[procaare] UNGASS - Guidelines for NGOs Accreditation

[Kathleen Cravero-UNAIDS <ungass-cso@unaids.org>]

Guidelines for NGOs participation in the United Nations General Assembly Special Session
on HIV and AIDS, 25-27 June 2001

[Issued by UNAIDS - 18 January 2001]

I have the pleasure to inform you that the United Nations General Assembly Special Session
on HIV/AIDS will take place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 25 June
through 27 June 2001. The Special Session will aim to intensify international action to
combat HIV/AIDS and to secure a global political commitment and the resources needed.

In its resolution 55/13, adopted on 16 November 2000, the General Assembly (see:
www.unaids.org) recognizes the importance of the contribution of civil society actors in
the response to the epidemic at all levels, and underlines the need for the active
involvement of civil society representatives in the preparatory process and the special
session.

The resolution invited the President of the General Assembly, in consultation with Member
States, to propose appropriate arrangements for the involvement of NGOs in the Special
Session. UNAIDS will keep you informed about such arrangements as soon as they are
determined.

NGOs who wish to participate in the preparatory process and the Special Session itself
need to apply for accreditation.  The accreditation process is as follows:


1.Accreditation of NGOs with ECOSOC status or Members of the Programme Coordination Board
(PCB) of UNAIDS

Non-governmental organizations having consultative status with the United Nations Economic
and Social Council (ECOSOC), and are interested in participating in the session, or are
members of the Programme Coordination Board of UNAIDS, should indicate to the Secretariat
not later than 31 January 2001 the name of their organization and representative (s) to
the Special Session.

Information should be sent to: United Nations - Department for Economic and Social
Affairs/NGO Section, DC1-1482, New York, N.Y.
FAX: +1 212 963 9248, E-mail: DESANGOsection@un.org

A copy should also be sent to: NGO Unit - Department of External Relations, UNAIDS, 20
avenue Appia, CH-1211 Geneva 27.
FAX: +41 22 791 4188, e-mail: ungass-cso@unaids.org

2.Participation of NGOs without ECOSOC or PCB status

In its resolution 55/13, the General Assembly also makes provisions for the participation
of other civil society actors who are actively involved in HIV/AIDS-related work. The
UNAIDS secretariat has been requested to prepare a list of relevant civil society actors
by 15 February 2001, for consideration by Member States, on a non-objection basis during
the preparatory process, for final decision by the General Assembly.  Such civil society
actors would include associations of people living with HIV/AIDS, non-governmental
organizations and the business sector.

Organizations which would like to participate must meet the following requirements:

a) Be a legitimate organization with the ability to provide documentation as follows:

i) Purpose of the organization;
ii) Information identifying the programmes and activities of the organization in HIV/AIDS
relevant issues, indicating in which country or countries they are carried out;
iii) Confirmation of the activities or the organization at the national, regional or
international levels;
iv) Copies of annual or other reports of the organization, with financial statements and a
list of financial sources and contributions, including governmental contributions;
v) A list of members of the governing body of the organization and their countries of
nationality;
vi) A description of membership of the organization, indicating the total number of
members, the names of organizations that are members and their geographical distribution;
vii)A copy of constitution and/or by-laws of the organization.

b) This information should be submitted in one of the two working languages of the United
Nations, English or French.

In order to facilitate the compilation of the required list of NGOs to be considered for
participation in the session, organizations meeting these requirements, should send this
information to:

NGO Unit - Department of External Relations, UNAIDS, 20 avenue Appia, CH-1211 Geneva 27.
FAX: +41 22 791 4188, e-mail: ungass-cso@unaids.org

A copy should also be sent to: United Nations - Department for Economic and Social
Affairs/NGO Section, DC1-1482, New York, N.Y.
FAX: +1 212 963 9248, E-mail: DESANGOsection@un.org

All applications should be received in Geneva not later than 31 January 2001 to be
considered.  As mentioned above, a list will be submitted to the President of the General
Assembly by 15 February 2001 for consideration. Please note that only NGOs that have been
approved for accreditation by Member States will receive a letter of invitation by the end
of February 2001.

Kindly note that no financial support can be provided by the United Nations for
participation.

For any further information on the Special Session of the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS,
please visit regularly the UNAIDS website at: www.unaids.org

Yours sincerely,

Kathleen Cravero
Deputy Executive Director, UNAIDS
Email: ungass-cso@unaids.org

*******

Moderators note: NGOs can also get involved in the special session and its preparatory
process by joining the dedicated civil society email discussion forum.
To join, send an email to: break-the-silence@hdnet.org


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