3. AGENDA OF THE MEETING

The agenda was adopted as follows:

4. Programme of the NGO Forum
5. Scholarships for Durban

Tabled documents:

• WCAR/NGO Forum – Thematic Commissions (Annex A)
• Durban/NGO Program (Annex B)
• Secretariat Briefing to the International Steering Committee, 29^th – 30^th July 2001

1. Major informed about the process leading to inviting people as panellists, keynote speakers, facilitators and rapporteurs. Regions should have submitted names. The criteria for the selection by the Substance Committee (of the NGO Forum Secretariat) were: regional balance, country spread, gender balance, youth representation. It started at the regional conference in Tehran but the list has drastically changed several times. All the people listed by now have already confirmed their attendance in Durban. ISC members expressed their objection on that kind of decisions which have were taken without consultation and even communication with ISC. However, ISC has to be flexible and will work on the list based on what have been done. The names will be finalized at the next ISC meeting.
2. The Labour caucus proposed another TC "Labour" without any financial implication on the NGO Forum organizers, including interpretation. ISC agrees.

10 TCs will take place on the stadium, 5 TCs by 5’ walking distance, 4 TCs by 10’

3. ISC discussed the details of the opening session.

4. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR DURBAN

1. Margaret raised the issues of 25 % scholarships for the Americas’ region. The regional CC selection committee decided in Porto Rico in the presence of L. Wiseberg that the money be used for the air tickets solely. It also decided its distribution among sub-regions. After having bought their tickets, the NGO Liaison Office informed that "a committee decided to reduce the number of scholarships for Canadian and Caribbean NGOs to 4 – 5 each". American CC should take a position on that, too.

Laurie explained the development. Albert will consult the Caribbeans as he believes there are not enough applicants for scholarships there. Laurie promised to cover the costs of Margaret in the first order if an additional money is raised by UN HCHR.

2. Laurie is still missing the list of grantees from Africa. All grantees will be notified, the lists will be hanged on the Web and sent to the UN discussion list – no negative notifications are supposed to be sent out individually.
3. Information from the NGO Liaison Unit: 94.000 USD for ISC travel costs, 117.000 USD is the estimate of the travel costs for all the ISC members for the 2^nd and 3^rd PrepComs and to Durban but some of them are to be covered from other sources (Vera, Mirek, Delia, Paul). Laurie is preparing a proposal for Ms M. Robinson who will approach more governments.