Access to the WIPO campus is via the WIPO Access Center located on the north side of the WIPO AB Building.
When entering the conference venue, participants will be required to go through security screening by security personnel, similar to that experienced in airports (i.e., x-ray tunnels and walk-through metal detectors). Please arrive early enough to allow time for this procedure.
Delegates, representatives of observer organizations and other participants are responsible to arrange for their own visas. As a general rule, the delegates, representatives of observer organizations and other participants are required to obtain their Switzerland entry visas at the Embassies or Consulates of Switzerland in their respective countries. They should be in possession of valid entry visas before commencing their travel. Please contact the Embassy or Consulate of Switzerland in your country of residence so as to know about the visa requirements in your specific case.
- by taxi – Cost approximately 30 Swiss francs (SF)
- by bus:
- Bus 60, 61 (Express) (direction 'Ferney-Voltaire or Gex l'Aiglette', stop at 'Nations')
- Bus 5 (direction Aéroport, stop at Nations)
- Bus 8 (direction OMS, stop at Nations)
- Bus 20 (direction 'Colovrex', stop at 'Nations')
- by tram:
- Tram 15 (direction 'Nations', stop at 'Nations')
Journey time: 10 minutes
Delegates staying in a Geneva hotel can obtain a local transport card from the hotel reception, valid for the duration of their stay. Further information on Geneva public transportation: http://www.tpg.ch/
Registration of delegates and credentials
As indicated in the invitation circular C. 9202 sent on December 19, 2023, to all invited Members and Observers to the Diplomatic Conference, all delegates are requested to register online by April 15, 2024, including Geneva-based delegates. Completing the online registration form is required.
The submission of credentials is a pre-requisite for the completion of the online registration form. The credential document should be a dated and signed/stamped note verbale, official letter or document, originating from a competent authority of a Member State or accredited Observer Organization, nominating the delegate to attend the Diplomatic Conference on behalf of said Member State or Observer Organization.
Once registered online, each delegate receives by e-mail a registration number confirming their registration for the Diplomatic Conference. All registrations are subsequently verified by the Secretariat, which may individually contact a registered participant, if required (for instance, in case of questions regarding the credential document).
At the Conference
Delegates will be provided with conference badges for the Diplomatic Conference, which will incorporate the delegates’ photos. Such delegates should transmit JPEG‑format photos (size: 2 x 2 inches [51 x 51 mm], square digital image of at least 600 x 600 pixels, or scanned at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch). The photos should be taken in full-face view directly facing the camera with a white/off-white background. Photos taken using smartphones are acceptable. When sending photos, the names and/or registration confirmation numbers of registered participants in advance should also be provided, in order to accelerate on-site badge retrieval, particularly on the opening morning of the meeting.
Delegated are encouraged to submit their photo in advance by email to security.conferencebadging@wipo.int to allow for timely preparation of their conference badge.
Pre-collection of conference badges for the Diplomatic Conference is scheduled on:
- Wednesday, May 8, 2024, from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
- Friday, May 10, 2024, from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
- Sunday, May 12, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To avoid delays on the morning of the formal opening of the conference, Geneva-based permanent mission delegates are encouraged to pre-collect badges for their delegation on the days mentioned above.
Access to and presence on the WIPO premises is restricted to persons wearing the official Diplomatic Conference badge. The UN badges for Geneva-based representatives shall not be accepted to access the meeting rooms. Lost badges should immediately be reported to the WIPO registration desk.
The provisional meeting hours of the conference are from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and from 7.30 p.m. to 10 p.m..
Please note that Monday, May 20, 2024, is an official holiday in the Canton of Geneva and many shops will be closed. However, May 20, 2024, is a working day at WIPO and the Diplomatic Conference will meet on this day.
With high participation expected for the Diplomatic Conference, seats in the WCH will be limited. The distribution of seats is as follows:
- Member States will have 3 seats.
- Member States with a Group Coordinator part of their delegation will have 4 seats.
- Observer Delegations will have 3 seats.
- The Special Delegation will have 3 seats.
- Registered IGOs will have 2 seats.
- Registered NGOs will have 1 seat.
Deliberations in the WCH will be retransmitted to Room A. However, participants will not be able to take the floor from Room A.
Requests for Opening Declarations should kindly be sent in advance by email to grtkf@wipo.int.
In view of the time constraints, opening declarations should be limited, as follows: they should not exceed three minutes if delivered by Group Coordinators; two minutes if delivered by individual Member States and one minute if delivered by Observers. The time limit will be strictly applied and a display system will assist delegates to adhere to it.
Declarations exceeding time limits should be summarized orally, with the full version emailed to grtkf@wipo.int. Written declarations can also be sent in lieu of being orally delivered.
Simultaneous interpretation will be provided for the official sessions of the Diplomatic Conference in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish, and from Portuguese into the other six languages.
Delegates are strongly encouraged to send a copy of their draft statement(s) in advance of delivery to the Interpretation Section to the following e-mail address: interpretation@wipo.int. Statements sent to the Interpretation Section are confidential and are checked against delivery.
Journalists wishing to cover the WIPO Diplomatic Conference on Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge are invited to apply for media accreditation.
The conference will take place from May 13-24 at WIPO’s Geneva headquarters. Journalists wishing to cover the conference are requested to submit an accreditation form with the supporting documents by May 2, 2024. Journalists already accredited to the United Nations in Geneva do not need to submit a separate accreditation form – UN press accreditation is valid for this event.
Live webcasting will be available for plenary sessions on the WIPO Webcast.
Accommodation in Geneva is often in high demand and delegates are recommended to make hotel reservations well in advance. WIPO does not have a hotel reservation service and delegates should book hotels directly.
- List of negotiated hotel rates issued by the United Nations Office at Geneva
.
All delegates are covered by WIPO’s insurance schemes for accidents and for urgent medical care following an illness during the Diplomatic Conference.
Information and documentation for the Diplomatic Conference.
The Conference document counter is located outside the plenary session meeting room. Copies of the Basic Proposal for an International Legal Instrument Relating to Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge Associated with Genetic Resources will be available in all six United Nations languages.
A free wireless Internet connection will be available. The access code will be provided to delegates at the WIPO registration desk. In the plenary room, electrical plugs are available on each desk.
Please note that Switzerland uses Type C (2-pin) and Type J (3-pin) plugs. As WIPO does not provide plugs, adapters, or electronic device chargers, participants are strongly advised to bring their own. These devices can otherwise be purchased from most supermarkets, kiosks and department stores across the country.
Various receptions will be organized by WIPO and by delegations on the margins of the Diplomatic Conference. Further information will be published in due course.
WIPO’s official photographer will be present during the Diplomatic Conference to take photographs of delegates and make them available on WIPO’s Flickr site under the Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 IGO. Delegates can let the photographer know if they do not wish to be photographed during the Conference. Photos can also be withdrawn from the Flickr site by sending an email to photos@wipo.int.
Tea and coffee will be available free of charge to delegates each day during the morning and afternoon sessions in the WIPO Conference Hall foyer. Drinking water dispensers are available at different locations in the WIPO buildings, rooms and corridors. Vending machines are located on the 13th floor and on the first basement floor (−1) of the WIPO AB Building.
The WIPO cafeteria, located in the NB Building, will be open non-stop from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with breakfast as of 8 a.m. and lunch service between 12 noon and 3 p.m. Take-away lunch options will also be available in the NB Atrium and the WCH Foyer between 12 noon and 3 p.m. A dinner service will be available from 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. on days where there are night sessions. The NB cafeteria includes a variety of meal options, vegetarian dishes, salads, and take-out options. For persons with reduced mobility, serving trays on wheels are available on the right side of the entrance of the cafeteria.
WIPO car park located at 34 Chemin des Colombettes is accessible for pre-accredited vehicles from permanent missions in possession of an electronic WIPO access badge. Delegates can park their cars on a first-come-first-served basis in the delegates parking area (Parking D, yellow floor on levels −2 and −3).
Vehicles that are not pre-accredited may park at the public car park “Parking des Nations” in close proximity to WIPO. Parking on the street outside the WIPO Access Center and outside parking spaces is strictly prohibited.
The WIPO Contact Center is available to assist delegates with general inquiries and can facilitate direct connections with WIPO staff by providing their contact information upon request.
Tel: +41 22 338 9111 (9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday to Friday)
email: contact.center@wipo.int
Local information
A Post Office is located on the ground floor of the CICG building at 15 rue de Varembé. Opening hours: 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The closest bank to WIPO is UBS, located on Chemin Camille-Vidart 17b. Opening hours: 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (Monday) and 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (Tuesday to Friday). (Cash dispenser ATM 24h). A cash dispenser ATM is also available on the ground floor of WIPO’s GBI building (right-hand side of the lobby of WIPO main building). Both ATMs can deliver Swiss Francs and Euros using internationally recognized credit cards.
Geneva’s local currency is the Swiss Franc (CHF). There are currency exchange counters in the arrival area of the international airports and hotels.
May is one of the most pleasant months in Geneva. The average temperature is of 14.6 °C/ 58 °F, with a minimum of 9°C/ 48.2°F and a maximum of 20.3°C/68.5°F.
The local time for Geneva is UTC + 1 hour. Electricity in Switzerland uses 220V.
WIPO's Medical Unit is located in the GBI Building (Room GBI 0.6) near the WIPO AB Building lobby (tel: +41 22 338 8000). Opening Hours: Monday and Friday morning: 9:30 - 11:30 , Monday - Wednesday - Friday afternoon: 14:00 - 16:00).
A meditation room accessible to all delegates is located on the ground floor of the WIPO GBI Building (Room GBI 0.4), near the WIPO AB Building lobby.
A nursing space is located on the ground floor of the WIPO GBI Building (GBI0.2), opposite the cash dispenser machine, near the WIPO AB Building lobby.
A pharmacy is located on 42A rue de Moillebeau, 10 minutes walk from WIPO. Tel: +41 22 740 0160
Geneva's Hôpital Cantonal – 24 rue Micheli-du-Crest, 1205 Geneva – is open 24/7. (Tel: +41 22 372 3311)
For general issues and overall coordination
Questions relating to credentials and full powers