Tips for Effective Advocacy During Meetings with Delegates

DO:

• Grab a buddy if you feel you need some assistance or support. Try to identify experienced NGO representatives on your issue.
• Know that access to delegates is generally available in the mornings, during lunch, after sessions when the delegates can be found in the hallway and in their missions. It is also advisable to make appointments to meet at the missions or arrange to have coffee or lunch. Key places for meetings at the UN are the Vienna Café, the Delegates Lounge, the Delegates Dining Room, corridors, back of meeting rooms.
• Study the faces of the delegates so that you know who is representing which country, particularly your country, countries in your region, or key policy makers on the issue. See if you can get pictures in advance, from a mission website, for instance.
• Introduce yourself and perhaps give them something: a position paper or some kind of gift, if appropriate. Always give a business card (bring a lot with you).
• Coordinate lobbying in blocks such as the Non-Aligned Movement or the European Union.
• Utilize position papers, either from your NGO or from NGOs you work with, in discussions with delegates. Follow up by sending the paper to the capital.
• Ask for country information or policy papers from delegates.
• Prepare questions beforehand if possible with a view to what outcomes you’d like to achieve. Find out what was said the day before to be as fully informed as possible.
• Make informal contacts with delegates if possible while remaining professional.
• Provide draft text in any specific lobbying documents if required that/or offer the capacity to produce draft text
• Follow up with any requests you receive from delegates or offers you make.

DON’T:

• Get angry with delegates.
• Interrupt another person while they are in conversation with delegates unless it is clear they have signaled you to join in the conversation.
• Be seen to take documents from a delegate’s desk; find subtle ways to remove documents
• Insult security guards because they can make life hell!
• Use computers in front of the room; those are specifically for delegates. Public computers are available at the DPI NGO Resource Centre, which is located in the basement by the library.