FAQ on RIO+20: Participation, Registration, Meetings, Side events and more

[Women's Major Group]

Happy New Year!

Attached here, Rio+20 FAQ, is important updated information about Rio+20 from UN DESA. It includes information about participation, registration/accreditation, schedule of meetings (see below), side events, SD learning events, and more.

In particular, please note that organizations not yet accredited must apply by February 20!  NGOs and other Major Groups currently NOT in consultative status wishing to participate in the UNCSD (Rio+20) and meetings of it Preparatory Committee are offered a one-time opportunity to become accredited, in accordance with General Assembly decision 66/544.  Such ad hoc accreditation is open until 20 February 2012.  More information is available online here.

The following Rio+20 formal preparatory events have been scheduled:

• 3rd Intersessional Meeting of UNCSD (26 - 27 March 2012)
• 3rd Meeting of the UNCSD Preparatory Committee (13 -15 June 2012).

The Rio+20 Secretariat will pre-register Major Groups and other stakeholders through the CSO Net online events registration system starting 1 March.  Please check the official Rio+20 website for details.

Please note that registration for the 3rd Meeting of the UNCSD Preparatory Committee (to be held in Rio de Janeiro from 13 to 15 June 2012) is automatic upon registration for Rio+20, and is open online here until 20 May 2012.

The following Rio+20 informal preparatory events have been scheduled:

• Initial discussions on the zero draft of the UNCSD outcome document (January 25-27 2012)
• First round of ‘informal-informal’ negotiations on the zero draft of the UNCSD outcome document (19-23 March 2012)

Modalities for participation by Major Groups and other stakeholders in these preparatory meetings will be decided by the UNCSD Bureau.  Please check the official Rio+20 website for updates and details.

Best,
Eleanor

Eleanor Blomstrom
Program Coordinator
Women's Environment and Development Organization (WEDO)

[Eva Quistorp]

dear friends, should we not do a special memory for Wangari Maathai, my old friend since

the Un womens conference in Nairobi 1985 in Rio ??

with UNWOMAn and UNEP Achim Steiner and many of us and do tree planting

with a woman minister and women of the slums in Rio???

EVa QUistorp, co founder of women for peace and ecology and the greens in Germany,Berlin

[Tracy Mann]

Eva, this is a wonderful idea!  Perhaps it can somehow tie in with an evening event Climate WIse Women is producing for June 19 in Rio that will celebrate women's leadership on climate change with music, film and stories.  The event will honor Wangari, Thais Corral, Bella Abzug and all of the amazing women who galvanized the first Rio meeting in 1992 and will pay tribute to the grassroots women who carry forward this work today.