Distr.
GENERAL

INTERNATIONAL TROPICALTIMBER COUNCIL

ITTC(LI)/1821 November 2015
Original: ENGLISH

FIFTY-FIRST SESSION
16 – 21 November 2015
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

DECISION 3(LI)
MATTERS RELATED TO ADMISSION OF OBSERVERSThe International Tropical Timber Council,
Recalling Decision 9(XXVIII) on ‘Enhancing Participation of Members of Civil Society in theRelevant Activities of the ITTO’, which invited the establishment of open-ended Advisory Groups tocontribute to the work of the Council and led to the formation of ITTO’s Trade Advisory Group (TAG)
and Civil Society Advisory Group (CSAG);
Further recalling Decision 3(L) on ‘Admission and Activities of Observers during Council
Sessions’, which established a working group to produce a report on improved procedures to beapplied in the admission of observers governing activities to be undertaken by them;Noting that the Council considered the background paper on the Admission, Rights andResponsibilities of Observers at Official Sessions and Side-events of the International Tropical TimberCouncil;
Noting further on a few occasions the Council was unable to reach consensus regarding theadmission of observers;
Recognizing the important role that observers play in bringing new issues, perspectives andconcerns regarding tropical forests to the attention of ITTO members to promote cooperation amongstakeholders;
Emphasizing its desire to maintain mutually positive and respectful relationships with allobservers;
Confirming its intention to ensure that sessions are transparent and that its work continues tobe disseminated to all stakeholders;
Decides to:
1. Request the Executive Director to amend the application form entitled Information relevantfor Admission to Sessions of the International Tropical Timber Council and AssociatedCommittees as “Observers” by including the following elements:
 Description on relevance of the applicants to the objectives of the ITTA, 2006; and Declaration of acceptance of the Guidelines as set out in the Annex.
2. Authorize the Executive Director to review applications for compliance with therequirements indicated above;
3. Request the Executive Director to publish the result of the initial review on the ITTO
website two weeks prior to Council Session; and4. Consider the admission of Observers in accordance with Article 16 of ITTA, 2006 taking
into consideration the initial review.
The Rules of Procedure shall apply.

ITTC(LI)/18Page 2

Annex
Guidelines for the Participation of Observers at Sessions of the International Tropical Timber Council

1.

Observers are responsible for the conduct of each of their representatives. Any behavior
not consistent with these guidelines may have an impact on the participation of theorganization and/or of the individual.

2.

No participant shall harass or threaten any other participant.

3.

Meetings opened to Members only should be closed to Observers.

4.

Posters, documents and any other materials may be displayed only at designatedlocations, and only with prior permission from the secretariat.

5.

The posting of notices for authorized events does not require prior permission from thesecretariat, provided that they are posted only in designated locations.

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