58th World Health Assembly guidelines and information for media
6 May 2005 | Geneva - The 58th World Health Assembly (WHA) will take place from 16-25 May 2005 at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland. The WHA is the annual meeting of the World Health Organization's (WHO) 192 Member States. Issues at this WHA include pandemic influenza preparedness and response, progress on the health-related Millennium Development Goals, polio eradication, malaria, cancer prevention and control and health action in crises. The Assembly will consider more than a dozen draft resolutions recommended by the Executive Board on many of these issues. Keynote speakers are the President of the Republic of Maldives His Excellency Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and the Co-Founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates.
Accreditation procedures
Correspondents wishing to cover the WHA must be accredited by the office of the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. To do this, journalists should send a fax requesting accreditation to + 41 22 917 0073, along with a letter signed by the editor indicating the reason for accreditation and the dates for which accreditation is required, a photocopy of media credentials and passport.
Once these documents have been received by DPI, journalists can collect their accreditation at the Villa les Feuillantines, 13 avenue de la Paix. This is on a small treed alley between the Place des Nations, and the UN Palais Visitors Entrance (Pregny gate opposite the Red Cross). Journalists can call +41 22 917 2313, or +41 22 917 2336 or email cfegli@unog.ch for more information.
** Please note that UN accreditation offices will be closed on Monday, 16 May. Journalists wishing to get accredited on 16 May should proceed to WHO headquarters, Please be reminded that the same UN accreditation procedures will apply.**
WHO Media Office
During the WHA, documents for journalists will be available at the WHO media documents office on the eighth floor of the Palais des Nations, Room A 843. WHO media and communications staff will be in rooms A631 and A633. A full list of WHO staff serving the media, their offices, and phone numbers will be provided and made available on the Internet a few days prior to the Assembly.
Daily Journal of the World Health Assembly/news releases/other documents
Media materials and official documents will be available in the WHO media documents office and in UN Press Room I. The daily Journal of the WHA contains the day’s agenda. Note that schedules and locations are subject to change.
Media announcements
Announcements will be made in the UN Press Room of the Palais des Nations via the loudspeaker system regarding the issuance of important documents and news releases, the scheduling of news conferences and briefings, and other items of interest to correspondents.
WHO Director-General's speech
Dr LEE Jong-wook is scheduled to address the Assembly during the second plenary meeting on the afternoon of Monday, 16 May. Copies of his speech will be available for the media in UN Press Room I on Monday morning, embargoed until and to be checked against delivery.
Advance texts: materials under embargo
Some texts of other speeches, statements and other materials will be issued under embargo. Please respect the release date and hour indicated.
Access to meetings
Most WHA meetings are open to the media and can be covered from specially designated press areas. Correspondents should consult the daily Journal of the World Health Assembly for information on whether meetings are "open" or "closed". To avoid access problems, journalists must wear their accreditation badges visibly.
Correspondents may enter the floor of the Assembly Hall and committee rooms only before or after meetings, but must leave promptly when the meeting is about to begin.
**Under no circumstances should correspondents stay on the floor of the Assembly Hall when meetings are taking place**
Photographs
Information on the WHO Photo Service for media can be obtained from Mr Chris Black, Tel. +41 22 791 1460 or mobile: +41 79 472 6054.
Video for broadcasters
For information on taping of events of the Assembly Hall (plenary session), taping of interviews for broadcast TV and the feedpoint to EBU Geneva through UNTV Geneva, please contact Jean-Marc Glinz, Palais de Nations, Office E21 at UNTV Studio (Studio TV - Under door 40 in Level 0), Tel.: +41 22 917 5954 or mobile: +41 79 475 5515, email: glinzj@who.int.
Please note that:
- WHO will only provide Betacam SP PAL tapes for broadcasters.
- To reserve a 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 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.
- Filming and videotaping of the WHA is limited to news, documentary and educational coverage of the meetings. Accredited photo and television correspondents may cover all "open” meetings of the Assembly and move around freely on the floor of the Assembly Hall and the main committee rooms before a meeting is called to order, but must leave promptly when the meeting is about to begin.
- Photographers and camera crews are not allowed on the podium in any of the meeting rooms, including the Assembly Hall. Correspondents are reminded that it is important to avoid congestion near the podium, especially during debates.