Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) which are accredited to, and in good standing with, the Economic and Social Council are eligible to designate representatives to attend the session. Moreover, ECOSOC adopted resolution 2004/57 (please see page 153 of the ECOSOC document E/2004/INF/2/Add.2) which invites those non-governmental organizations not in consultative status, accredited to Beijing and Beijing+5 to attend the 49th session of CSW on an exceptional basis. Invitation letters to above mentioned NGOs will be sent out in September 2004.

Eligible NGOs are invited to submit to the Division for the Advancement of Women the pre-registration form listing their representatives no later than Friday, 31 December 2004. NGOs are also encouraged to ensure that their initial application includes the names of alternative representatives in case any of the proposed applicants is unable to obtain an entry visa to the United States of America.

If your organization has internet access, please register online beginning Friday, 1 October 2004, as well as make any registration changes on this page. To login please enter Organization ID and Password provided in an invitation letter. Online registration will be closed Friday, 31 December 2004. After that date, substitutions of names of representatives can only be submitted via fax to +1-(212)-963-3463 or through mail to CSW49 NGO Registration, Division for the Advancement of Women, 2 UN plaza, Room DC2-1282D, New York, NY 10017, USA.

Please do not send any duplicate pre-registration forms by fax or mail as this will only delay the processing of information.

All confirmation letters will be sent to the fax number of the organization's headquarters. Please note that for names received after 31 December 2004 no confirmation letters will be issued.

NGOs will be permitted to participate in the session by providing written statements relating to the two thematic issues. For guidelines relating to these statements, please visit NGO ECOSOC website. NGOs that are interested in providing a statement may do so no later than 15 January 2005. Please keep in mind that there is much processing that needs to be done to prepare these statements as official United Nations documents before the Commission begins. Kindly submit these statements directly to Mr. Moncef Khane in the Secretariat (Room S-2950D, United Nations, New York, New York 10017).

NGOs will, time permitting, be given an opportunity for an oral intervention during the high-level plenary and the high-level panels. NGOs are required to submit a request for their intervention via email or by fax +1-(212)963-3463 in advance of the session, providing the name of the speaker, organization(s)/caucus, topic to be addressed and endorsing groups. NGO's are encouraged to make joint statements on behalf of several organizations. They will also be required to provide 17 (seventeen) copies of the statement for distribution to the bureau and to translators.

UN entities and NGOs who wish to organize side events during the session, or who wish to sponsor exhibitions in the Conference Building Neck Area, are requested to fill out the side events application form (please complete one for each event) and submit to United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women (UN DAW) via email or by fax +1-(212)963-3463 on or before 15 January 2005. Due to limited space, requests will be considered on first come, first served basis. Please note that the sponsoring organizations for the events are responsible for all charges related to the event, including room, equipment, and any other services. Fees will have to be paid in advance to the United Nations (send to Mr. Gordon Tapper, S-2170C). Please use the standard rates for side events to calculate fees to be paid.

For further information, please contact Ms.Tsu-Wei Chang.

See also:

• ECOSOC resolution 2004/57 on participation of non-governmental organizations in the forty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (page 153 of ECOSOC document E/2004/INF/2/Add.2, PDF)
• ECOSOC decision 2004/309 on preparations for the forty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (page 212 of ECOSOC document E/2004/INF/2/Add.2, PDF)
• Answers to the frequently asked questions on the 49th session of the Commission on the Status of Women