Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest • Volume 5 • Number 12 • 3rd April 2001

Update on WTO Prep for NGOs in Qatar

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At a briefing session for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on 28 March, the WTO outlined the facilities that will be provided for NGOs in Doha, Qatar, for its forthcoming Ministerial Conference that will take place there from 9-13 November. An NGO Centre will be made available in Doha for civil society representatives, with ample room for press conferences and meetings. The exhibition hall, where the NGO Centre will be housed, is a two-minute walk away from the Convention Centre where the Ministerial Conference will be held. Regarding accommodation, Qatar will provide 4,400 rooms for all participants, including delegates, observers, press and NGOs. While the number of rooms is expected to be sufficient, a restriction on the number of participants may apply.

At the briefing session, the WTO announced the establishment of an interdivisional task force on WTO relations with NGOs. The task force is a new initiative to address the long-running challenge of effective interaction between the WTO and civil society groups. According to the WTO, funding permitting, the task force will develop ideas and strategies on how to interact with NGOs, organise workshops and symposia on relevant issues, and improve interaction through the WTO website (e.g. using chat rooms). The group will be comprised of approximately 12 representatives from the WTO’s key divisions and will report to the Director-General and various structures of management as well as play a coordinating role for NGO-related activities within the WTO Secretariat.

NGO Ministerial Accreditation

The formal application process for NGOs who want to attend the Ministerial Conference will begin in May. NGO position papers can be submitted to the WTO External Relations Division (for contact details, see http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/ngo_e/pospap_e.htm). The WTO will also make facilities available at Doha for printed submissions. According to WTO officials, additional information on media and NGO participation will be posted on the official WTO Doha Ministerial Conference website shortly.

BRIDGES Weekly will provide further details on the preparations for Qatar in the lead-up to the Conference.

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