Second Information Note for Non-Governmental Organizationsparticipating In

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Reference:G/SO 212/24 (60th)

Palais des Nations

CH-1211 Genève 10

Second information note for non-governmental organizationsparticipating in

the sixtieth session of the Commission on Human Rights

This information note regarding accreditation, documentation, written and oral statements, parallel meetings and other matters, follows the first information note dated 2 December 2003. It is addressed to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) wishing to participate in the work of the Commission.

The sixtieth session of the Commission on Human Rights, which was opened on 19January2004, will resume its work from 15Marchto 23 April 2004. The opening meeting followed by the High Level Segment (15March (afternoon) – 18 March 2004) will be held in the Salle des Assemblées. The session will then continue in conference room XVII of the Palais des Nations, United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG).

1. Accreditation

Non-governmental organizations wishing to accredit representatives to the sixtieth session of the Commission on Human Rights are invited to send their request(s) to the Secretariat of the Commission, for the attention of Ms.KateHardie(Mailing address: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, RoomPW1-036, Palais des Nations, 8-14 avenue de la Paix, CH-1211 Geneva 10; Tel.:+41(0)229179256; Fax:+ 41(0)229179011; E-mail address: )at their earliest convenience.

The Secretariat wishes to draw attention to the following:

(a)Annualor temporary representatives of NGOs 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. However, they should announce themselves to the Secretariat through a letter addressed to Ms. Hardie (see above).

(b)Members of NGO delegations without a UNOG identity badge should apply in person as from

…Wednesday10March2004 to the Villa “Les Feuillantines” (see attached map); on presentation of an identity document and a copy of the letter of accreditation, a photo-badge valid for the duration of the Commission’s session will be issued.

The accreditation office of the Commission at the Villa “Les Feuillantines” will be open from 8.00a.m. to 5.00 p.m. from Monday to Friday throughout the session.

1. Documentation

The provisional agenda of the Commission’s session (E/CN.4/2004/1) and the accompanying annotations (E/CN.4/2004/1/Add.1 and Corr.1) as well as other documents already issued for the Commission may be consulted on the Internet at . Hard copiesof documents are available at the counter at door 40 (Tel.:+41(0)229174900).

The documents relevant to the agenda items under consideration will be listed in the daily Order of the Day.

1. Written statements

The Secretariat of the Commission would like to reiterate the rules and other requirements and details concerning the submission of written statements by non-governmental organizations, as contained in section2 of its note addressed to NGOs on 2December 2003.

In particular, the attention of NGOs is drawn to the fact that the Secretariat will not be able to ensure the timely circulation of written statements late in submission. However, NGOs still intending to submit written statements are requested to provide as soon as possible the Secretariat with their texts, if possible in the different working languages of the UnitedNations (English, French and Spanish), on diskettes or by e-mail().

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1. Oral statements

Representatives of NGOs wishing to take the floor on the item(s) dealt with by the Commission on Human Rights are invited to register as from 15 March 2004 with the Secretariat of the Commission, at the “Speakers’ list” desk in the conference room. The list of registered speakers on the items under consideration will be included in the daily Order of the Day. Each NGO is entitled to not more than six oral statements per session. The Secretariat ventures to encourage organizations to make joint statements and reminds them that 20copies of each statement should be made available, well in advance, for transmission of the texts to the interpreters.

1. Parallel meetings organized by NGOs

NGO representatives duly accredited to the sixtieth session of the Commission wishing to book a conference

…room for the holding of meetings focused on items dealt with by the Commission should fill in theattached form and return it to the Secretariat of the Commission on Human Rights,for the attention of Ms.AminataMonnet(Tel.:+41(0)229179397; Fax:+ 41(0)229179011). During the session, NGO representatives may apply directly to the Secretariat locatedbehind conference roomXVII. These meetings will be announced on a notice-board placed outside roomXVII for this purpose as well as in the Order of the Day.

On 24 and 30 March and 1April 2004, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights intends to organize a series of briefings of the Special Rapporteurs/Representatives and Independent Experts. During those days, NGOs may only organize parallel events provided that Special Rapporteurs/Representatives or Independent Experts take part in these events.

The Secretariat takes the opportunity to announce that the Office of the High Commissioner is planning to organize two panel discussions at lunchtime on the following dates:

• on 22 March, to commemorate the International Day against Racial Discrimination;
• on 7 April, to commemorate the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda.

Persons not accredited to the Commission, who are invited to take part in such parallel meetings, should go with an identity document to the Villa “Les Feuillantines” where they will be issued with a “Parallel Event” photo-badge. A list of such persons should be drawn up by the NGO responsible for the meeting and reach the Secretariatat least 48 hours prior to the date of the meeting.

1. Additional information

Timetable

The timetable for the consideration of agenda items will be published in the Order of the Day following its adoption by the Commission at the beginning of the session. A draft timetable as agreed upon by the Expanded Bureau of the Commission on Human Rights on 25 February 2004 is already available on the OHCHR website.

Conference rooms

In view of the limited number of conference-table seats available for NGOs in room XVII, representatives are asked not to occupy more than one seat per organization. They are also requested to remove their documents and personal effects from their place after each meeting.

To take the floor, NGO speakers should use the conference-table seats reserved primarily for that purpose.

NGOs are not permitted to distribute documents, pamphlets or any other material in the Salle desAssemblées or in room XVII.

NGO Liaison officers

During the session, two liaison officers from the Office of the High Commissioner will be in charge of facilitating the participation of NGO representatives in the work of the Commission and of improving communication between the secretariat and NGO representatives.

Information briefing

An information briefing for Governments, intergovernmental organizations, specialized agencies and NGOs by the secretariat of the sixtieth session of the Commission on Human Rights is scheduled for Wednesday,10March2004, at 3.00p.m. in room XVII, Palais des Nations (Door 40).

2 March 2004