Improving the Drafting Process of NGO Statements

UNHCR Standing Committee 6-9 March 2007

PROPOSED PROCESS FOR ENSURING STATEMENTS ARE DRAFTED IN ADVANCE

We are proposing a number of dates (as we have tried in the past) to ensure that statements are drafted and finalised (as much as possible) prior to the start of Standing Committee. As such we would propose the following and welcome your feedback/thoughts on these proposals:

THURSDAY, 15 FEBRUARY: People volunteer to draft statements by replying to this message.

FRIDAY, 16 FEBRUARY: An updated message is sent out again, indicating the contact details of drafters. If there are no drafters, another call will be put out for volunteers.

WEDNESDAY, 21 FEBRUARY: Another message indicating contact details and any missing leads will be sent out, indicated that the final deadline for volunteers is THURSDAY, 23 FEBRUARY.

FRIDAY, 23 FEBRUARY: Following the final deadline of Thursday for volunteers to step forward to draft statements, a message will be sent on Friday to indicate if no one has stepped forward for particular agenda items and that there will be no NGO statement delivered on those items.

MONDAY, 26 FEBRUARY: Lead drafters send drafts to ICVA Secretariat by close of business (GMT-8)

TUESDAY, 27 FEBRUARY: Drafts of NGO statements are sent out by ICVA for comments to be sent directly to the drafters by COB Wednesday, 28 February.

THURSDAY, 1 MARCH: Drafters send final drafts to ICVA Secretariat by close of business (GMT-8)

FRIDAY, 2 MARCH: Final drafts of statements are sent out by ICVA for any serious final comments (ie no new additions unless there has been a recent event warranting an addition).

Those NGOs who are at the Standing Committee will be given hard copies of the final drafts. Again, changes/additions will only be accepted if there are legal/factual inaccuracies or if there have been major developments taking place at the Standing Committee. Those NGOs unable to attend Standing Committee will hopefully accept these conditions (which are the same as they have always been, but just more clearly laid out this time, we hope).

ICVA will provide final editing/formatting and copying of the texts. Again, editing is for ensuring legal/factual accuracy and consistency of language (ie spelling, grammar).

INVITATION FOR INPUT ON WAYS TO IMPROVE THE DRAFTING PROCESS: MEETING ON 8 MARCH 2007

During the last EXCOM, there were a number of concerns raised about the drafting process. In order to try and improve the drafting process, and based on discussions, particularly with NGOs that raised concerns, we would like to invite you to a meeting on Thursday, 8 March from 13:15-15:00 (location: Palais des Nations, Room E.3008-3010) to discuss ways to improve the drafting process. A paper laying out some of the concerns, dilemmas, and options has been generously drafted (voluntarily) for ICVA and will be circulated in the coming days once finalised, to provide a basis for discussion.

We realise that many NGOs will not be attending Standing Committee, but we strongly encourage you to provide us with your feedback on the paper and suggestions for ways of improving the process.