INFORMATION FOR DELEGATES FIFTH SESSION OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE ON MERCURY SUNDAY, 13 JANUARY TO FRIDAY, 18 JANUARY 2013 GENEVA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE (CICG) GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
FIFTH SESSION OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE TO PREPARE A GLOBAL LEGALLY BINDING INSTRUMENT ON MERCURY Sunday, 13 January to Friday, 18 January 2013 Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG) Geneva, Switzerland INFORMATION HIGHLIGHTS 1. VENUE 3 2. PRE-REGISTRATION 3 3. ON-SITE REGISTRATION 3 4. VISAS 3 5. PROCEDURES FOR MEDIA ACCREDITATION AND REGISTRATION 4 6. REGIONAL MEETINGS 4 7. EXHIBITION AT INC5 4 8. OFFICIAL OPENING FOR INC5 4 9. DOCUMENTS 4 10. LIST OF PARTICIPANTS 4 11. SERVICES TO PARTICIPANTS 4 12. GREENING OF THE MEETING 5 13. TRAVEL AND DAILY SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE ARRANGEMENTS 5 14. HEALTH 5 15. TRANSPORTATION 5 16. HOTEL ACCOMMODATION 6 17. CURRENCY AND RATE OF EXCHANGE 6 18. LANGUAGES 6 19. WEATHER AND TIME ZONE INFORMATION 6 20. ELECTRICITY 6 21. DISCLAIMER 6 ANNEX A INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ACCREDITATION PROCESS & FORM 7 ANNEX B SUGGESTIONS FOR RESTAURANTS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE FROM CICG 9 Version as of 18 October 2012 2
1. VENUE The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to prepare a global legally binding instrument on mercury (INC5) will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from Sunday, 13 January to Friday, 18 January 2013. Regional meetings will take place on Saturday, 12 January 2013. The meeting will be held at: Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG) 17 rue de Varembé Geneva, Switzerland Tel: + 41 (0) 22 791 91 11 Fax: + 41 (0) 22 791 90 64 www.cicg.ch Allocation of meeting rooms will be announced on arrival. 2. PRE-REGISTRATION Invitations letters to Governments (English, French and Spanish), dated 13 September 2012, have been sent out. A registration form and an official nomination for Government representatives, through the official contact point to UNEP, should be submitted for all delegates in advance of the meeting and before 1 November 2012. Invitation letters are also being sent out to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and to intergovernmental organizations. Registration forms can be found on the mercury negotiations website: www.unep.org/hazardoussubstances/mercury/negotiations/inc5/inc5participantsinfo/tabid/3494/default.aspx Questions regarding registration should be directed to mercury.chemicals@unep.org. 3. ON-SITE REGISTRATION Access to the meeting venue is subject to the presentation of a valid conference badge. Conference badges will be issued at the entrance of the venue, upon presentation of a valid passport or identification card with a photograph. Registration will start in the afternoon on Friday, 11 January 2013. The registration counter will have the following opening hours: Friday, 11 January 2013: 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday, 12 January to Friday, 18 January 2013: 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. (Registration counter may close earlier on later days) Participants are strongly recommended to register and receive their badges on 11 or 12 January 2013 to avoid the congestion before the meeting starts on 13 January 2013. For security reasons, the display of conference badges is mandatory at all times to gain access to the meeting venue and meeting rooms. Any loss of a conference badge should be reported immediately to the registration counter. 4. VISAS Participants are responsible for obtaining a visa for entering Switzerland as well as any transit visa. For more information regarding visa to Switzerland, please visit: www.bfm.admin.ch/content/bfm/en/home/themen/einreise/faq.html 3
5. PROCEDURES FOR MEDIA ACCREDITATION AND REGISTRATION Media participation at INC5 meetings is subject to accreditation by the secretariat of the mercury negotiations. Journalists should pre-register with the secretariat, including submissions of accreditation form and necessary information. See annex A International media accreditation process and form. For more information please contact Ms Sheila Logan at +41 22 917 8511 or by e-mail: sheila.logan@unep.org. 6. REGIONAL MEETINGS Facilities will be available for regional and other group meetings from 12 to 18 January 2013. Please contact your coordinator or bureau member for further information. 7. EXHIBITION AT INC5 An exhibition, to relay relevant and timely information to the INC participants in support of the negotiation process, will be organized at INC5. Any Government or organization wishing to exhibit is invited to contact the mercury negotiations secretariat before 1 December 2012 at mercury.chemicals@unep.org. 8. OFFICIAL OPENING FOR INC5 The official opening for INC5 will take place at 9.30 a.m. on Sunday, 13 January 2013. The formal sessions of the meeting are planned to be held daily from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, please refer to the provisional annotated agenda, which will be made available on the mercury negotiations website: www.unep.org/hazardoussubstances/mercury/negotiations/inc5/inc5meetingdocuments/tabid/3495/default.aspx 9. DOCUMENTS It is intended that this meeting will be a paper smart meeting. Please note that attendees are encouraged to download the meeting documents in advance from the mercury negotiations website: www.unep.org/hazardoussubstances/mercury/negotiations/inc5/inc5meetingdocuments/tabid/3495/default.aspx or on arrival at the venue in Geneva, Switzerland. 10. LIST OF PARTICIPANTS A list of participants that have attended the meeting will be prepared by the secretariat and made available on the mercury negotiations website after the closing of the meeting. Delegates are reminded that the list of participants is based on the information provided by them at the time of registration and that inclusion in the list of participants is conditional upon official registration. 11. SERVICES TO PARTICIPANTS A variety of services will be available within or around the meeting venue. These will include restaurants and cafeterias as well as a business centre. First Aid Emergency first aid will be available throughout the duration of the meeting. Laptops for loan Laptops for loan will be available during the meeting for those who do not have their own. However, it is recommended to bring your own laptop as the number of laptops for loan is limited. Version as of 18 October 2012 4
Internet access Wifi facility will be available free of charge in and around the conference area, lounges and meeting rooms. Further information will be provided at the venue. Business Center A limited number of PCs with printing facilities will be available to all participants at the business center. Catering Services The CICG cafeteria and restaurant are open to meeting participants. A list of suggestions for other restaurants within walking distance from the CICG is available in Annex B. 12. GREENING OF THE MEETING To the extent possible, the meeting will be organized to avoid or reduce environmental impacts resulting from the meeting. As mentioned in section 9 (Documents), INC5 will be a paper smart meeting. Please also note that textile bags will NOT be distributed at the venue. Participants are expected to use their own preferred bag to bring minimum documents. To facilitate efficient waste recycling, separate bins will be placed around the venue for waste collection, and ultimately, all waste from the meeting will be separated and recycled wherever possible in accordance with the city of Geneva s recyclable resources regulations and procedures. 13. TRAVEL AND DAILY SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE ARRANGEMENTS Financial support may be available to support one participant from developing countries and countries with economies in transition, with priority given to least developed countries. UNEP will not be in a position to guarantee support for and organization of travel for participants nominated after 1 November 2012. Instructions on travel arrangements for funded participants will be issued upon registration. Travel will be by the cheapest and most direct route. For any query related to travel and daily subsistence allowance (DSA), sponsored participants are invited to contact the mercury negotiations secretariat at: mercury.chemicals@unep.org. 14. HEALTH Delegates with a chronic illness should carry all necessary medication and medical items for the entire duration of the journey, in their original containers, clearly labeled. Delegates are advised to seek medical insurance with appropriate cover abroad, i.e. accident, sickness, medical repatriation. 15. TRANSPORTATION Most international visitors will arrive through the Geneva International Airport (www.gva.ch). Getting to the Conference Centre by taxi: taxis are easily available from the airport or the main railway station Cornavin, although comparatively expensive. You can call 022 320 22 02 or 022 331 41 33 if you need a taxi. Getting to the Conference Centre by public transportation (www.tpg.ch): From Geneva's main railway station, Cornavin (approximately 2 km), you can take bus number 5 (get off at Vermont or Varembé), bus 8 (get off at IUT) or tram 15, direction Nations (get off at Sismondi). From the airport, you can take bus number 5 (get off at Vermont). See access map to the CICG: www.cicg.ch/en/access-map/ 5
16. HOTEL ACCOMMODATION Please note that early hotel booking is advisable as other big events are taking place in Geneva at the same time and accommodation is consequently scarce. Participants are encouraged to make their hotel reservations as soon as possible. A list of hotels with UN preferential rates is available here. 17. CURRENCY AND RATE OF EXCHANGE The official currency of Switzerland is the Swiss franc (CHF). The average exchange rate vis-à-vis the US Dollar is approximately 1 USD = 0,93 CHF and vis-à-vis the Euro, approximately 1 EUR = 1,20 CHF (rates as of 28 September 2012). Major credit cards are accepted in most hotels and restaurants in Geneva. 18. LANGUAGES Interpretation services and working documents for the session will be provided in the six official languages of the United Nations: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. Additional information documents may be available in English only. 19. WEATHER AND TIME ZONE INFORMATION Weather The session will be held in the winter, with average temperatures ranging between -1 C and + 4 C. Time Zone Switzerland is GMT + 0100 hours. 20. ELECTRICITY Switzerland has a voltage of 220 Volts (Plug/socket: C (CEE 7/16), J). You may need to bring a plug adaptor. 21. DISCLAIMER UNEP disclaims all responsibility for medical, accident and travel insurance, for compensation for death or disability, for loss of or damage to personal property and for any other loss that may be incurred during travel time or the period of participation. In this context, it is strongly recommended that participants secure prior to departure insurance for the period of participation. Version as of 18 October 2012 6
ANNEX A INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ACCREDITATION PROCESS & FORM Accreditation is strictly reserved for members of the press-print media, photo, radio, TV, film and news agencies who fully meet UN media accreditation requirements. Accreditation will be granted upon presentation of valid press credentials including each of the following: 1. Completed Media Accreditation Form (Annex B); 2. Letter of assignment on official letterhead of a media organization signed by the publisher/assignment editor, editor-in-chief or bureau chief, specifying the name and functional title of the journalist. Unsigned letters or e-mails will not be accepted; 3. Photocopy of a valid press card/work pass; and 4. Photocopy of passport/national ID card. To avoid delays upon arrival, please submit the form Media Accreditation Form together with the documents listed above to: Ms. Sheila Logan Programme Officer, Mercury negotiations team, Chemicals Branch, DTIE Tel +41 22 917 8511 Fax +41 22 797 3460 E-mail : sheila.logan@unep.org 11 13 chemin des Anémones, 1219 Châtelaine, Geneva, Switzerland It is also possible to register on-site. Note that double accreditation is not allowed (e.g. as press and delegate, or as press and NGO). Press passes can be picked up at the registration counter upon presentation of two forms of photo ID (passport, official national press pass, driver s license, work ID, etc.) or of a photo press pass from the United Nations in New York, Paris, Geneva, Vienna, or Nairobi. Please note that journalists accredited to cover the meetings should make their own travel and hotel bookings. 7
UNEP MEDIA ACCREDITATION FORM Fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to prepare a global legally binding instrument on mercury, Geneva, Switzerland, 13 to 18 January 2013 This application must be sent to sheila.logan@unep.org along with: 1. A letter of assignment from your news editor or bureau chief, 2. A scanned copy of your original valid press card, 3. A scanned copy of the identification pages of your valid passport. Please note that UNEP will not process incomplete applications. For more information please contact Ms Sheila Logan at +41 22 917 8511. PERSONAL INFORMATION Family name First name(s) Nationality and passport number Note: Switzerland may require participants to get a visa. Permanent office address Address E-mail Mobile Personal contact details Address E-mail Mobile MEDIA ORGANIZATION INFORMATION Name of the organization Press card no. Supervisor s title and contact details Working language(s) of your media organization Your main news topic(s) or field(s) of coverage Type of medium (check as many as necessary): Position: News agency/wire service Newspaper Television broadcaster Radio Photo/visual service Magazine/journal Blog/internet-based news Other (specify) Correspondent Editor Reporter Producer Technician Cameraperson Photographer Director Other (specify) DEADLINES FOR APPLICATION: 15 December 2012 for all applications Version as of 18 October 2012 8
ANNEX B SUGGESTIONS FOR RESTAURANTS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE FROM THE GENEVA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE (CICG) 9