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Frequently Asked QuestionsAccreditation and Pre-RegistrationQ1. Our organization is interested in attending the next session of the Permanent Forum. To whom shall we direct our queries for application? The Permanent Forum is not a United Nations Conference. It does not fall under regular substantive and technical commissions of ECOSOC, such as the Commission for Social Development, the Commission on Human Rights or the Commission on the Status of Women. It is not a special session of the General Assembly acting as the follow-up to a United Nations conference. It is an organ made of experts whose main responsibility is to advise ECOSOC on issues relating to the situation of indigenous populations. Taking into account the special nature of the Forum, the diversity of its participation and the breath of its mandate described in resolution 2000/22, previous sessions were open to NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC, organizations of indigenous people and academic institutions.
Q2. Our organization attended the other sessions of the Forum. Do we still need to pre-register? Yes. All accredited organizations interested in attending the sixth session of the Forum are invited to pre-register. In addition, all representatives of accredited organizations are requested to register at their arrival at the United Nations before attending the session. By doing so, they allow the United Nations to better plan their participation in the session, anticipate virtual security concerns and uncertainties, and provide better assistance to participants. It is also an opportunity for the Secretariat to keep accurate records of participation of NGOs, IPOs and interested academic institutions.
Q3. My organization enjoys consultative status with ECOSOC, but we have not received an invitation to attend sessions of the Permanent forum. How can we pre-register? Different means are used to provide NGOs and other interested entities with information on the Permanent Forum, including the use of the Internet. Whenever possible, contacts are also established with the headquarters of NGOs regarding participation of their representatives in meetings organized under the aegis of the United Nations. All interested NGOs in consultative status may use the online pre-registration system to apply to attend the session.
Q4. Can representatives of NGOs and IPOs attend sessions of the Permanent Forum without pre-registration? We do not encourage attendance of sessions of the Permanent Forum without pre-registration. All participants, including those from organizations enjoying consultative status with ECOSOC and holding annual ground-passes, are strongly encouraged to pre-register and register at the site of sessions of the Permanent Forum. The United Nations Secretariat will not be in a position to register participants who did not pre-register before the opening of the session. The letter of confirmation issued after pre-registration should be required to complete the process of registration.
ParticipationQ1. Can all NGOs and IPOs address sessions of the Permanent Forum or only those in consultative status with ECOSOC? During the previous sessions the Permanent Forum, representatives of NGOs and organizations of indigenous populations made presentations. Most of the organizations that addressed the Forum do not enjoy consultative status. In other words, all participants registered to attend the session may make oral presentations, depending on availability of time.
Other ConcernsQ1. Where do we get documents on the Permanent Forum? All of the formal documentation for each Session is posted to the website. Hard copies of published documents may be obtained at the secretariat of the Permanent Forum at the following address: Secretariat of the Permanent Forum for Indigenous Issues Email: IndigenousPermanentForum[at]un.org
Q2. Will the United Nations help me with my visa to New York? Arrangements for travel, including visa procedures, accommodation and transportation are the responsibility of NGOs and IPOs and other interested organizations. Representatives of participating organizations need to deal directly with American consulates in their countries of residence regarding issues pertaining to visa. The United Nations will send a confirmation letter to NGO and IPO representatives once they have been pre-registered. This confirmation letter may be used by NGO and IPO representatives to request a visa from American authorities. If necessary, the Division for Social Policy and Development will assist in providing information regarding the status of NGOs and IPOs at the request of American authorities. However, the United Nations does not send unsolicited correspondence to American Consulate to validate a request made by an NGO or IPO representative to obtain a visa. In the case representatives from duly accredited NGOs and IPOs have problems obtaining a visa, they may get in touch with the Secretariat of the Forum: Secretariat of the Permanent Forum for Indigenous Issues Email: IndigenousPermanentForum[at]un.org Representatives of organizations in need of a visa to enter the United States should note that American Consulates request that visa applications be submitted three months prior to the opening of the session. Therefore we encourage representatives of interested non-governmental organizations (NGOs), indigenous peoples’ organizations (IPOs) and academic institutions to submit their applications for visa as early as possible, preferably before 14 February 2007. Q3. Does the United Nations provide funding for NGOs to attend the Forum? At this stage, the United Nations does not have any funding for this purpose. The costs of travel, accommodation, daily subsistence and other arrangements, including visa, are the responsibility of NGOs, IPOs and academic institutions. The United Nations is not in a position to assist in finding other sources of funding for NGOs. However, limited support maybe available through the Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations. Please note that applications close in the proceeding October to the year of the Permanent Forum’s Session.
Submission of Written StatementsExcerpt form ECOSOC resolution 1996/31 36. Written statements relevant to the work of the commissions or other subsidiary organs may be submitted by organizations in general consultative status and special consultative status on subjects for which these organizations have a special competence. Such statements shall be circulated by the Secretary-General to members of the commission or other subsidiary organs, except those statements that have become obsolete, for example, those dealing with matters already disposed of and those that have already been circulated in some other form to members of the commission or other subsidiary organs. 37. The following conditions shall be observed regarding the submission and circulation of such written statements: (a) The written statement shall be submitted in one of the official languages; (b) It shall be submitted in sufficient time for appropriate consultation to take place between the Secretary-General and the organization before circulation; (c) The organization shall give due consideration to any comments that the Secretary-General may make in the course of such consultation before transmitting the statement in final form; (d) A written statement submitted by an organization in general consultative status will be circulated in full if it does not exceed 2,000 words. Where a statement is in excess of 2,000 words, the organization shall submit a summary, which will be circulated, or shall supply sufficient copies of the full text in the working languages for distribution. A statement will also be circulated in full, however, upon the specific request of the commission or other subsidiary organs; (e) A written statement submitted by an organization in special consultative status will be circulated in full if it does not exceed 1,500 words. Where a statement is in excess of 1,500 words, the organization shall submit a summary, which will be circulated, or shall supply sufficient copies of the full text in the working languages for distribution. A statement will also be circulated in full, however, upon the specific request of the commission or other subsidiary organs; (f) The Secretary-General, in consultation with the chairman of the relevant commission or other subsidiary organ, or the commission or other subsidiary organ itself, may invite organizations on the Roster to submit written statements. The provisions in subparagraphs (a), (b), (c) and (e) above shall apply to such statements; (g) A written statement or summary, as the case may be, will be circulated by the Secretary-General in the working languages and, upon the request of a member of the commission or other subsidiary organ, in any of the official languages. For additional information, please contact: Mr. Yao Ngoran
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