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Access at UN Headquarters at New York

 

ACCESS TO THE UN HEADQUARTERS DURING THE 79TH SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (As of 19 September 2024)

Dear NGO Representative,

As per standing practice, access to the United Nations during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly will be restricted. Due to the large number of high-level events and increased security arrangements, the United Nations Headquarters will be accessible to United Nations staff, Member State delegations and stakeholders with special access passes only.

THESE INSTRUCTIONS SUPERSEDE THE EARLIER MESSAGE THAT WAS DISSEMINATED ABOUT GA PASSES IN AUGUST.

PLEASE NOTE THE IMPORTANT CHANGES BELOW FOR REQUESTING AND COLLECTING SPECIAL GA PASSES IN 2024 FOR THE HIGH-LEVEL WEEK, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE FROM 24 TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 IN NEW YORK:

The NGO Branch in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) has secured a limited number of tickets for NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC to attend the General Debate of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The process for requesting these tickets has changed this year due to security concerns. Therefore, please read carefully the instructions below to request your ticket through this LINK.

THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR THE TICKETS IS FRIDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER 2024 AT 12 NOON EDT.

Tickets may be requested for one of the following sessions:
Tuesday, 24 September 2024: Either AM Session or PM Session
Wednesday, 25 September 2024: Either AM Session or PM Session
Thursday, 26 September 2024: Either AM Session or PM Session
Friday, 27 September 2024: Either AM Session or PM Session
Saturday, 28 September 2024: Either AM Session or PM Session
Monday, 30 September 2024: Either AM Session or PM Session

Please note:
Due to high demand and a limited number of tickets available for NGOs during the High-level Week, each NGO will be eligible to request one (1) ticket ONLY for one (1) session for the entire Debate.

To apply for a ticket, you must be in possession of a valid UN Grounds Pass issued by the NGO Branch, DESA.
Tickets will be name specific, and non-transferable.

Please only apply if you can attend.

Given the limited number of tickets, not all applicants will be able to obtain a ticket.

Representatives awarded a ticket will be notified via e-mail with an official letter, by cob Friday, 20 September 2024.

The official letter will include instructions on the location to collect your ticket.

All the tickets for the duration of the High-level Week will be distributed only on Monday, 23 September, from 11:00 to 13:00.
Please note that the limited GA tickets are different from Special Event Tickets (SETs) that are provided to approved participants for all UN high-level meetings and events, and are processed through dedicated, online registration portals for each event. These limited GA tickets will not provide access to specific meetings and events during the GA High-level Week.

Important: DESA will start approving requests for new grounds passes as of 2 October 2024.

DGC-accredited civil society badge holders must contact DGC for instructions on requesting their tickets.

For the most up-to-date information on the UNGA schedule, please check the UN Journal.

ACCESS TO THE UN HEADQUARTERS COMPLEX IN 2024

As per standing practice, access to the United Nations during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly will be restricted. Due to the large number of high-level events and increased security arrangements, the United Nations Headquarters will be accessible to United Nations staff and Member State delegations only.

Please note the following important changes during this period:

  • From 1 September 2024, no new passes will be approved or issued for representatives of NGOs in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council for the duration of the month of September.
  • Access to UN Headquarters premises will be granted with valid UN Grounds passes only until 21 September 2024.
  • From 22 to 30 September 2024, the use of annual and temporary grounds passes for NGOs in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council to enter the Headquarters complex will be suspended.
  • A limited number of special passes for the General Assembly will be distributed daily from 23 to 27 September by the NGO Branch of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, on a first-come, first-served basis at the corner of Second Avenue and 46th Street from 9 to 10 a.m. and from 2 to 3 p.m. for participation on the same day. Tickets will be distributed upon presentation of a valid UN grounds pass. Owing to the limited number of passes available, and in order to provide equal opportunity to all NGOs in consultative status to attend the sessions, special half-day passes will be distributed to one representative of each NGO to attend either the morning session or the afternoon session of the general debate, but not both. In other words, NGOs participating in the morning session cannot participate in the afternoon session.
  • Special Event Tickets (SETs): For all UN high-level meetings and events, participation of civil society and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) must be first approved through dedicated, online registration processes for each event. At the conclusion of the registration processes, participants will be notified of the approval of their registration, and will also be informed of the date, time and venue for the collection of the required Special Event Tickets (SETs). To collect their SETs, approved participants will be required to present the Letter of Approval that was sent to them by the United Nations, as well as a government-issued photo ID, such as a passport or a driver’s license, etc. The SETs will indicate the name of the participant, the specific meeting, date and time of the event. Participants will be required to carry the SETs with them at all times while on UN premises.
  • The issuance of Special Event Tickets is the responsibility of the United Nations sponsoring office. Non-United Nations guests will require a sponsoring office or delegation staff member to escort them from the access point on Second Avenue and 46th Street to the meeting or event location.

The usual procedures for UN Grounds Passes will be reinstated as of 2 October 2024, as per the instructions below.

Access at UN Office at Geneva (UNOG)

Access at UN Office at Vienna (UNOV)

Virtual Access of UN Meetings and Conferences

NGO Working Group on UN Access and Campaigns

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