Deadline for the Submission of Nominations is Monday, 23 July 2007.

 

 

Informal Interactive Hearing with Civil Society, including Non-Governmental Organizations and the Private Sector

of the

High-level Dialogue of the General Assembly

on Interreligious and Intercultural Understanding and Cooperation for Peace

 

Overview:

 

1. The General Assembly, in its resolution 61/221 of 20 December 2006, (OP. 14) decided “to convene in 2007 a high-level dialogue on interreligious and intercultural cooperation for the promotion of tolerance, understanding and universal respect on matters of freedom of religion or belief and cultural diversity, in coordination with other similar initiatives in this area”.

 

2. In its resolution 61/269 of 25 May 2007, the General Assembly further decided that the High-level Dialogue would be held on Thursday and Friday, 4 and 5 October 2007 at the ministerial or highest possible level, and that it shall consist of three plenary meetings: one in the morning of Thursday, 4 October and two on Friday, 5 October.

 

3. The General Assembly also decided to hold in the afternoon of 4 October 2007 an informal interactive hearing with representatives of civil society, including representatives of non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to be chaired by the President of the General Assembly.

 

4. The objective of the informal interactive hearing is to provide an opportunity for Member States to dialogue with experts from civil society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector representing diverse regions, cultures and perspectives, with a view to strengthening efforts to promote interreligious and intercultural understanding and cooperation. The highlights of the hearing will be reflected in the closing remarks of the President of the General Assembly on 5 October 2007. The outcome of the informal interactive hearing will be a summary of the President of the General Assembly for circulation to Member States at a later date.

 

5. The Office of the President of the General Assembly has formed a ‘Task Force’ to help ensure the effective participation of civil society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, in the interactive hearing. The function of the Task Force is to assist the President of the General Assembly in the organization of the hearing by recommending formats and by drawing up a list of participants. A complete list of Task Force Members, Advisers and Ex-Officio can be accessed on the website of the President of the General Assembly: http://www.un.org/ga/president/61/

 

6. The President of the General Assembly will circulate a list of invited participants chosen from among the nominated representatives of civil society, including representatives of non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to Member States for their approval.

 

 

Provisional format of the informal interactive hearing:

 

7. The informal interactive hearing will be held in the Trusteeship Council Chamber and will be opened and presided over by the President of the General Assembly.

 

8. Following the opening, the hearing will be divided into two consecutive segments on the following tentative topics:

(a) "Challenges of Interreligious & Intercultural Cooperation Today"

(b)"Best Practices & Strategies for Interreligious & Intercultural Cooperation Going Forward"

 

Registration, nomination, and accreditation to attend the hearings

 

Registration for observers:

9. Representatives of civil society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, wishing to attend the hearing as observers must indicate their firm intention to participate by submitting a Registration form by Friday, 10 August 2007, so as to ensure that sufficient seating is available.

 

10. The Registration form can be downloaded at:

http://www.un.org/ga/president/61/follow-up/interreligiousintercultural/registration.shtml

 

Nomination of speakers and respondents:

11. Representatives of civil society organizations, including representatives of non-governmental organizations and the private sector, wishing to participate in the hearing as a speaker or respondent, must submit a complete Nomination form by the indicated deadline, in order to be considered.

 

12. The Nomination form can be downloaded at:

http://www.un.org/ga/president/61/follow-up/interreligiousintercultural/nomination.shtml

 

13. The deadline for the submission of nominations is Monday, 23 July 2007.

 

14. Nominators will receive notification of the Task Force’s decisions beginning August.

 

Criteria for the selection of speakers and respondents

 

15. The Task Force will advise the President of the General Assembly on the list of speakers and respondents based on the following criteria:

 

• expertise and/or experience in interreligious and intercultural dialogue
• equitable geographic representation
• religious and cultural diversity
• gender balance
• representation of diverse sectors including international, national and community-based organizations, the private sector, research, academia, media

 

Travel arrangements and visa process

 

16. Nominees should obtain timely information on the United States visa application process. If a visa is required, it is best to apply two months in advance of the intended date of arrival in the United States.

 

Funding

 

17. While not guaranteed, funding for travel and accommodation may be available for a limited number of participants. Requests for funding can be indicated on the Nomination form. Priority of funding will be given to speakers from developing countries, and on the basis of need, pending the availability of funds. 

 

Contacts

 

18. Inquiries should be directed to: hld-cultureofpeace@un.org