Human Rights Council Advisory Committee

Information note for NGOs on the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee

(as of 7 July 2009)

Pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 (paragraph 65), the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee) functions as a think-tank for the Human Rights Council (HRC), focusing mainly on studies and research-based advice in a manner and form requested by the HRC, and shall convene up to two sessions for a maximum of 10 working days per year (paragraph 79).

The third session of the Advisory Committee of the Human Rights Council will take place from 3 - 7 August 2009, in room XX of Palais des Nations, Geneva.

1. Access to relevant information on the Web

All relevant documentation is accessible from the OHCHR website, dedicated to the third session of the Advisory Committee, which will be updated with relevant information as it becomes available.
 
Kindly refer to this website for updates:

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/advisorycommittee.htm

2. Accreditation

Pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, the participation of NGOs in the Advisory Committee shall be based on the arrangements and practices observed by the Commission on Human Rights, including Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31 of 25 July 1996 (paragraph 83).

NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC wishing to accredit representatives to the third session of the Advisory Committee should post or fax their request(s) to the Secretariat of the Advisory Committee, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights:

Prior to the session:

Fax:  + 41 (0) 22 917 90 11
Tel: + 41 (0) 22 917 92 19 and +41 (0) 22 917 94 01

During the session (from 3 - 7 August 2009)

Pregny Gate
Palais des Nations
8-14 avenue de la Paix
CH-1211
Geneva 10
Tel: +41 (0)22 917 42 82
Fax: +41 (0)22 917 04 94

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 [insert relevant session number] session of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee ([insert dates of session])…..“;
The letter needs to be signed by the President or the Main Representative of the organization;

• 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.  

Annual or temporary NGO representatives 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 faxed by the concerned NGO, a photo-badge valid for the duration of the Council session will be issued.

3. Assistance for requesting travel visas

Upon request, the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) NGO Liaison Office (not the Secretariat of the Advisory Committee) 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 Secretariat of the Advisory Committee. The latter will accordingly transmit the request to the UNOG Liaison Office which will issue the attestation and transmit it to the concerned NGO headquarters. The UNOG 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

4. Access to the public gallery

A limited number of seats in the Public Gallery, above the conference room, are available for persons wishing to observe the proceedings of the Advisory Committee without being accredited as participants (i.e. students, and academics). Individuals or groups who wish to attend are required to fax a letter (24 hours before the desired date) to the Secretariat of the Advisory Committee, (+41 (0) 22 917 90 11 prior to the session, and at +41 (0) 22 917 03 74 during the session), 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.

The Secretariat wishes to draw the attention of participants to the following:

(a) Annual or 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.

The accreditation office of the Advisory Committee will be located at the security entrance “Pregny Gate” and will be open from Monday to Friday from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. through out the session.

5. NGO written statements

NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC may submit written statements relevant to the work of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee (in accordance with paragraphs 36 and 37 of ECOSOC resolution 1996/31) ahead of the relevant session.

NGOs wishing to submit written statements must send their written statement to hrcngo@ohchr.org on or before Friday, 23 July 2009 at 18.00 CET.

The Secretariat of the Advisory Committee wishes to draw the attention of NGOs to ECOSOC resolution 1996/31, which authorizes written statements of: a) 2,000 words for NGOs in general consultative status; and b) 1,500 words for NGOs in special consultative status and on the roster.

Written contributions from NGOs may be submitted to this sessions, in accordance with the Secretariat guidelines for the submission of NGO written statements to the HRC sessions, accessible at:

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/guidelines.htm. 

6. Oral statements

Accredited NGOs may make oral statements under substantive items of the agenda.

The list of speakers desk will be located inside the conference room. NGOs can only be (pre-) registered by persons holding a badge of the concerned NGO.

Please note that 25 copies of the oral statement are to be provided to the UN Conference Service at the beginning of the relevant meeting. Conference Service staff can be approached in the middle of the conference room. Photocopiers are available near the conference room.

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

Additional copies of NGO oral statements may be placed by NGOs only on the tables at the back of the conference room, after delivery of the relevant statement. NGOs are not permitted to distribute documents, pamphlets or any other material in the conference room. Reserved desks and boards are available outside the conference room for display of documentation, clearly attributable to NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC.

7. Parallel meetings organized by NGOs

Accredited NGOs may organize parallel events of relevance to the work of the HRC, taking into account availability of rooms. Room-booking request forms are available at:

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/advisorycommittee/session3/events.htm

Room booking requests will be received by the Secretariat, and will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability of rooms. All requests should be sent by fax to:

Prior to the session:

Fax:  + 41 (0) 22 917 90 11
Tel: + 41 (0) 22 917 92 19 and +41 (0) 22 917 94 01

During the session (from 3 - 7 August 2009)

Pregny Gate
Palais des Nations
8-14 avenue de la Paix
CH-1211
Geneva 10
Tel: +41 (0)22 917 42 82
Fax: +41 (0)22 917 04 94

The NGO in charge of organizing the parallel event may invite guests not accredited to the HRC session to be present at their meeting. The concerned NGO is requested to provide the Secretariat of the Advisory Committee, with a complete list of its guests at least 48 hours prior to the day of the meeting. Accordingly, “Parallel Event” badges will be issued on the day of the scheduled event, at the “Pregny Gate” security entrance, upon presentation of a valid identification paper.

Please be advised that the Secretariat does not provide interpretation for NGO parallel events. NGOs may bring their own interpreters, if they so wish, and inform the Secretariat of the Advisory Committee accordingly ahead of time. The use of cameras/videos during parallel events is not encouraged. Only journalists and camera-people accredited on a yearly basis with UNOG are allowed to use camera and video equipment.