Register Now for the NGO Forum!!!
News Flash
- You need to register for the NGO Forum now!
- There is still time for your NGO to be accredited to the WCAR.
- National US NGO Strategy Meeting for WCAR participants 22-23 June in DC.
- Go to www.ngoworldconference.org/directory.htm to become apart of an on-line organizational directory.
Files Attached
- Fact Sheet on Getting Around Geneva and the United Nations
- Accreditation Application
- List of Accredited US NGOs to the WCAR as of 10 April
WCAR NGO Forum vs. WCAR Governmental Meeting–
Some people are still confused about the difference between these two meetings and what is required to attend.
The NGO Forum will take place from 28 August – 1 September.
There will be plenary sessions, workshops, exhibits, panels, etc. Organizations from around the world who work on issues of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance will attend.
It will be a great opportunity to network and learn about other peoples’ struggles. The NGO Forum will culminate in an NGO Declaration and Progamme of Action.
The Governmental Meeting will take place from 31 August – 7 September. The primary activity during this meeting is the final negotiations on the governmental Declaration and Programme of Action.
If you have not been involved in the process, you will probably find this meeting rather boring.
Anybody can attend the NGO Forum; you just have to register. NGOs must have ECOSOC status, be accredited themselves, or go under an NGO that is accredited to attend the Governmental Meeting.
Register Now for the NGO Forum!!! –
Although the deadline for registration for the NGO Forum is May 31st, I was told by Mr. Moshe More that not many US NGOs have registered, and it is essential to do it as soon as possible.
I know many of us have waited until we can pay the $100 registration fee. But it is not necessary to transfer the money immediately; that can be done later (but try to do it by the deadline). What is essential now is that you “hold your place”.
The South African secretariat is going to cut-off registration at 8,000 people. If you register on-line now, (or fax in your registration form), you will be able to attend the NGO Forum. To register on-line, go to NGO Registration.
Click on “Registration Information”, scroll down to the bottom of that page and click on “Electronic Delegate Registration Form” and you can register on-line. You can also print out the registration form and fax it back to the Secretariat.
The site also tells you how to transfer the $100 registration fee.
Accreditation for the WCAR Governmental Meeting–
I just received word that there is still time to get accreditation for the WCAR. A final deadline has not been set. If you have not applied for accreditation and still are interested in doing so, submit your completed application as soon as possible because the process takes 6-8 weeks!
The information that you need to provide and the directions can be found in an attached file.
Fifty-six US NGOs have received accreditation to the WCAR as of April 10, 2001. Please see attached file for complete list. You can go to NGOs Accredited. click on UN World Conference, and then click on Accreditation to see the complete list of all NGOs accredited from around the world.
Accommodations for the WCAR –
You can book accommodations for the NGO Forum and the WCAR on the SA Secretariat website, www.racism.org.za. This is the official site and Turners Travel is the official agency that has been contracted to handle all accommodations.
I know there are several travel agencies in the United States that are offering package deals, and they may have rooms, or they may not. I would strongly suggest that you use the official agency.
Credentials for the 2nd Intersessional –
As you know, the Bureau scheduled a second Intersessional meeting 7-11 May to discuss the Draft Declaration and Programme of Action. NGOs are welcome to attend and participate.
To get credentials for this meeting, you need to send a fax (on letterhead and appropriately signed) to Sarah-Jayne Brodier at (41-22) 917-9050 or 917-9056, providing her with the names of the individuals to be accredited.
Credentials are picked up at the Villa les Feuillantines, Avenue de la Paix 13, Geneva (close to the main entrance of the Place des Nations – see attached Fact Sheet on Getting Around Geneva and the UN).
2nd PrepCom –
It has been confirmed that the 2nd PrepCom will be held 21 May – 1 June. Hundreds of NGOs will be attending this meeting and it is very important because it will be the last major opportunity to impact the draft Declaration and Programme of Action before the WCAR.
Please note that Dr. Laurie Wiseberg, NGO Liaison for the WCAR, has scheduled an all-day NGO Workshop and Training for Sunday, 20 May at the Palais Wilson. Please make your travel arrangements so that you can attend this very important meeting.
Credentials for the 2nd PrepCom –
Follow the same procedures noted above to acquire credentials for the 2nd PrepCom.
US Anti-Racism Organizational Directory –
The US NGO Coordinating Committee has been working with Anti-Racism Net/Project Change to develop the US NGO Website. We are in the process of building an on-line, searchable, database of organizations working on racism and other issues related to the WCAR.
We will finally have a comprehensive database in one place, to which everyone will have access. Please visit http://www.ngoworldconference.org and then click on “Directory of Organizations” to post your organization’s information.
Once we have a significant number of organizations, the database will be available for on-line searches.
National US NGO Strategy Meeting in Preparation for Durban –
The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund, the US NGO Coordinating Committee and others are planning a national strategy meeting in preparation for Durban. The meeting will be held 22-23 June in Washington DC.
Please hold this date! We will provide more details soon.
Youth Forum –
There will be a special Youth Forum in South Africa on 27 August, the day before the NGO Forum. Many of the details will be worked out during the 2nd Intersessional Meeting.
Scholarships to Attend the NGO Forum –
There are at least 1,500 – 1,800 scholarships (travel & hotel) for people to attend the NGO Forum. Although a priority will be given to NGOs from the South, targeted groups in Northern countries (like young adults) will be able to compete for these scholarships.
Make sure that you indicate on your registration form that you are applying for sponsorship to attend the WCAR NGO Forum. You will be asked to “motivate on a separate page”, meaning, you need to write a statement as to why you should be granted the scholarship.
The International Steering Committee, comprised of regional and thematic representation, will make the final decision on the scholarships.
Key Resources for More Information About the WCAR
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