The NGO Liaison Office facilitates the participation of NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC in United Nations activities taking place on the premises of the United Nations Office at Geneva. This includes organizing requisite accreditation.

The practical arrangements concerning accreditation of representatives of NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC are set out in the General Principles on Accreditation of NGO Representatives:

• NGOs having consultative status with ECOSOC may designate persons to represent them at Offices of the United Nations. Designation must be made only by the Chief Administrative Officer, or highest elected officers, of the organization, using the appropriate form.

• To facilitate access to United Nations buildings, passes may be issued to designated representatives. These passes are restricted to persons who will be representing these respective organizations at meetings, or and those persons designated to consult on behalf of the organization with secretariat and government representatives at the United Nations, i.e. persons who will speak and act on behalf of the individual organization.

• As per the established procedure, passes are issued for one year only, and they are valid from the day they are issued until the end of that year. Designated representatives must appear in person at United Nations Office at Geneva, Pregny Gate, 8-14 Avenue de la Paix, Geneva, from Monday to Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, with valid proof of identity and with a copy of their designation. There is no time limit for obtaining the pass. It may be issued at the first convenient opportunity or while attending a meeting organized at UNOG.

• In view of security requirements, as well as the rapidly increasing number of NGOs and the space limitations, the number of representatives per NGO is limited to 7 annual representatives (Chief Administrative Officer and President/Secretary-General included). Upon request, passes to attend a specific ECOSOC meeting will be issued only for the duration of the meeting. On an exceptional basis, temporary passes for a maximum duration of two months and non-renewable, can also be issued to additional representatives designated.

• If a designated representative holding a current pass leaves the organization, the organization must notify the corresponding United Nations office, in writing, and return his/her pass there. Requests for replacement of lost passes must also be done in writing.

The NGO Liaison Office remains at the disposal of NGOs having consultative status with ECOSOC for assistance and complementary information concerning accreditation.

For more information on security matters as well as facilities and services available at the Palais des Nations for delegates participating in meetings, conferences and other events, please see the relevant link.