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Special Session of the General Assembly in Response to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic
3 December 2020 @ 9:00 AM - 4 December 2020 @ 9:00 PM UTC+0
FreeDear NGO Representatives,
For the upcoming UNGASS on Covid-19, kindly note the following guidelines for NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC, as per resolution 75/4 of the UN General Assembly:
- Paragraph 3 (d) of UN General Assembly resolution 75/4 regarding the modalities of the UN General Assembly special session on COVID-19, reads as `Representatives of non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council are invited to participate in the special session in accordance with the rules of procedure and established practice of the General Assembly;`
- In line with this paragraph, the representatives of non-governmental organizations in consultative status with ECOSOC are invited to register to participate in the special session by 25 November 2020 Wednesday until 1:00 pm. Proceedings of the special session will be webcast and all ECOSOC accredited NGOs will be provided by DESA with the link of the UN Web TV, where the proceedings of the special session can be virtually followed live. Additional information related to the special session can also be accessed in advance through the website of the Office of the President of the General Assembly (https://www.un.org/pga/75/) which will be regularly updated.
- Additionally, paragraph 3 (c) of resolution 75/4 reads that ` The general debate [of the special session] shall take place on the first day of the special session and shall include statements by [….] and, time permitting, a limited number of representatives from relevant organizations attending the special session, in line with subparagraphs (d) and (e) below, selected by the President of the General Assembly, in consultation with Member States, with due regard for geographical balance and gender equity….`
- In line with the above, those representatives of non-governmental organizations in consultative status with ECOSOC who wish to make a statement in the general debate of the special session are requested to express their interest to DESA to do so by 25 November 2020 Wednesday until 1:00 pm.
- Accordingly, a limited number of representatives from among those non-governmental organizations in consultative status with ECOSOC that have expressed interest to make a statement in the general debate, will be selected by the President of the General Assembly in consultation with Member states, with due regard for geographical balance and gender equity, to make statements in the general debate of the special session, time permitting.
- As per paragraph 4 (a) of resolution 75/4, which reads that `… representatives from relevant organizations attending the special session, in line with subparagraphs (a), (d) and (e) of paragraph 3 above, can submit a pre-recorded statement of their ….. other dignitaries, which will be played in the General Assembly Hall during …. the general debate of the special session, after introduction by their representative who is physically present in the Assembly Hall;`
- Those selected NGOs with ECOSOC accreditation can make their statements, time permitting, in person or via a pre-recorded statement of their dignitaries after introduction by their representative who is physically present in the Assembly Hall.
NGOs are therefore invited to register at: https://indico.un.org/
NGO Branch, UN DESA