Information for participants

Thirteenth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention, Geneva, 21 to 23 February 2023

1. Dates and meeting venue

The thirteenth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (OEWG-13) will be held on 21 to 23 February 2023 at the following venue:

Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG)
17, rue de Varembé
CH-1211 Geneva 20
Switzerland
Tel.: + 41 (0) 22 791 91 11
Fax: + 41 (0) 22 791 90 64
Internet: www.cicg.ch

The meeting will open at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 21 February 2023. On-site registration for participants will be opened from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, 20 February 2023, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, 21 February 2023 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the remaining days of the meeting.

2. Working language

The working language of the meeting will be English.

3. Rules for entry into Switzerland

Before your travel to Switzerland, we highly recommend that you consult the online Travelcheck (https://travelcheck.admin.ch/home) to verify the requirements that may apply to you when entering Switzerland.

4. Safety and health measures at the meeting venue

Party and observers are requested to follow strict hand hygiene measures.

If you develop any cold- or flu-like symptoms, it is essential that you do not come to the meeting venue, but inform the Secretariat. You will be provided with an access code to attend the meeting online, until you have taken an official antigen or PCR COVID-19 test.

If you develop cold- or flu-like symptoms while in the premises, you should request assistance from the Secretariat or the UN Safety and Security Service (112 from any fixed line phone on the premises). The Secretariat contact is Ms. Maria Cristina Cardenas-Fischer (Phone: +41 79 477 0886 (also on WhatsApp or Signal); Email: maria-cristina.cardenas@un.org.

The Secretariat strongly recommends that all participants in the meeting be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

5. Accommodation

It is the responsibility of participants to make their own arrangements for accommodation. A list of hotels offering preferential rates to the United Nations is available for your convenience.

6. Medical and travel insurance

The United Nations does not cover life or medical insurance for participants. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the participants or of their Governments or organizations to obtain adequate insurance prior to travel to Switzeland.

We recommend including COVID-19 related insurance to help cover your expenses in case you will be required to quarantine and/or receive medical treatment. The Secretariat would not be in position to bear the costs of quarantine in Switzerland nor in the travellers’ home countries upon return, nor the costs of testing, nor be able to arrange for vaccination of participants.

7. Local transportation and security

The international airport (Geneva Cointrin) is about 3km from the International Environment House II, a journey of approximately 6 minutes by taxi.

Public transport in Geneva is fast, frequent, safe and clean. Bus number 10 links the airport to downtown Geneva, with connections approximately every eight minutes. Travellers staying in a hotel in Geneva can receive a « Geneva Transport Card » from the establishment. This card allows free use of public transport in Geneva (zone 10) during their stay.

Taxis are easily available and safe, but comparatively expensive. If you need a taxi, call +41 22 320 22 02 or +41 22 331 41 33.

8. Paperless meeting

The meeting will be paperless and printed documents will not be available at the meeting. Members are kindly requested to bring their own laptops.

To facilitate the paperless nature of the meeting, participants are requested to ensure the following:

  • Each participant should bring a laptop computer containing basic applications, including Microsoft Office Word, Excel and PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat Reader and updated antivirus software;
  • Laptops should be pre-checked for viruses and confirmed as virus-free prior to arrival at the meetings. Virus free laptops are crucial to the success of a paperless meeting;
  • Participants should bring a memory stick that has been pre-checked for viruses for the purpose of transferring documents;
  • Laptops should be configured for a standard wireless (Wi-Fi) connection. If in doubt, please check with your local information technology expert;
  • Participants should bring an appropriate adaptor to enable laptops to be connected to Swiss power sockets;
  • Participants should inform the Secretariat of any change of their current e-mail address, so that they can be sent correspondence relating to the meeting.

9. Currency

Swiss franc (CHF). Average exchange rates: 1 US dollar = 0,96 CHF / 1 Euro = 0,963 CHF.

10. Electricity

Voltage: 230 volts
Frequency: 50 Hz
Plug/socket: C (CEE 7/16) , J

C (CEE 7/16)- photo Wikimedia Commons plug J - photo Wikimedia Commons

11. Other useful information

Geneva International Airport (http://www.gva.ch/en/desktopdefault.aspx)
Information to travel free on public transport during your stay in Geneva (https://www.gva.ch/en/Site/Passagers/Acces-Transports/Transports-publics-aeroport/Bus-urbains-Geneve)
Map of Geneva with search function (http://www.ville-geneve.ch/plan-ville/)
Geneva Tourism (https://www.geneve.com/en/)