MINISTERIAL CONFERENCES

Civil society at the Geneva Ministerial Conference

NGO Briefings

In principle, the WTO External Relations team will brief accredited NGOs around COB on each day of the Ministerial Conference. A virtual orientation briefing is scheduled on 12 of June at 10:00. The briefing will cover logistical and other important information for NGOs regarding the Ministerial Conference.

Badge collection

Accredited NGOs can pick up their badges from the NGO Accreditation Room located at the CAV (Centre Administratif de Varembé), Rue de Varembé 1-3, Geneva.

Opening hours for the Accreditation Centre are:

  • 10 June: 12:00 to 17:00
  • 11 June: 12:00 to 19:00
  • 12, 13 and 14 June: 9:00 to 15:00

The following events will be open to accredited NGOs:

  • All NGO briefings
  • Opening session (via webcast)
  • Plenary session, speeches by ministers - via video relay in the NGO working area
  • Closing session (via webcast)

Requirements to enter Switzerland

Accreditation for attending MC12 does not automatically grant entry into Switzerland and a visa may be required. Information on visa requirements to enter Switzerland is available here.

In addition, please note that persons in possession of a valid visa as well as persons exempted from visa requirements must inquire about boarding requirements. If necessary, the Swiss representation responsible for the person’s country of residence abroad may issue a laissez-passer, which confirms that the person fulfils the conditions for crossing the Swiss border.

NGO Centre

NGO-organised meetings and briefings will be held at Spaces Sécheron, Chemin des Mines 2, 1202 Geneva. Spaces offers briefing and meeting rooms, as well as an NGO working area for accredited NGO representatives. The NGO Centre is equipped with WiFI and the meeting rooms are additionally equipped with a laptop, tv screen, whiteboard and flipchart.

Type of Room

Location

Capacity

NGO Working Area

2nd floor (Spaces, Sécheron)

 

WTO NGO briefing room

2nd floor (Spaces, Sécheron)

Max 80 pax

Meeting Room No. 3

Sous Sol (Spaces, Sécheron)

Max 10 pax

Meeting Room No. 6

Sous Sol (Spaces, Sécheron)

Max 24 pax

GF (ground floor) Training Room (1 & 2)

Ground floor (Spaces, Sécheron)

Max 26 pax

The rooms are available on:

  • 13 – 16 June from 9:00 to 18:00 (Rooms 3, 6 and GF Training Room)
  • 13 – 16 June from 8:00 to 20:00 (NGO Working Area)

The WTO's External Relations team will be located on the ground floor of the WTO building.

Booking a Room

Accredited NGOs can send their meeting requests to: [email protected] with the subject line: NGO Centre booking request + name of organization. Please indicate whether the request is for a public or private meeting. Please note the following:

  • Only rooms 3, 6 & GF Training Room are available for NGO meetings
  • The WTO NGO briefing room is reserved for briefings by WTO Secretariat and Members ONLY.
  • In principle, meeting rooms are available for a maximum of 1.5 hours. 
  • Rooms will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis.
  • The WTO Secretariat reserves its right to refuse booking requests.

Please note that all previous meeting requests are no longer valid.

Meeting Announcements and Displaying Material

Details on briefings and meetings will be available on the website. See links below:

Side Events

The programme of non-WTO side events, including those taking place at other venues near the WTO premises, is available here and will be updated as more information is received.

Background information

The Ministerial Conference is the WTO's top decision-making body. The Marrakesh Agreement establishing the organization instructs members to hold one at least every two years. The event is attended by trade ministers and other senior officials from the 164 members of the organization.

Typically, at these gatherings, ministers review the current work of the WTO, take decisions on issues which the WTO delegations have put before them and on occasion take action to bring new members into the WTO.

For more details, check on news about the Ministerial Conference.

For any questions please contact:
[email protected]

NGOs accredited to the Ministerial Conference

MC12 NGO Briefings

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