RE: CHANGE IN DATES OF UNHCR'S STANDING COMMITTEE AND THE FORUM/CONVENTION PLUS
23 May 2003
(apologies if you have already received this information)

Dear Colleagues,

Please note that the dates of the next UNHCR Standing Committee have been changed
from 25-27 June to Tuesday 24 - Thursday 26 JUNE.

AGENDA ITEMS
The agenda items on which NGO statements may want to be developed are as follows:

• PROGRAMME AND FUNDING
  • "Update on Programme and Funding for 2003" (EC/53/SC/CRP.8). This sub-item will include the adoption of a draft decision;
  • "Global Report on Activities in 2002". This report is submitted to the Committee for discussion.

• INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION
  The Standing Committee will consider the following sub-items, each introduced and discussed separately.
  • "Note on International Protection" (EC/53/SC/CRP.9).
    This Note is submitted to the Standing Committee for discussion. It will also be submitted to the fifty-fourth session of the Executive Committee.
  • "Implementation of Agenda for Protection" (EC/53/SC/CRP.10).
    The Committee will consider a report on implementation of the Agenda for Protection, as follow-up to the oral report provided at the Committee's 26th meeting.
  • "UNHCR's activities in the field of statelessness" (EC/53/SC/CRP.11).
    A progress report on these activities will be presented for discussion by the Committee. It will contain elements for inclusion as a sub-section in the general conclusion on international protection, to be discussed in informal consultations prior to the session of the Executive Committee.

YOUR INPUT FOR NGO STATEMENTS:

If you/your NGO would like to take the lead in drafting the statement for any of the above statements, please contact the ICVA Secretariat and we can let others know.

As usual, your input and suggestions for the statements are sought and desired - particularly examples and issues from the field. Please send any input you may have on the agenda items to the ICVA Secretariat (secretariat@icva.ch)

THE FORUM/CONVENTION PLUS:
On a related note, the first meeting of the Forum, where Convention Plus will be discussed, will now take place on Friday 27 June. A note on Convention Plus and Forum will be forthcoming. As soon as we hear more details about this meeting, we will let you know.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

With best regards,
ICVA Secretariat