Third Meeting of States Parties (3MSP)
Author/Origin: Liz Bernstein icblSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org |
(Friday 06 July 2001 ) First information letter re 3MSP for ICBL campaigners
TO: All ICBL members
FROM: Liz Bernstein, ICBL Coordinator
RE: Third Meeting of States Parties (3MSP),
Managua, 18-21 September 01
DATE: 3 July 2001
Hello all. This is a memo to all ICBL campaigns, member organizations/individuals, so please pass it on to all of your ICBL colleagues.
As you know, the Third Meeting of States Parties (3MSP) will be held in Managua, Nicaragua from 18-21 September. The 3MSP is the most important event of this year. The Meetings of States Parties are important events to all of us at ICBL so please begin planning now, if you have not yet done so, and prepare to spend some time contributing over the next several weeks to ensure its success - as ICBL is made up of all of us, its success depends on our participation.
We will keep you informed of developments via the webpage www.icbl.org/3msp
Please check this URL frequently through the 3MSP for updates on logistics, action alerts, preparatory documents and media kits.
Also consult the official webpage for the 3SMP by the Nicaraguan government: http://www.cancilleria.gob.ni/third.html
I. Preparation: Advocacy Action Alert:
You will have recently received an ACTION ALERT encouraging you to do all you can to urge maximum ratifications by the time of the 3MSP in September. Please take it seriously and think what you, your colleagues, organization, campaign can do to ensure that we use this opportunity to increase the number of States Parties. As I noted in our recent Ratification Action Alert, we have just 3 to go to reach our goal of 120 ratifications for the 3MSP.
- We remind you to please, if you have not yet done so, call, visit or send a letter to the now remaining 23 signatories urging them to ratify before the 3MSP this September. You can use the sample letter we sent earlier or print letters from our site at:
http://www.icbl.org/action/3msp_rat.php - In addition, we recently sent Updates/Action Alerts on Article 9 (national implementing measuures) which can be found at www.icbl.org/news/2001/45.php and Article 7 (reporting) http://www.icbl.org/news/2001/art7updmay30.php3
- If your country is a States Party/Signatory:
Write, call, meet your government representatives. Find out who they are sending to the 3MSP. Urge them to send high-level delegates and experts informed on the issues. It is far away, Managua is not convenient like Geneva, they must think ahead and plan to send appropriate, informed delegates. Tell them how important this meeting is. If they are not sure who will attend, ask them to inform you as soon as they have designated someone. Call back and follow up two weeks later, and again if necessary. - Contact your country's delegates to the 3MSP.
Meet with them over the next few months. Urge full and meaningful participation. As last year, ICBL concerns for the meeting have largely been expressed via the working groups and recommendations to and input into the Intersessional Standing Committees of Experts meetings. As last year, now we want to ensure they are reflected formally in official language during the 3MSP so they become part of the official record. Many of our concerns were outlined in the recent letter to states parties before the SCE meeting on general status/operation and in position papers at other SCEs. For further information contact myself, SPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org">banemnowSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org, Susan Walker (SPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org">walkerSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org) or the relevant working group chairs for the areas you are interested in or http://www.icbl.org/sc/ - If your country is a non-signatory, urge accession now! And urge them to participate as observers in the 3MSP.
- Start planning for your campaign events before/during the meeting. Landmine Monitor 2001 will be launched 12 September simultaneously around the world. Plan your launch and coordinate with landmine monitor researchers in your country how you can work together to the launch, public events and publicity for the launch and 3MSP.
- Prepare now to inform your media of this important event in Managua in September and the Landmine Monitor 2001 launch and urge them to cover it. Urge them to send media to Managua if they have none there. Find out where your media correspondents covering Nicaragua are based. Get their contact details for your media lists.
II. Participation in the Third Meeting of States Parties
A. Preparatory visit
We recently undertook an ICBL preparatory visit to Managua (myself and Diana Roa of CCCM) to meet with our local partners, government and non-governmental, in Managua and explore logistical aspects of ICBL particiation. We met with government colleagues, Nicaraguan coalition colleagues, HI, NPA and visited the conference venue, hotels, etc. Preparations are well underway for the meeting. We also attended the award ceremony for the children's painting contest organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to raise awareness of the 3MSP. One of the young artists who won an honorable mention, Neyrin, is a landmine survivor and was giving many media interviews! We spoke with him and his mother, and indeed he will be back in Managua for the 3MSP. We hope to display more of his paintings there too. See http://www.icbl.org/news/2001/51.php for a short article
B. Invitations/Confirmation Forms/Accreditation
As usual, the ICBL has official non-state delegation status to the 3MSP and we are preparing our delegation. All campaigners and landmine monitor researchers are welcome to participate and urged to come to Managua if they can. We hope to have a large delegation representing various regions, disciplines, survivors, deminers, activists and researchers. HOWEVER, the ICBL/Landmine Monitor has limited funding available to sponsor approximately 50 participants, primarily from the 'South'. Shortly we will be sending out invitations to a limited number of researchers and survivors, campaigners and deminers from the 'South', invited as guests of ICBL, and ask that you respond AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to confirm your participation.
Others who are able to come on your own and have secured your own funding will not receive a personalized invitation, but are requested to please return the confirmation form attached below this message. As funding is limited, if you are interested in seeking your own funding for your participation please do so NOW. We will need confirmation of your independent funding arrangements at the time of registration. If you require assistance seeking funding for your participation, let us know.
Please indicate your intention to attend and we will send you an official registration form and hotel information at a later date. As usual, we will collect all of the registration forms and submit one joint registration for all ICBL members to receive accreditation. Accreditation and passes are required to enter and move about the Conference Venue in Managua so you must each complete and return this Registration Form.
Registration / Confirmation Form
C. Venue
The meeting will be held 18-21 September in Managua at the Convention Center of the Intercontinental Hotel-Managua, in Managua, Nicaragua. This hotel is located in the center of the capital city, at 8th Street Southwest #101.
Telephone: (505) 222-41-51/228-35-30 to 39 Fax: (505)228-3087
D. Travel
Please book your flights to Managua as soon as possible as September is a heavily traveled month. Most travel seems via the US (Miami, Atlanta or Houston) or Mexico City or some other points in Central America, but more service is via Miami. Most common carriers serving Managua are Continental Airlines, American Airlines, TACA among others. Inform us of your arrival and departure dates with the confirmation form to be sent with the invitation shortly. We encourage all ICBL members to arrive on the 15 or 16 September as there will be a series of ICBL training training workshops on topics including Sharpening Media Skills, Fundraising, Sharpening Lobbying Skills, E-Activism, on 16 September. Landmine Monitor and ICBL orientation meetings will be held on 17 September. Working Groups may or may not hold meetings on these dates, but we shall inform you at a later date.
E. Visas
Citizens from countries not included in the list bellow may enter Nicaragua without a visa, where it will be issued upon arrival. Citizens in the list below are required to have a visa upon arrival: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cameroon, Colombia, Cuba, Ghana, Haiti, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, People's Republic of China, Poland, Popular Republic of Korea, Romania, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, Vietnam, Yugoslavia. Most don't have embassies, but the Nicaraguan Ministry of Foreign Affairs will issue a letter allowing delegates to board airplanes and receive the visa upon arrival at the airport in Managua. For this we need a confirmation form ASAP! The fees will be waived. Upon arrival there is usually a $5 fee which will also be waived, however, upon exit there is a $25 fee and this will NOT be waived. While making your travel plans, do not forget that transit visas may be required, and those fees will not be waived.
F. Accommodation
ICBL guests who are sponsored by the ICBL will be assigned accommodation. Hotel rooms and funds are limited and you will be expected to share rooms. Please indicate on the confirmation form the name of the person you would like to share with. Other delegates can book accommodation through the ICBL office. We have reserved many rooms in hotels and guest houses with block bookings, and will circulate a list shortly with descriptions, locations and prices. If you want the ICBL office to book your room, please indicate your first 3 choices of hotels, and although there is no guarantee we can provide you with one matching your choice, we will try our best.
Transport to/from the airport and the conference venue will be provided daily.
G. Exhibits/Campaign materials
Please inform us if you have any exhibition materials and bring copies of campaign materials with you. Space will be limited so you must inform us if you have ideas/request for exhibit space please contact the exhibits organizers Dalma Foeldes (SPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org">resourceSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org) and Jackie Hansen (SPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org)">jackieSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org).
H. Regional/Thematic Meetings
As many ICBL members will be gathering in Managua, if you would like to organize a working group, a regional or thematic meeting before, during or afterwards, taking advantage of the presence of many campaigners and travel completed etc, please let us know as soon as possible. Contact your campaign colleagues and let us know.
I. Office Space
We thank Handicap International Managua for office space. Jackie Hansen will operate from their office from 16 July onwards. They may move shortly so tel/fax numbers may change, they will be disseminated as soon as possible but please maintain communication via email or the Washington office tel/fax for urgent matters.
Handicap International Managua:
Tel : +505 278 01 32 / 277 10 03
Fax : +505 278 01 32
J. Media:
We will prepare an ICBL press advisory to inform media of these upcoming events: the 3MSP and the Landmine Monitor launch. Landmine Monitor 2001 will be launched 12 September. We may hold media briefings in Geneva and elsewhere in late August to encourage coverage of the events. We will hold an ICBL press conference in Managua at the start and end of the conference.
We will prepare press kits in English and Spanish and a media section of the site www.icbl.org/3msp will contain the media kits and information for the media. We hope you will volunteer to translate releases and materials - if so, let us know. If you are attending and willing to speak to the media, please send a brief biography of yourself or your campaign representative. In addition, please send/bring your list of media contacts and prepare your media liaisons at home in your own countries - inform us who this may be and their contact details. Be sure you tell your media contacts at home to ensure their representatives in the region cover these events!
K. ICBL Events
As usual, in addition to press conferences, we will organize exhibits, information packs, press kits, publicity materials in various languages, etc. We will organize briefings, via the working groups, video screenings and lobbying activities and have daily ICBL internal meetings to coordinate activities. As mentioned above, we will also hold trainings and an orientation meeting, as will the Landmine Monitor. It will be important to attend these and be prepared to assist in these activities. We will hold a small Youth Activism seminar of 4-5 youth activists from the Americas. We will launch several new resources including the ICBL Youth Kit and new ICBL Advocacy CD Rom. The Raising the Voices project survivors will also participate. ICBL will be able to make a speech as usual. Please let us know if you are planning any other events/activities so that we may coordinate. And let us know if you are willing to help with anything - and what!
L. Websites for information on Nicaragua
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/central_america/nicaragua/printable.htm
http://www.guideofnicaragua.com.ni/
http://www.intur.gob.ni/ (Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism)
Thank you and I look forward to seeing many of you in Managua and virtually beforehand as we prepare for a successful Third Meeting of States Parties in Nicaragua!
Muchas Gracias.
Liz
ICBL CONFIRMATION FORM
Third Meeting of States Parties
18-21 September 2001
Managua, Nicaragua
NB! - This form is also available as a word document for easy print and filling in. It can be downloaded from http://www.icbl.org/doc/3msp_form.doc.
Please complete this form and return as soon as possible and no later than
Monday 23 July to: Jackie Hansen, ICBL, Tel. +1.202.547.2667, Fax +1.202.547.2687, Email SPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org">jackieSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org
PERSONAL INFORMATION
First Name: _____________________ Last Name: _______________________
Organization: _____________________________________________________
Street Address: ___________________________________________________
City: ___________________________ Postal Code: ______________________
Country: ________________________ Telephone: _______________________
Fax: ____________________________ Email: __________________________
I will attend the ICBL training on 16 September: Yes/ No
I will attend the Landmine Monitor meeting on 17 September AM: Yes/No
I will attend the ICBL meeting on 17 September PM: Yes/ No
I have been invited as a guest of the ICBL: Yes/ No
PASSPORT INFORMATION
Nationality: __________________ Passport Number: _____________________
Issuing Authority: _____________ Place of Issue: ________________________
Date of Issue: ________________ Expiry Date: __________________________
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Arrival Date: ________ Time: _____ Airline: _______________ Flight #: ______
Departure Date: _______ Time: _____ Airline: _____________ Flight #: _______
ACCOMMODATION
Do you require accommodation: Yes/ No
NB: Please let us know if you are booking your own accommodation.
Preferred Roommate (list name): ______________________________________ NB: ICBL sponsored guests will be required to share rooms.
Wheelchair accessibility required: Yes/ No
Other room requirements: ___________________________________________
Language: ___________________ Translation required: Yes/ No
TRAVEL EXPENSES
NB: For sponsored guests only
Please bring all travel receipts with you to Managua. To help us estimate the reimbursements please provide your estimated costs in US dollars. We cannot guarantee full reimbursement if we do not receive this by 15 August:
Airfare: $____________
Other travel costs: $_______________ Details: __________________________
NB: Visa fees will be waived.
ACTIVITIES AND MATERIALS
Materials you will bring to distribute:
Documents: Yes/ No Details: ____________________________________
Exhibits: Yes/ No Details: ____________________________________
Other: Yes/ No Details: ____________________________________
I am willing to assist with the following in Managua:
Lobbying delegates: Yes/ No Exhibits: Yes/ No
Media: Yes/ No
Translation for other campaigners: Yes/ No Details: ____________________
Other: Yes/ No Details: ____________________
