Civil Society Section Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Participation by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) 52nd session (9 to 27 July 2012) and Pre-session for the 54th session (30 July to 3 August 2012) United Nations, New York
I. Consideration of Reports by States Parties
The Committee will examine the reports of the following countries during its 52nd session: -Bahamas-Bulgaria-Guyana-Indonesia-Jamaica-Mexico-New Zealand-Samoa
II. Documentation
The reports of the eight States parties to be considered at the 52nd session, the provisional agenda (CEDAW/C/52/1) and other documents pertaining to the session are available online at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws52.htm
III.Venue
The 52nd session of the Committee will take place at the United Nations, New York in Conference Room 3 North Lawn Building (NLB). The pre-session working group for the 54th session will take place from 30 July to 3 August in Conference Room 5 NLB…
IV. NGO Reports
In order to ensure that it is as best informed as possible, the Committee and the pre-session working group welcome representatives of national and international NGOs to provide country-specific information on issues relevant to the implementation of the Convention by the State parties under consideration. This can be done orally and/or in writing. The Committee encourages international NGOs and United Nations agencies, funds, programmers, and specialized agencies to facilitate attendance at Committee and pre-session working group sessions by representatives of national NGOs.
V. Reports for the Session (9 to 27 July 2012)
NGOs wishing to submit reports to the Committee are required to:
*Identify the full name of the NGO;
*Indicate the country to which the information relates;
*Indicate whether or not the submission can be posted on the CEDAW website for public information purposes; and
*Submit the report in PDF format (not Word) by e-mail and thereafter submit 30 copies in hard copy format.
All submissions should arrive two weeks prior to the beginning of the session to the Secretariat of the Committee, i.e., no later than 25 June 2012.
The pdf versions of the report should be sent to the following e-mail address: cedaw@ohchr.org. Hard copy submissions should be mailed to: NGO Documents for CEDAW Meeting c/o OHCHR/Gaynel Curry One United Nations Plaza, Room 511New York, NY 10017
Due to the volume of submissions, such reports should not exceed ten pages and should also highlight priority concerns and suggest possible country-specific recommendations to facilitate the work of the Committee. NGOs are additionally urged to ensure that the requisite number of hard copies of their reports/information reach OHCHR in time for the respective session. Due to the large volume of information received from NGOs and other stakeholders, OHCHR does not photocopy reports received from NGOs.
NGOs can also avail themselves of the support of IWRAW Asia Pacific to submit their alternative reports or information, electronically and/or in hard copy, to the Secretariat. For details and deadlines, please contact IWRAW Asia Pacific:
10-2, Jalan Bangsar Utama 9Bangsar Utama 59000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: +60 322 822 255Fax: +60 322 832 552Email: iwraw-ap@iwraw-ap.org or iwraw_ap@yahoo.com
In regard to the above, it is noted that the Committee has the prerogative to take into account all information submitted to it until the consideration of a report by a State party has been concluded.
VI. Reports for the Pre-Session Working Group (30 July to 3 August 2012)
The Pre-Session Working Group will prepare list of issues for the following States parties that are scheduled to be considered at the 54th session: -Angola-Austria-Cyprus-Greece-Hungary-Pakistan-Solomon Islands (in the absence of report)-The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
NGOs wishing to submit reports to the pre-session working group should follow the same requirements for submission of reports for the session as indicated above. NGOs should send 10 copies of their reports by 25 June 2012. (The pre-session working group prepares lists of issues and questions for the States scheduled to be reviewed two sessions subsequent to the current session.) The pdf versions of the report should be sent to the following e-mail address: cedaw@ohchr.org. Hard copy submissions should be mailed to:
NGO Documents for CEDAW Meeting c/o OHCHR/Gaynel Curry One United Nations Plaza, Room 511New York, NY 10017
VII. Meetings with NGOs
The Committee has set aside time at its 52nd session for NGOs to provide oral information in respect of countries being considered during the session. These meetings are scheduled on 9 July 2012 from 3:00 to 4:30 pm for countries that will be considered the first week (i.e., Bulgaria, Guyana, Indonesia and Jamaica), and on 16 July 2012 from 3:00 to 4:30 pm for countries that will be considered the second week (i.e., Bahamas, Mexico, New Zealand and Samoa). The meetings will take place in room 3 NLB and are open to the public. For the schedule of considerations of State parties’ reports, please contact the Secretariat.
Oral interventions by NGOs must be concise. On average, not more than 10 minutes are allocated for all NGOs wishing to intervene on one particular country. The available time is divided amongst the NGOs wishing to speak on a country, with time reserved for questions from Committee members. In view of the normally tight time constraints, the consolidation of presentations by subject is encouraged and appreciated. NGOs making oral interventions should ensure that they bring 35 copies of their oral statements at least 15 minutes prior to the meeting for circulation to the Committee and for interpretation purposes in addition to any reports. Prior to the presentation, NGOs are requested to send an electronic version of their statements in Word and pdf format to: cedaw@ohchr.org.
The pre-session working group also provides an opportunity for NGOs to address the Committee concerning all countries that will be taken up at the 54th.
This meeting will take place on Monday, 30 July 2012 from 11:30 to 12:30 am in room 5 NLB. and is open to the public. The paragraph above relating to the oral interventions by NGOs is applicable to the pre-session working group as well, except that NGOs need only bring 15 copies of their oral statement prior to the meeting for circulation to the Committee and for interpretation purposes in addition to any reports. Prior to the presentation, NGOs are requested to send an electronic version of their statements in Word and pdf format to: cedaw@ohchr.org.
VIII. Registration
NGO representatives who wish to attend any sessions of the Committee or pre-session working group are required to be duly registered. All NGO representatives must complete the online registration form for the 52nd session by 25 June 2012 by accessing the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ (DESA) CSO Net website.
How to pre-Register your NGO’s participation
Step 1. Prepare – Organizational Profile
*Before you start, make sure your organization has an organizational profile in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ (DESA) CSO Net database, with a corresponding login and password.
*Generally, NGOs that have participated in UN meetings in the past already have such a profile.
*If your organization does not, please visit the following link to create a profile: http://goo.gl/8k9bL
*In this process, select “Special Event”/Apply for ECOSOC Status” when asked for your organization’s objective. This will speed up your application.
*Approval of this profile can take up to 48 hours. You will receive an email with your login and password details.
*You can only complete the steps below with your organization’s own login and password.
Step 2. The Session
*Visit the CSO Net meeting page of the session: http://goo.gl/apKom
*In the right-hand column, click “Conference Registration”
Step 3. Login
*Type in your login information. See step 1 above.
Step 4. Designate Representatives
*Please provide details of your proposed representative(s) to the event.
*You will receive a confirmation email with instructions for obtaining a ground pass.
IX. Ground Pass
Instructions for obtaining a ground pass will be conveyed by email to registered participants.
All participants are responsible for making their own arrangements relating to travel and accommodations as well as visas to enter the United States.
The Secretariat of CEDAW does not provide assistance in this regard and is not in a position to provide letters to US authorities for purposes of obtaining a visa. Representatives requiring a visa to enter the United States are advised to apply as early as possible in case any time is needed for special clearance by US authorities, and ensure that the visa is received in time for travel. Past practice shows that when applying for a US visa, it is recommended that you bring copies of this confirmation e-mail, as well as a letter prepared by your NGO at the time of your appointment with the relevant US Consulate or Embassy.
X. Side Events and Lunch Briefings
NGOs have access to a separate room for one hour briefing for the Committee during lunch on country-specific information relating to the session. NGOs wishing to participate in such briefings should contact IWRAW Asia Pacific. NGOs wishing to organize side events must contact the Secretariat at least four weeks in advance of the session, indicating the focus of the side event. The Secretariat will inform you if it is possible to accommodate your request in light of all requests received as well as the availability of Committee members.
XI. Additional Information
For further information about the treaty bodies in general, specific information on CEDAW and on the participation and role of civil society with respect to human rights instruments, please consult the following links:
*http://www2.ohchr.org; and *http://www.ohchr.org/EN/AboutUs/Pages/CivilSociety.aspx
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Best regards,
Civil Society Section
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Tel. +41 (0) 22 – 917 – 9656 Visit our website: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/AboutUs/Pages/CivilSociety.aspx