Registration for non-governmental organizations

WTO Members agreed on 10 February 2003 on registration procedures for applications from NGOs wishing to attend the WTO's Fifth Ministerial Conference. Applications will be accepted from NGOs on the basis of Article V, paragraph 2 of the WTO Agreement, i.e. such NGOs “concerned with matters related to those of the WTO”.

When filing their request for registration, NGOs must supply in detail all necessary information indicating how they are concerned with matters related to those of the WTO.

This procedure is waived for those NGOs registered for at least two previous Ministerial Conferences held in Singapore (December 1996), Geneva (May 1998), Seattle (December 1999) or Doha (November 2001).

If your organization was registered at two previous Ministerial Conferences, please indicate at which ones. NGOs that qualify are still obliged to officially request registration and are subject to all other procedures and deadlines that apply to NGOs requesting attendance at the Fifth Ministerial Conference.

Requests for registration accompanied by the information requested above, should be sent by mail (faxes and e-mails will not be accepted) to:

External Relations Division
Centre William Rappard
154, rue de Lausanne
1211 Geneva 21
Switzerland

Registration requests must be received by 30 April 2003 (midnight, GMT). Requests for registration received after that date will not be processed.

Confirmation of your organization's eligibility to register will be sent, together with the individual registration forms, as from 31 May 2003.

In light of the expected interest among NGOs in attending the Cancún Ministerial Conference, a limit may have to be placed on the number of representatives per NGO delegation. This information will be provided in the letter confirming registration eligibility.

Once individual registration forms have been received and completed they should be returned to the above address as soon as possible and in any case not later than 30 June 2003 (midnight, GMT)

Please note that:

• All forms are numbered and cannot be copied; only authentic and duly signed originals will be accepted;

• Incomplete forms will not be accepted; all information requested has to be provided, including recent and original passport size photographs.

As from 1 August 2003, NGOs will receive confirmation of registration. On that basis, badges will be made available in Cancún which allow access to all official Ministerial related venues.