Message from the ICVA Secretariat: 19 October 2007

ExCom Report, NGO Statements, and Drafting Process Survey

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

*For your response - please send input by COB Friday, 2 November 2007 to information@icva.ch*

To: ICVA Members, NGOs invited to Standing Committee, Pre-EXCOM 2006 NGO Participants
From: ICVA Secretariat
Date: 19 October 2007
SUBJECT: EXCOM REPORT, NGO STATEMENTS, AND DRAFTING PROCESS SURVEY

Dear Colleagues,

This message consists of three parts:

• Report of UNHCR's 2007 ExCom meeting (including the final version of the Conclusion on Children at Risk);

• NGO statements to ExCom; and

• Survey on the NGO statement drafting process.

REPORT OF UNHCR'S 2007 EXCOM MEETING

The Report of UNHCR's Executive Committee (ExCom) meeting, which took place on 1-5 October 2007, is now available on the ICVA website at: http://www.icva.ch/doc00002574.pdf. This report includes the final version of the ExCom Conclusion on Children at Risk, as well as this year's ExCom Decisions.

Thank you to all NGOs that provided input on the Conclusion on Children at Risk for the informal consultations before the drafting process started, contributed comments on the first draft of the Conclusion, and lobbied States on the text of the Conclusion during the drafting process. We hope that the Conclusion will be used effectively by States, UNHCR, and NGOs to fill gaps in the international protection regime.

NGO STATEMENTS TO EXCOM

The NGO statements delivered at the ExCom meeting are available on-line and open to the public on the ICVA website at: http://www.icva.ch/doc00000080.html

• Agenda Item 4 - General Debate http://www.icva.ch/doc000025555.doc; and

• Agenda Item 5a - International Protection http://www.icva.ch/doc00002556.doc.

We would again like to thank all those who contributed to the statements. There was a great deal of appreciation for the statements - both from States and UNHCR.

SURVEY ON THE NGO STATEMENT DRAFTING PROCESS

In a further attempt to improve the NGO statement drafting process, it would be very helpful if you could take a few moments to provide your feedback by filling in the attached survey, which is also available on the "Improving the Drafting of NGO Statements" page of the ICVA website at: http://www.icva.ch/doc00002088.html.

We would appreciate it if you could send your completed survey to information@icva.ch as soon as possible, but by FRIDAY, 2 NOVEMBER 2007 at the latest.

Many thanks in advance,
with best regards,
ICVA Secretariat