Note No. 5959
2 September 2005

Note to Correspondents

58th Annual DPI/NGO Conference "Our Challenge:  Voices for Peace, Partnerships and Renewal", United Nations, New York, 7-9 September

NEW YORK, 1 September (UN Headquarters) -- More than 2,000 participants representing over 1,200 non-governmental and civil society organizations in 120 countries will gather in New York for the Fifty-Eighth Annual DPI/NGO Conference.  The three-day event, entitled "Our Challenge: Voices for Peace, Partnerships and Renewal", is scheduled to take place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 7 to 9 September.

For the first time in its 58-year history, the Annual DPI/NGO Conference will bring together representatives of Member States and national parliaments to interact with non-governmental organizations and civil society.  It will be the last opportunity for civil society voices to consult formally at the United Nations with Member States before the 2005 World Summit of world leaders the following week.

The Conference aims to provide non-governmental organization perspective on issues set out in the Secretary-General's report "In Larger Freedom: Towards Development, Security and Human Rights for All", which outlines the agenda for the 2005 World Summit. It will focus on civil society's perspective on peace and security, development, human rights and United Nations reform, and feature presentations by the President of the Fifty-Ninth Session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Secretary-General, United Nations high-level officials and representatives of civil society and Member States.

Media Accreditation

Media representatives in possession of a valid United Nations grounds pass will be allowed to cover the Conference without additional accreditation.  All others must apply for accreditation with the Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit (MALU), fax:  +1-212-963-4642, as soon as possible.  For accreditation requirements and form, please visit www.un.org/media/accreditation .

Grounds Passes

To obtain the required grounds passes to enter the United Nations compound, media representatives will need to go in person to the Media Pass and ID Office.  Two pieces of photo identification (such as passport, national press credentials, driver's license or state ID) are also required.

During the week of the Conference, the Media Pass and ID Office will be located inside a tent in the North Lawn of the United Nations Headquarters (the entrance to the lawn is at the corner of 1st Avenue and 48th Street).  From Monday, 5 September to Friday, 9 September 2005, the Media Pass and ID Office will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Please call the office at tel.:  +1-212-963-7164 for further information.

Media Facilities

The facilities in the "bullpen" area (on the third floor of the Secretariat Building) include television monitors, telephone, fax, audio outlets and wireless Internet access, provided at commercial rates.

Press Conferences, Briefings

A press conference/reception to provide a preview of the Conference is scheduled to take place at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 6 September, in United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) Club Room, on the third floor of the Secretariat Building.

Daily press briefings will take place in Room S-226 of the United Nations Secretariat Building, on Wednesday, 7 September, at 12:45 p.m., on Thursday, 8 September, at 12:45 p.m., and on Friday, 9 September, at 1:30 p.m.

Interviews

To set up interviews with Conference speakers, please contact the DPI/NGO Section, Sasa Gorisek, at tel.:  +1-212- 963-1859, e-mail:  gorisek@un.org or Maria Carlino, at tel.:  +1-212-963-7962, e-mail:  carlino@un.org .

To set up interviews with Midday Workshop speakers, please contact Shamina de Gonzaga at e-mail:  shamina18@yahoo.com or Carol Zinn at e-mail:  carolzinn@earthlink.net .

For impromptu interviews, journalists can meet the speakers outside of the Conference Rooms.  Studio 1 and 2 will be available for interviews.  To access the studios, please call Sasa Gorisek, at tel.:  +1-212- 963-1859, e-mail:  gorisek@un.org .

Please note that the movement of journalists is regulated in the area around the General Assembly Hall and the Delegates Entrance media "stakeout".  Journalists can only access this area if escorted by the staff of MALU.  Escorts should be arranged in advance either by calling the Unit at tel.:  +1-212-963-6934 or in person in Room 250 of the Secretariat Building.

Website/Webcast

For updates on Conference and media events, please visit www.unngodpiconference.org.  A live and archived webcast of the panel discussions will be available on the website.

TV, Radio, Audio Services

United Nations Television will make a live feed available to broadcast clients.  For information about access to the programme, please contact:  United Nations Television, telephone: +1-212-963-7650, fax: +1-212-963-3860

For video tapes contact tel.:  +1-212-963-1561.  Please note there will be no other television and photo coverage possible in the Conference Rooms.

Limited radio facilities will be provided to accredited journalists, when available.  For radio studio availability, contact United Nations Radio by e-mail:  chia-rubin@un.org , martinich@un.org and otienno@un.org .  Please direct requests to all three to ensure prompt attention.

Audiocassettes of select plenary sessions will be available upon request from:  United Nations Audio Library located on the first basement concourse, level 1-B, in Room GA-27, telephone:  +1-212-963- 9270, +1-212-963-9272, fax: +1-212-963-3860.

Press Release Coverage

The United Nations will provide press release coverage in English of the conference plenary sessions.  Press releases and other media-related information materials, including speeches, will be available on the conference website at www.undpingoconference.org .

Contacts

For media-related questions and events, and to set up interviews with Conference speakers, please contact DPI/NGO Section, Sasa Gorisek, tel.: +1-212- 963-1859, e-mail:  gorisek@un.org ; or Maria Carlino, tel.: +1-212-963-7962, e-mail: carlino@un.org .

For non-governmental organization media-related question and events, and to set up interviews with Workshop speakers, please contact Shamina de Gonzaga at e-mail:  shamina18@yahoo.com  or Carol Zinn at e-mail:  carolzinn@earthlink.net .

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