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NGOs Arrangements for NGO Participation in the
GA Special Session of ICPD+5Excerpt from NGLS' Go Between #74
June 3, 1999
Arrangements for NGO Participation in the GA Special Session
With regard to accrediting NGOs to the special session, delegates agreed to invite NGOs in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and those already accredited to the ICPD and/or the PrepCom. In addition, "other interested NGOs including those who have applied for ECOSOC consultative status" seeking accreditation to the special session will be "examined by a committee composed of the Bureau of the PrepCom and the Secretariat (by 14 May 1999), which will make appropriate recommendations to the PrepCom at its resumed session for a decision" provided that specified information accompanies the request.
The PrepCom agreed that "given availability of time, and bearing in mind GA resolution 51/467, a limited number of NGOs may make statements in the general debate, subject to approval of the special session. The GA President is requested to ensure that such participation is on an equal and transparent basis, taking into account the diversity of NGOs." Statements by NGOs in the general debate will be limited to five minutes. A related provision was also agreed for the participation of NGOs to make statements in the ad hoc committee of the whole of the special session.
The following subsequent information is provided by the Conference of NGOs New York office:NGO Statements During the Plenary of the Special Session of the General Assembly for ICPD+5
During the Plenary of the General Assembly, approximately five (5) speaker slots will be made available for NGO representatives of broad constituencies. The slots most likely will be scheduled for the last day of the Special Session, 2 July. NGO speakers will follow the Member States and Observers, probably at the end of the day. Each speaker may present for a maximum of five minutes. Only requests made on behalf of a wide constituency (a caucus, coalition, or network, etc.) will be considered.
The number of NGO constituent representatives wishing to speak during the Plenary may be greater than the number of slots. The procedure for submitting a request to speak is as follows.
Requests for NGO speaker slots during the Plenary should be submitted to the Conference of NGOs in writing by the end of the day of Wednesday, 9 June. Requests may be submitted by fax to 212/986-0821, or by e-mail to congongo@aol.com.
Requests should contain the following information: name of constituency/organizations requesting the speaker slot; proposed speaker (whose NGO must be in consultative status with the United Nations); local contact person; contact information; other supporting information (e.g. more information on the NGOs, Caucuses, and/or affiliates on behalf of whom the statement will be made). The Guidelines for consideration of a request are as follows.
The President of the UNGASS will make all final determinations on NGO speakers, based upon a list submitted to him by the Secretariat.
All requests for speaker slots will be submitted to the Secretariat by the Conference of NGOs. Priority may be suggested, but cannot be imposed, by the Conference of NGOs based upon two criteria: breadth of constituency representation; submission of requests on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Secretariat will review the list of requests with a view to ensuring that the widest possible representation of interests and views is represented among the NGO speaker slots. Notification of acceptance or denial of a request will take place as follows.
The Conference of NGOs will transmit all requests to the Secretariat by 14 June.
Upon notification by the Secretariat of the approved list, the Conference of NGOs will immediately notify in writing all those having requested a speaker slot. A list of NGO speakers will also be produced for general distribution.
Once on the list, NGOs are strongly encouraged to prepare 20 copies of their statement for the use of the interpreters and press. These copies should be given to the UN staff-person sitting at the back of the conference room on 2 July. While other opportunities for NGOs statements during official sessions may occur during the Resumed PrepCom (24-29 June), it is likely that sessions will be conducted on an informal basis, in which case NGOs may not be allocated time to speak. Similarly, in theory NGOs will be permitted to speak during the Special Session's Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole, although it too may be conducted as informals. Information on this front may not be available until the Resumed PrepCom. Should NGOs be offered time for statements, the procedure followed at the March PrepCom for gathering and processing NGO requests to speak will again be implemented.
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