ON TO CAIRO !!! The Network's last pre-Cairo event, a half-day briefing on last minute issues of concern to folks planning on traveling to Cairo will be held here in D.C. on Thursday, August 18, 1994 at 2:00 p.m. (Call for location.) Speakers will include Jim Lawrence, Executive Director, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, U. S. Department of State; Mary Beth Powers, Executive Director, NGO Forum; and Sally Ethelston, Director Media Relations, Population Action International. Briefing will cover security arrangements, logistics, the NGO Forum, and information for Cairo visitors. The Environmental and Religious Interest Groups are planning regular caucuses in Cairo. Contact the interest group directly for information. At the State Department's "First Tuesday" briefing on August 2nd, current information on logistics for Cairo were reviewed (see enclosures). The Official U.S. Delegation has been announced (copy enclosed). The delegation will hold a briefing with U.S. NGOs at 2:00 p.m. every day at the NGO Forum. The first briefing will be held in the Multi-Media Center (see enclosed description). Revised advisories for travelers and other background information was distributed by State Department representatives (copies enclosed). Latest word on representation leads us to believe that "international NGOs" will be allotted 5 non-transferrable passes to the official Conference Center while "National NGOs" will be allocated 2 non-transferrable passes. Access to the NGO Forum will be unlimited, but does require registration and payment of the $50 registration fee. Network Scholarship Awards The U. S. Network for Cairo '94 Administrative Committee recommended and the Coordinating Committee approved disbursement of over $10,000 in scholarship money to individuals representing the following organizations: Sisterlove, Inc.; Project Azuka, Inc.; Georgia Women Preventing AIDS Campaign; Action for Youth C.C.; Tam Cam Foundation; National Women and HIV/AIDS Project; Boston Women's Health Book Collective; The Gathering Place; Women of All Red Nations; One with Creation; Anoka United Methodist Church/Board for Global Ministries; African American Future Society; Committee on Women, Population and the Environment; and the International Council of Women. The Administrative committee tried to balance the criteria established by the Coordinating Committee: individuals who could not otherwise attend and who would represent a U.S.-based NGO; individuals who represent constituencies that are women, indigenous peoples and people of color; and individuals that had raised other funding from local sources. The Administrative Committee also attempted to balance the size of awards and the number with available resources so that awards were meaningful yet a wide variety of individuals and groups could be assisted. Working Group Reports Administration - The Administration working group met on August 19th to make decisions regarding scholarship requests. Linkages - The Linkages working group has plans for a North American Dialogue among NGOs from Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. during the NGO forum. The group has also established contact with the Egyptian National NGO Committee and the Network will contribute financially to and support a reception for NGOs sponsored by the Egyptian National Committee in Cairo during the ICPD. Congress/Admin./U.N. - This working group is sponsoring the half-day briefing on August 18th for Cairo travelers discussed elsewhere. Communications - The Communications working group is planning for a Network-sponsored press conference in Cairo at the NGO Forum. This will be a scheduled event and offer a forum for Network members to address issues from their own perspectives. If you are interested in participating, please contact Dianne Sherman at 202-332-2200. Reminders > The ICPD Secretariat requests that all accredited organizations send a letter as soon as possible listing the names of all individuals who MAY be representing them at the ICPD Mail to: ICPD Secretariat - NGO Section, UNFPA, 22nd Floor, 220 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017. (fax: 212-297-5250) [please see earlier notes regarding potential restrictions on the number of representatives] > For the latest on the ICPD and related Administration activities call the new State Department Population Hotline at 202-663-3070. > The NGO Planning Committee for the ICPD requests that NGOs planning to attend the ICPD make travel reservations and complete and return their NGO Forum registrations (see enclosed forms) as soon as possible. > Network "interest groups" are available. The purpose of these groups is to facilitate communication among individuals and organizations concerned about specific issues. Interest groups may advocate a particular viewpoint. However, interest group views and positions can not be ascribed to the Network. The following individuals are organizing interest groups. Please contact them for further information. Religious Interest Group, Douglas Hunt, Church Center for Sustainable Communities/United Church of Christ, 1820 Sanford Road, Wheaton MD 20902-4008, phone & fax: 301-593-4724. Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Concerns, Dr. Asha Mohammed, Advocates for Youth, 1025 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005 (202) 347-5700. Men's Roles and Responsibilities, Nick Danforth, Association for Voluntary Surgical Contraception, 79 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 (212) 561-8000. People Sustaining People: a group of people of color who are working to influence U.S. and international population policies, Sarah Moten, National Council of Negro Women, 1667 K St., NW, Washington, DC 20006 (202) 659-0006. Environment, Lisanne Nelson, National Audubon Society, 666 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20003 (202) 547-9009. Thank you and see you soon, The Coordinating Committee for the U.S. Network for Cairo 1994 Clarification: Travel tips supplied with the last Network mailing should not be regarded as authoritative. They were intended as an indicative guide on issues of concern to Network members traveling to Cairo. The U.S. Network would like to sincerely thank Sally Ethelston for drafting the tips.