Message from the ICVA Secretariat: 21 February 2007

URGENT call for drafters or there will be only 3 NGO statements at UNHCR's Standing Committee (6-9 March 2007)

E-mail Message to ICVA Members, NGOs invited to Standing Committee, and Pre-EXCOM 2006 NGO Participants

To: ICVA Members, NGOs invited to Standing Committee, Pre-EXCOM 2006 NGO Participants
From: ICVA Secretariat
Date: 21 February 2007
SUBJECT: FINAL CALL FOR LEAD DRAFTERS OF NGO STATEMENTS TO UNHCR'S STANDING COMMITTEE OR ONLY 3 NGO STATEMENTS WILL BE DELIVERED

Dear Colleagues,

Following our previous messages, we would like to issue a final call for NGOs to lead the drafting of UNHCR Standing Committee statements. Currently, there are only three statements being drafted (see contact details below), as well as a list of agenda items below.

We would like to stress that NGO statements at UNHCR's Standing Committee are an important means of raising issues of concern on particular UNHCR operations, on protection concerns, and related to UNHCR-NGO working relationships. The audience at Standing Committee is UNHCR and States and the NGO statement is generally listened to quite closely. It is an opportunity that NGOs can use to bring field realities to the international policy/decision-making level.

We hope that you will consider taking the lead in drafting a statement (again, see below for a number of important items, including regions. The only region with a lead drafter right now is the Americas...).

CONTACT DETAILS FOR LEAD DRAFTERS OF 3 STATEMENTS

We are pleased to provide the contact details for lead drafters on three of the agenda items, with thanks to them. Please send any input you have for the statements to there individuals directly (suggested text, as opposed to general comments, would be easier for the drafters).

International Protection:

5a. Agenda for Protection

*Lead drafter - Karine MacAllister, BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights* legal@badil. org

5b. Children at Risk (proposed as a thematic conclusion on international protection)

*Lead drafter - Denise Allen, World Vision International* denise_allen@wvi. org, (supported by Christine Block, Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children)

Regional activities and global programmes:

6d. The Americas

*Lead drafter - Erol Kekic, Church World Service* ekekic@churchworldservice. org

Please note that REGIONAL items particularly could use volunteers to lead the drafting...

ITEMS THAT COULD USE AN NGO STATEMENT

Programme and Budget:

3b. "...needs not covered by the 2007 Budget due to efforts to achieve a fundable budget, and impact thereof on beneficiaries." (EC/58/SC/CRP.6)

3c. "Supplementary Budgets: criteria for their use in refugee as well as IDP programmes..."(EC/58/SC/CRP.7)

Management, financial control, administrative oversight and human resources:

4a. "Update on the structural and management change process" (EC/58/SC/CRP.3)

Regional activities and global programmes:

6a. Africa

6b. Asia Pacific (including Central and South-West Asia)

6c. Europe

6e. The Middle East and North Africa

6f. Global Programmes and Partnership

You can volunteer for other agenda items (see the full agenda on the ICVA website at: http://www.icva.ch/doc00002020.pdf (members only section) and on request to: information@icva.ch.)

PROCESS

The dates for the proposed process to ensure that statements are drafted and finalised prior to the start of Standing Committee are available on the ICVA website at http://www.icva.ch/doc00002035.html.

We have suggested that if no one steps forward to lead the statements by this THURSDAY, 22 FEBRUARY, that there be no NGO statement. Please let us know if you agree/disagree with this proposal...

MEETING ON DRAFTING PROCESS

We hope to send you a discussion paper for the meeting to take place on Thursday, 8 March from 13:15-15:00 shortly.

We look forward to hearing from additional volunteers to draft statements, as well as for you to provide your input directly to the lead drafters.

With best regards,
ICVA Secretariat