Guidelines and Information for Media
GENEVA, Nov. 8 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The election of the World Health
Organization (WHO) Director-General will take place in Geneva next week, from
6 to 9 November 2006. There will be two separate meetings in two separate
venues. Below, journalists can find practical information relating to
accreditation, access to meetings, and news conference, photo and broadcast
opportunities.
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http://www.prnasia.com/upload/story_attchment/20061102095006-
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The WHO Executive Board (EB) will meet from 6 to 8 November at WHO
Headquarters and will nominate a person for the post of Director-General.
Journalists will be able to listen to proceedings during the public sessions,
which include the short opening session on the morning of 6 November, the
late-afternoon session on 6 November when a short-list of five candidates is
announced, and the closing session on 8 November when the name of the person
nominated for the post will be made public. Otherwise, the EB will conduct
proceedings related to the nomination in a session which is open only to
Members of the Board and one representative of each Member State. Journalists
will not be allowed in the Executive Board room.
On 9 November 2006, the World Health Assembly will meet at the United
Nations Palais des Nations Assembly Hall for a special session. The Health
Assembly will consider the nomination of the Director-General at a private
meeting and will come to a decision on the appointment of the next Director-
General through a secret ballot. The Assembly will also have to take a
decision on the term of office and the contract of the next Director-
General. Journalists will be able to follow the public sessions of the
Assembly from the media gallery (on the 2nd balcony). These include the
opening of the session in the morning and the closing of the meeting when the
successful candidate will be publicly announced and will make a speech.
Media Accreditation procedures
Correspondents wishing to cover the Executive Board from 6-8 November
must apply to the Communications Department at the World Health Organization.
To do this, journalists should send a fax (+41 22 791 4858) or email (
mediainquiries@who.int ) requesting accreditation, along with a letter signed
by their editor indicating the reason for accreditation, the dates for which
accreditation is required and a photocopy of media credentials. Accreditation
badges will be available to journalists at the reception of WHO during the
afternoon of Sunday 5 November from 16.00hrs to 17.30hrs and on Monday 6
November from 08.00hrs.
Correspondents wishing to cover the World Health Assembly on 9 November
must apply to the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) at
the Palais des Nations in Geneva. This must include a letter signed by their
editor indicating the reason for accreditation, a photocopy of media
credentials and passport. Journalists can call +41 22 917 2313, or +41 22 917
2336, or email Catherine Fegli (cfegli@unog.ch) for more information. To
facilitate the accreditation process, journalists are strongly encouraged to
apply early. Once these documents have been approved by DPI, journalists can
collect their accreditation at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, at the Pré
gny gate (in front of the International Committee of the Red Cross).
Facilities for Media -- WHO
During 6-8 November, journalists will have access to a conference room at
WHO in Headquarters from which they will be able to monitor, by video
conference, the public sessions. News material, news conferences and other
announcements will be made available in this room on an on-going basis
throughout the meeting.
Facilities for Media -- UN Palais des Nations
During the Asssembly on 9 November, WHO will organize press conferences
at Press Room III (near Gate 6). To avoid access problems, journalists must
wear their accreditation badges visibly. Press conferences will be announced
via the loudspeaker system and will be posted on a notice board situated in
Press Room I (near Gate 6). Important documents, news releases, the
scheduling of news conferences and briefings, and other items of interest to
correspondents will also be available in Press Room I.
Photographs
Information on the WHO Photo Service for media can be obtained from Chris
Black, email blackc@who.int, Tel. +41 22 791 1460 or mobile: +41 79 472 6054.
Video for Broadcasters
For information on taping of events in the Assembly Hall, taping of
interviews for broadcast TV and the feedpoint to EBU Geneva through WHO TV
Studios or UNTV Geneva, please contact Jean-Marc Glinz, email: glinzj@who.int
Tel: +41 22 791 3924 or mobile: +41 79 475 5515.
Please note that:
-- WHO will only provide tapes for broadcasters (in Betacam SP PAL)
-- To reserve a live link from EBU Geneva to the final destination,
please contact EBU planning at +41 22 717 2900 or send email to
bookings@eurovision.net.
General information for photo & television correspondents
-- WHO requests that photo journalists respect the rules set out
by Security and Protocol Officers at the Executive Board and World
Health Assembly. Flash units may be used, but photographers are
encouraged to use telephoto lenses and avoid grouping around
speakers so as not to disturb their work.
-- Due to space limitations, access to the floor of the EB and WHA
during public sessions will be limited and a pool situation for
video and photographs will likely be in effect.
All WHO Press Releases, Fact Sheets and Features as well as other
information on this subject can be obtained on Internet on the WHO home page:
http://www.who.int/
