on a no- objection basis by the Preparatory Committee

* November 15-25, 2000: Invitations sent to all accredited NGOs

* December 18, 2000: Deadline for Submission of Side Events Request Form

* January 15, 2001: Deadline for submission of pre-registration forms for the Second Substantive Session of the Preparatory Committee

* January 27 to 28, 2001: Registration, New York (Late registration available throughout the conference)

* January 27, 2001: NGO Orientation Session, UNICEF, New York

* January 28, 2001: NGO Consultation Session, United Nations, New York

* January 29 to February 2, 2001: Second Substantive Session of the Preparatory Committee, United Nations, New York

* June 11 to 15, 2001: Third Substantive Session of the Preparatory Committee, United Nations, New York

* September 19 to 21, 2001: Special Session of the General Assembly, United Nations, New York