Practical Information for Delegates

Participating in international conferences

Why participating in international conferences?

How to prepare for your participation in a conference (including visa issues, preparation, transportation and many more)

Requesting a visa for your travel to Switzerland

Golden rules for non-governmental representatives

Consultative status and other partnership agreements

For further information, see our FAQ on participating in an international conference.

Finding accommodation

Welcome Centre for Non-Governmental Organisations and Delegations:
Mandat International's Welcome Centre near the UN in Geneva provides low-cost accommodation (25.- to 35.- Swiss francs per night). Work infrastructure (meeting room, Internet access, printer etc.) is available and you will get the opportunity to meet other delegates. Priority access is given to non-governmental representatives from developing countries. For bookings and inquiries contact admin@mandint.org. For further information see the Access Plans to the Welcome Centre at Valavran and the Opening hours of the reception.

Other low-cost accommodation:
Youth Hostel: Dormitories and double rooms between 19 and 48 Swiss francs per person.
City Hostel: Dormitories, double and single rooms between 32 and 65 Swiss francs per person.
Bed and Breakfast: Accommodation in a private household/family

Accommodation in hotels
Geneva hotels are generally very well kept. You should expect to pay about 100 Swiss francs per night in a standard hotel and more in a luxury hotel. A list of hotels provided by the Geneva Tourist Office is available here. You can also contact them by phone in order to inquire about availabilities in particular hotels.

For further information see our FAQ on accommodation.

Finding contacts

Geneva International - collection of websites: collection of websites of NGOs and international organisations by area of activity

Geneva Forum - NGO Database: search organisations by country and type of organisation

ECOSOC database - database of NGOs in consultative relations with the UN: find NGOs in ECOSOC consultative status by field of activity or name

Geneva authorities - alphabetical list of NGOs: browse an alphabetic list of some NGOs with a representation in Geneva

Info Pack by the International Service for Human Rights: contacts and membership information of UN and regional human rights mechanisms

NGO-info.org - Information Platform for NGOs: share information and develop partnerships with other organisations from around the world (includes a project-pool)

Information leaflet on international organisations in Geneva: basic information on Geneva-based international organisations (including a map)

List of conference facilities: details about facilities available to organise your own event

Finding information ressources

Documentation Centre: over 10'000 reference documents and 250 periodicals on international cooperation. Located at the Welcome Centre for Non-Governmental Organisations and Delegations.

UN library: comprehensive collection of UN documents (including the League of Nations archive), as well as work places with internet access. Located within the UN buildings / Palais des Nations.

International Legal Search Engine: access international conventions, including specific obligations for a particular country in a given thematic field (by convention or article by artice).

Library of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies: comprehensive collection of paper and electronic ressources in the field of international relations and development. Located near the UN buildings / Place des Nations.

For further information, see Mandat International's collection of guides and handbooks.

Finding an event or a conference

Agenda International: find an event on a given topic during your stay in Geneva, or announce your own event

Meetings at the UN in Geneva: find conferences and other events taking place in the UN system in Geneva.

Calendar of Human Rights meetings: find human rights related events in Geneva

Creating an NGO or establishing a representation in Geneva

Legal forms an NGO can take in Switzerland: "association", "foundation" or simply establishing an office? (includes a sample statutes of an association)

Registration of an NGO in Switzerland: not a requirement, but it might be advantageous

Taxation of NGOs and their employees in Switzerland

Work permits in Geneva

Finding office space in Geneva

For further information see the Practical Guide for NGOs or contact the NGO Service of the Geneva authorities.

Information services for further help

NGO Welcome Desk
For any question you may have during sessions of the Human Rights Council, the Welcome Desk team is at your service next to the Serpentine Bar at Palais des Nations (Building E, door 40, downstairs). You may contact the Welcome Desk team anytime (including in between sessions) by E-mail at welcome (AT) mandint.org or by phone under +41 22 919 05 20. You may also pass at our office next to the UN following these directions.

Civil Society Unit of the OHCHR
For any question in relation to the functioning of the Human Rights Council (including accreditation matters and oral or written statements), you may contact the Civil Society Unit of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights by E-mail at civilsocietyunit (AT) ohchr.org or by phone under +41 22 917 96 56.

NGO Liaison Office of the United Nations Office in Geneva
For questions regarding ECOSOC consultative statues you may wish to consult the website of the NGO Branch of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs or contact the NGO Liaison Office of the UN in Geneva by E-mail at ungeneva.ngoliaison (AT) unog.ch or by phone under + 41 22 917 21 27

NGO Service of the Geneva authorities
For any questions with regard to establishing an NGO in Geneva (including legal forms, work permit or office space) you may wish to see the website of the NGO Service of the Geneva authorities or contact them by E-mail at ong (AT) cagi.ch or by phone under +41 22 546 14 00. If you wish to go to their office next to the UN, follow these directions.