11th session of the Human Rights Council - Accreditation

NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC wishing to accredit representatives to the 11th session of the Human Rights Council are invited to send their accreditation request(s) to the Secretariat of the Council by fax, to the attention of Ms. Julia Beger, accreditation officer, at:

(Until 29 May) Fax: +41 (0)22 917 90 11
(From 2 June) Fax: +41 (0 22 917 03 26

The letter requesting accreditation should contain the following elements:

• It should be submitted on the official letterhead of the organization;
• It should 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 11th session of the HRC (2-18 June 2009)…..”;
• The letter needs to be signed by the President or the Main Representative of the organization in Geneva;
• It should 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,
• Family Name(s) have to be capitalized.

NOTE: Please also note that the so-called “orange registration forms” previously distributed by Conference Services during the session, will no longer be in use. The names of participating NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC will be annexed to the formal report of the session.

It is important to ensure that the name(s) of those members already in possession of a valid identity badge issued by UNOG Security and Safety Section, and who plan to attend the 9th session of HRC, is/are also included in the accreditation letter, with an indication that the person(s) hold(s) an annual badge.

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

Any other participants without a UNOG identity badge should apply in person to the security entrance at Pregny Gate, 8 – 14 Avenue de la Paix; on presentation of an identity document and a copy of the letter of accreditation, a photo-badge valid for the duration of the Council session will be issued.

The accreditation officer of the Human Rights Council, will be present at the security entrance "Pregny Gate" from Monday to Friday from 8.00 a.m-5.00 p.m. throughout the session.

Access to the public gallery

The secretariat wishes to remind all persons who wish to observe the proceedings of the Human Rights Council without being accredited as participants (mainly students, researchers and academics) that there are a limited number of seats in the Public Gallery, above the conference room. Individuals or groups who wish to attend are required to send a letter (24 hours before the desired date) to the secretariat, containing the following information:

(a) Date(s) of the visit;
(b) Purpose of the visit; and
(c) Full name(s) of those wishing to attend.

Access to the public gallery will be granted depending on the availability of seating and other circumstances.

Further information for NGOs

Renewal of the designation of representatives

NGOs are reminded that each year they need to send information concerning their organization and renew the designation of representatives to the United Nations, by completing the DESA/NGO/2008 form, as from 1 January of the current year. This form can be found on the following website:
http://www.un.org/esa/coordination/ngo

6. When completed, the form must be returned by fax or by mail to: NGO Liaison Unit, Office of the Director-General, United Nations Office in Geneva, Palais des Nations, Room 155, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland; Fax: +41 22 917 05 83; Tel: +41 22 917 21 27; E-mail: ungeneva.ngoliaison@unog.ch.

Requests for travel visas

NGOs wishing to request a “certificate of attestation” in order to facilitate obtaining their visas must send their requests to the NGO Liaison Office two weeks in advance of their participation to the Human Rights Council session.

Parallel events