MEDIA ARRANGEMENTS FOR WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM, DURBAN, 31 AUGUST – 7 SEPTEMBER

Note to Correspondents

MEDIA ARRANGEMENTS FOR WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM,

DURBAN, 31 AUGUST – 7 SEPTEMBER

Pre-Conference Briefing

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Secretary-General of the World Conference against Racism, Mary Robinson, will hold a press conference in Durban, South Africa, on Thursday 30 August at 3:00 p.m. (15:00), the day before the World Conference begins.  All journalists accredited to cover the World Conference are invited to attend this curtain-raiser event.  It will be held in the press conference room at the Conference site in the Coast of Dreams building.  Following the press conference, there will be a briefing on logistical arrangements for the Conference.  Journalists covering the Conference are invited to a reception hosted by the High Commissioner after the briefings.

Media Facilities

A Media Centre will be located in the Durban Exhibition Centre at the Conference site.  The Media Centre will have facilities for the use of all media representatives accredited to cover the Conference.  Facilities for journalists will include a limited number of computer workstations with Internet access, available on a first-come, first-served basis, and a broadcast village for radio and television journalists.

The proceedings of the Plenary and other activities in the Conference building (the International Convention Centre) will be broadcast live into the Media Centre on large screens.  Audio-visual and sound feeds of the Plenary, press conferences and other events will be provided to broadcasters live on request, free of charge.  A documents distribution counter will provide journalists with all Conference documents as well as copies of daily press releases in English and French covering the main activities of the conference.  These will also be made available electronically on the conference Web site: www.un.org/WCAR.

A Media Information Desk located inside the main entrance to the Media Centre will be staffed throughout the Conference by the United Nations Department of Public Information to answer all logistical and other questions of the media.

Press conferences, and a daily press briefing by the Spokeswoman for the Conference, will be held in the press conference room located in the Coast of Dreams building next to the Durban Exhibition Centre.  The schedule of press conferences and other activities will be issued daily and will also be available

on the Conference Web site.  To book a press conference please call the United

Nations Department of Public Information in New York at: +1 (212) 963-1453 until 23 August.  After that date, please contact the Media Information Desk at the Conference site.

Inquiries concerning media arrangements may be directed to the United Nations Department of Public Information in New York at telephone:

+1 (212) 963-6862, +1 (212) 963-2932 or +1 (212) 963-7704 or by e-mail at mediainfo@un.org until 24 August.  After that date, please contact the Media Information Desk at the Conference site.

Accreditation

Media representatives are encouraged to apply for accreditation before the Conference.  The accreditation form with instructions is available at www.un.org/WCAR/coverage.htm.

A completed application form, together with a letter of assignment on official letterhead from the Editor or Bureau Chief and 2 colour passport photos should be sent for pre-accreditation, before 24 August to:  United Nations, Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit, Department of Public Information, Room S-250,

New York, NY 10017, U.S.A., Tel.: (+1) 212- 963-6934, Fax: (+1) 212- 963-4642,

E-mail: media-accredit@un.org.

No acknowledgement will be mailed to you.  Passes will be issued at the Conference site in Durban from 24 August onwards.  In addition to the application and the letter of assignment, journalists, once accredited, will also be required to present two forms of photo ID (such as passport, official national press pass, driver's license, work ID) to receive their passes.

On-site accreditation will begin on 24 August at the World Conference against Racism Accreditation Office, Durban, South Africa, Tel.: (27-31) 360 1279, Fax: (27-31) 360 1281

Host Country Information

Information on visas, accommodation and inoculations can be found on the Government of South Africa's Web site at www.racism.gov.za.

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