NINTH SESSION OF THE REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON WOMEN IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN (ECLAC) Mexico City, June 2004 GENERAL INFORMATION

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1 ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN NINTH SESSION OF THE REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON WOMEN IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN (ECLAC) Mexico City, June 2004 GENERAL INFORMATION 1 of 1

2 I. INTRODUCTION The aim of this document is to provide delegations with useful background information to facilitate their work at the ninth session of the ECLAC Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean. The staff members in charge of providing coordination services will be happy to answer any questions you may have concerning the logistics or organization of the event either before or during the session. II. OPERATIONAL MANUAL 1. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT MEXICO THE REPUBLIC OF MEXICO The official name of the host country, which is located in North America and has a total area of 1,972,547 square km, is the United Mexican States. In terms of its territory, Mexico is the thirteenth largest country in the world and the fifth largest in the Americas. Mexico covers a wide range of climatic zones. Mexico City in June, when the ninth session of the ECLAC Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean will take place, has a temperate climate with daytime temperatures ranging between 18 and 25 degrees centigrade. The area has rainy summers and dry winters, and it is therefore likely that it will rain during the session. Over 95 million people live in Mexico s 31states and its Federal District. Approximately 4 million of them are descended from Europeans and 8 million from indigenous groups; the rest are known as mestizos, a term that refers to people of mixed European and indigenous heritage. The main language is Spanish, but many members of indigenous groups living in remote areas still speak only their native tongue (náhuatl, purépecha, huichol, maya, etc.). Mexico has a democratic federal system of government, since it is a republic formed by free and sovereign States. Its currency, the peso, floats freely against the United States dollar. The metric system is the standard system of measurement. 2 of 2

3 2. GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE MEETING LOCATION OF THE SESSION The ninth session of the ECLAC Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean will be held from 10 to 12 June 2004; the thirty-sixth meeting of the Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean will take place on 9 June. Both will be held in the Conference Area of the Secretariat for Foreign Affairs of Mexico, located at No. 1 Avenida Ricardo Flores Magón, Tlatelolco, telephone (52 55) , switchboard (52 55) ; fax (52 55) REGISTRATION Registration of participating delegates will take place in the lobby of the Secretariat s Conference Area on 9 June starting at 8:00 a.m. Participants will receive an identification badge which, for security reasons, will have to be shown at all meetings. OPENING SESSION The opening session will begin at 9:00 a.m. LANGUAGES The official languages of the session will be Spanish, French and English. HOTEL RESERVATIONS Hotel rooms should be reserved by contacting the Hotel Sheraton Centro Histórico (*****), telephone (52-55) , reservaciones@sheraton.com.mx, or by contacting the Conference Services Unit of ECLAC, FAX (56-2) ; TELEPHONE (56-2) , cguarachi@eclac.cl BEFORE 1 June 2004 (see the relevant form in annex 2). After 1 June, the hotel reserves the right to change its rates and will not guarantee availability. Upon arrival, participants are advised to take one of the official taxis at the airport exit to the Hotel Sheraton (rate depends on the distance covered). During the session, transportation (buses) will be provided for delegates between the hotel and the meeting site. Delegates are asked to arrange for their own transportation to the airport upon departure. 3 of 3

4 HOTEL ROOM RATE (*) HOTEL SHERATON CENTRO HISTORICO (*****) Av. Juárez No. 70, Centro Histórico (opposite the Alameda Central), Mexico City. Tel: (52 55) Attn: Gerardo Gómez Echeverría, Sales Manager Single or double (includes buffet breakfast in the restaurant Los Dones ) US$ (*) Plus a 15% tax and tips for bellboys and room maids (per day). Plus 2% boarding tax. NOTE: The price offered by the hotel is a group rate; therefore please mention the ECLAC Group in order to obtain the special rates. In order to reserve a room, the hotel requires a credit card number or a cash payment in pesos covering the cost of the first night. Hotels in Mexico maintain a no show policy, which means that once a reservation has been made, the first night must be paid for. Hotel bills are to be paid directly by each delegate at the end of his/her stay in the hotel. COORDINATION OF THE SESSION ECLAC, the Secretariat for Foreign Affairs of Mexico and the National Institute of Women will be responsible for organizing the session. Secretariat for Foreign Affairs Under-secretary for global affairs Patricia Olamendi Telephone: (52 55) (extension 3844) polamendi@ser.gob.mx Mexico City, Mexico National Institute of Women President Patricia Espinosa Telephone: (52 55) Fax: (52 55) presidencia@inmujeres.gob.mx Mexico City, Mexico Women and Development Unit ECLAC, United Nations Chief: Sonia Montaño Telephone (56-2) Fax (56-2) smontano@eclac.cl Santiago, Chile 4 of 4

5 Conference Services Unit ECLAC, United Nations Supervisor: Cecilia Guarachi Logistical aspects Telephone (56-2) Fax (56-2) Santiago, Chile INFORMATION TO HELP YOU DURING YOUR STAY LOCAL CURRENCY LOCAL TIME VOLTAGE TAXES AIRPORT TAX TIPPING TAXIS BUSINESS HOURS TELEPHONE SERVICE The local currency is the Mexican peso, and the exchange rate is about pesos to the dollar. GMT 1 hour 110 Volts (50 cycles). The voltage in Mexico City is 127 VAC. All sales in Mexico are subject to a 15% value added tax (VAT) except in the case of medicine, unprocessed food and books. The airport tax for international private and commercial flights is US$ or the equivalent in Mexican pesos, calculated at the exchange rate for the day in question. Tips are not included in hotel rates or in the prices shown on menus. It is customary to tip between 10% and 15% of the total bill. If you need to use a taxi, it is best to use the taxi stands located outside hotels, which charge reasonable, set rates. Stores: 9:00 a.m. 9:00 p.m. Banks: 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) operate 24 hours a day Country code + city code for Mexico City 00 International long distance 01 National long distance In March 1999, a 5 was added to the beginning of all existing seven-digit telephone numbers in Mexico City. Cellular telephones can be rented. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The water is drinkable, but the water quality tends to affect people from outside Mexico due to the change in bacterial flora. Participants are therefore advised to drink bottled water. 5 of 5

6 As in all large cities, it is recommended that you avoid wearing expensive jewellery and keep careful watch over your bags and briefcases for security reasons. MEDICAL SERVICE The Hotel Sheraton s Centro Histórico is equipped to administer first aid in the event of an emergency. TRAVEL AGENCY A travel agency will be available at the conference site. BANKING Banking services are available at the Hotel Sheraton s Centro Histórico and at the conference site. MEXICAN ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Persons holding regular, diplomatic or official passports should apply to the nearest Mexican embassy or consulate for the necessary visa. ADDITIONAL SERVICES AT THE CONFERENCE SITE Secretarial services for delegates will be available at the conference site. COMMUNICATIONS Telephone services will be available to delegates at the conference site. The cost of calls must be borne by each delegate individually, either by calling collect or by using a telephone or credit card. INTERNATIONAL PRESS CENTRE All accredited media representatives will have access to the Centre and may make use of its facilities. Any queries should be addressed to Víctor Fernández, Chief, ECLAC Information Services Unit; telephone (56-2) ; fax (56-2) ; vfernandez@eclac.cl. 6 of 6

7 ANNEX 1 NINTH SESSION OF THE REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON WOMEN IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN (Mexico City, 10 to 12 June 2004) WEDNESDAY 9 JUNE THURSDAY 10 JUNE FRIDAY 11 JUNE SATURDAY 12 JUNE 09:30 a.m. 1:00 p.m. 09:00 10:00 a.m. 09:30 a.m. 1:00 p.m. 09:30 10:30 Room 3 Thirty-sixth meeting of the Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean Meeting of Heads of Delegation Auditorium Alfonso García Robles 10:00-11:00 a.m. Opening session H.E. Mr. Vicente Fox President of Mexico Mr. José Luis Machinea Executive Secretary ECLAC Room 3 Presentation of country reports Auditorium Alfonso García Robles Poverty, economics and gender equity Table 1 Table 2 Empowerment, institution-building and gender equity Table 1 Table 2 a.m. Other matters, Statements by delegations SATURDAY 12 JUNE Sala Magna 11:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m. Adoption of agenda and election of Presiding Officers 1:00 2:30 p.m. 1:00-2:30 p.m. 1:00 2:30 p.m. 1:00 2:30 p.m. 1:00 2:30 p.m. Parallel events Room 2 - UNIFEM Parallel events Room 1 PRIGEPP-ITU Parallel events Room 2 - ILO Parallel events Room 1 - UNFPA 3:00 6:00 p.m. 3:00 6:00 p.m. 3:00 6:00 p.m. 3:15 6:00 p.m. 7 of 7

8 Room 3 Thirty-sixth meeting of the Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean Presentation of document prepared by the secretariat Statements by delegations Room 3 Presentation of country reports Table 3 Table 4 Table 3 Table 4 Statement by the representative of civil society organizations Approval of agreements Auditorium Alfonso García Robles Closing ceremony 8 of 8

9 ANNEX 2 UNITED NATIONS NINTH SESSION OF THE REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON WOMEN IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN Mexico City, Mexico, 9-12 June 2004 First name HOTEL ACCOMMODATION FORM Family name Head of Delegation Delegate Observer Special guest Official title: Organization or institution: Address: City: Country: Telephone: Fax Hotel reservation: HOTEL SHERATON CENTRO HISTORICO (*****) Av. Juárez No 70, Centro Histórico (opposite the Alameda Central), Mexico City Attn: Mr. Gerardo Gómez, Sales Manager Single or double room US$ (includes buffet breakfast in the restaurant Los Dones ) (*) Plus a 15% tax and tips for bellboys and room maids (per day). Plus 2% boarding tax. Type of room: Single Double Date of arrival: Flight N 0 : Approx. time Date of departure: Flight N 0 : Approx. time I authorize the use of my credit card to guarantee my hotel reservation: American Express Master Card Visa Other Credit card N o Expiry date Hotel rooms should be reserved by contacting the Hotel Sheraton Centro Histórico (*****), telephone (52-55) , reservaciones@sheraton.com.mx or by contacting the Conference Services Unit of ECLAC, FAX (56-2) ; TELEPHONE (56-2) , E- MAIL cguarachi@eclac.cl before 1 June 2004 After 1 June, the hotel reserves the right to change its rates and will not guarantee availability. 9 of 9