Accreditation:

NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC wishing to accredit representatives to the 10th special session of the Human Rights Council are invited to send their letter of accreditation request/s to the Secretariat of the Council ASAP by fax or email to the accreditation officer clearly marked:

Re: Accreditation 10th special session of the Human Rights Council

Attention of Ms. Francoise Kenfack
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais Wilson, Room 4-092
52 Rue des Paquis
1201 Geneva, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22.917.96.41
Fax: +41 22.917.90.08
E-mail: fkenfack@ohchr.org

The accreditation officer of the Human Rights Council, will be present at the security entrance "Pregny Gate" at 9.00 a.m. on 20 February 2009.

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 10th special session of the HRC on 20 February 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.

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 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.

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.