I. INTRODUCTION

The fifth Regional Intergovernmental Conference on Ageing and the Rights of Older Persons in Latin America and the Caribbean will be held in hybrid format (in-person and virtual) at the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Santiago, from 13 to 15 December 2022.

II. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF COVID-19

The practical arrangements for holding the Meeting no longer have restrictions in the ECLAC premises, however, the provisions for entering Chile set forth below must be complied with.

It is recommended to maintain due personal care for the good of all.

Entry requirements to Chile for foreigners from September 1, 2022

Entry into force: September 1, 2022

• You can enter with a vaccination certificate delivered by the country where you were vaccinated plus your identity document.
• People not vaccinated must present a negative PCR with a maximum of 48 hours. from the departure to Chile.
• The up-to-date vaccination certificate will be equivalent to the Mobility Pass for non-resident foreign tourists.
• It is not mandatory to have Health Insurance, however, it is recommended to travel with one that has coverage for SARS CoV 2 (COVID19)
• The International Sanitary Passport (form C19) ceases to exist, it will no longer be necessary for any traveler.
• It is suggested to enter this link and find out about the requirements for entry and exit from Chile for Chileans and resident and non-resident foreigners. https://bit.ly/3DTNH33

Access to and movement within ECLAC headquarters

For admittance to ECLAC headquarters, all persons must confirm that they have not had symptoms of or been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the previous 14 days or have been in close contact with someone who has had symptoms of COVID-19 or has been diagnosed with COVID-19. Attendees who have travelled from other countries must comply with the local requirements for incoming travellers regarding COVID-19.

Personal protective equipment

Personal protection measures

It is a free choice for each attendee to wear their medical mask or chinstrap (surgical, FFP2, KN95 or equivalent).

All individuals are encouraged to frequently wash their hands with soap and water.

Reporting in case of illness

Attendees are strongly advised not to enter ECLAC premises if, at any time before or during the meeting, they present symptoms associated with COVID-19, including fever or body temperature above 37.5°C, or if they have been in contact with another person presenting such symptoms or in preventive isolation for such symptoms in the 14 days prior to the meeting. If an attendee develops symptoms while at ECLAC, he/she should immediately leave the premises, isolate and seek medical care, and report the situation to the ECLAC medical service as outlined in the paragraph below.

Attendees who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or who develop symptoms of COVID-19 after attending an event at the ECLAC complex are urged to immediately notify the medical service by telephone (+56 2 2210 2333) or by email (servicio.medico@cepal.org) to facilitate contact tracing.

III. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF COVID-19

1. General information on Chile

Geographical location: Chile is located in the extreme south-west of South America. Its capital city is Santiago, and the country has a total population of about 17 million. Chile lies between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes mountains, and its long, thin territory is divided into 16 administrative regions.

The capital: Santiago is the capital of the Republic of Chile and is home to six million inhabitants. It has a Mediterranean climate and well-defined seasons, with rainy winters with temperatures as low as 0ºC (from May to September) and dry summers, when daytime temperatures hover around 30ºC (from November to March). Relative humidity is low, and evenings are cool.

            Visitors are advised to drink bottled water, since tap water, although safe to drink, may not agree with those not accustomed to it.

            As in all big cities, for safety reasons it is advisable to avoid wearing expensive jewellery and to be careful with handbags and briefcases.

Useful information

• LOCAL CURRENCY: The national currency is the Chilean peso ($). The exchange rate is approximately 900 pesos to the dollar (November 2022).
• LOCAL TIME: UTC/GMT -4 hours (at the date of the meeting).
• ELECTRICITY: 220 volts, 50 Hertz (AC).

2. Meeting venue

The fifth Regional Intergovernmental Conference on Ageing and the Rights of Older Persons in Latin America and the Caribbean will take place, in hybrid format, in the Raúl Prebisch conference room at the headquarters of ECLAC, located at Av. Dag Hammarskjöld 3477, Vitacura, Santiago.

3. Meeting coordination

The meeting will be organized by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

Questions on substantive and operational matters related to the meetings may be addressed to the following ECLAC officers:

• Simone Cecchini, Chief, Latin American and Caribbean Demographic Centre (CELADE)-Population Division of ECLAC
  (+56) 2 2210 2549 - CELADE-CRPD@cepal.org  
• Luis Fidel Yáñez, Secretary of the Commission, 
  (+56) 2 2210 2275 - luis.yanez@un.org; secretariadelacomision@cepal.org
• Guillermo Acuña, Legal Counsel and Chief of Protocol, Office of the Executive Secretary
  (+56) 2 2210 2488 - guillermo.acuna@un.org
• Zulma Sosa Regional Advisor on Population and Development CELADE-Population Division
  (+56) 2 2210 2211 - sulma.sosa@un.org
• Luis Flores, Office of the Secretary of the Commission (for queries related to civil society participation)
  (+56) 2 2210 2084 - luis.flores@un.org
• María Eugenia Johnson, Supervisor, Conference Services Unit (for logistical queries)
  (+56) 2 2210 2667 - mariaeugenia.johnson@un.org
• María Eugenia Barozzi, Protocol Assistant, Office of the Secretary of the Commission
  (+56) 2 2210 2520 - mariaeugenia.barozzi@un.org
• María Ester Novoa, Administrative Assistant, CELADE- Population Division of ECLAC (for queries related to operational aspects)
  (+56) 2 2210 2726 - mariaester.novoa@un.org

4. Hotel reservations

The ECLAC Conference Services Unit has reserved a limited number of rooms with special rates for ECLAC at the following hotels located close to the headquarters:

• Hotel Director Vitacura (****), Av. Vitacura 3600, Vitacura. 
  Tel: (+56) 2 2389 1956
  Single room: US$ 100 (includes breakfast and Internet)
  Attn: María Eliana Puga, Reservations Department
  Email: reservas@director.cl and reservaciones@director.cl
   
• Hotel Pullman Santiago Vitacura (****), Av. Vitacura 3201, Vitacura. 
  Tel: (+56) 2 2944 7800
  Superior single room: US$ 112 (includes breakfast and Internet)
  Superior double room: US$ 122 (includes breakfast and Internet)
  Attn: Francisco Pereira, Reservations Department
  Email: Francisco.PEREIRAVASQUEZ@accor.com
   
• Hotel NH Collection Casacostanera (****), Av. Nueva Costanera 3900, Vitacura. 
  Tel: (+56) 2 2433 9000
  Single room: US$ 115 (includes breakfast)
  Attn: Fabiola Rivera Lagos, Reservations Department
  Email: fa.rivera@nh-hotels.com and nhcollectioncasacostanera@nh-hotels.com
   
• Hotel Bidasoa (****), Av. Vitacura 4873, Vitacura. 
  Tel: (+56) 2 2602 3900
  Single room: US$ 130 (includes breakfast and Internet)
  Attn: María Paz Vacarezza, Sales Executive
  Email: mvacarezza@hotelbidasoa.cl and reservas@hotelbidasoa.cl
   
• Hotel Noi (*****), Av. Nueva Costanera 3736, Vitacura. 
  Tel: (+56) 2 2941 8100
  Deluxe single room: US$ 135 (includes breakfast and Internet)
  Attn: Meena Vaswani, Reservations Department
  Email: meena.vaswani@noihotels.com

These rates do not include value added tax (VAT) of 19%. Visitors paying in dollars or with international credit cards are exempt from VAT.

To maintain the special ECLAC rate, hotel reservations must be requested personally, not through agencies or other means. Delegates are responsible for their own reservations. You are advised to check that the hotel has processed your reservation and to request a reservation number or confirmation code.

The hotel requires your flight number and date of arrival in and departure from Chile, as well as credit card details, in order to secure the reservation. Please complete the attached reservation form, with all the required details, in full.

5. Visa and entry requirements for Chile

Participants must be in possession of a passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry into Chile.

Delegates from countries whose citizens require a visa to enter Chile should apply for one in advance at their nearest Chilean embassy or consulate.

To find out whether you require a visa, go to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile (https://chileabroad.gov.cl/consulados) and click on the country of your nationality.

6. Transport from the airport to Santiago

Taxis may be used for transfer from the airport to the city. Travellers are advised to use the firms Taxi Oficial or Transvip, which are located at the airport; fares to the city vary between US$ 40 and US$ 45 depending on the destination.

7. Registration

Participants must register online through the meeting website (https://conferenciaenvejecimiento.cepal.org) which will be available from 14 november to 15 december. Online registration does not exempt delegations from the requirement to send an official note from governments indicating the name of the head of delegation and all accompanying members.

Once online registration is complete, the accreditation system will send a confirmation letter that must be presented along with participants’ identification documents when they pick up their credentials.

Participants will be able to pick up their credentials as of Tuesday, 13 december from 8 a.m. at the main entrance to ECLAC headquarters (Av. Dag Hammarskjöld 3477, Vitacura) upon presentation of the registration confirmation email. Participants will receive an identification badge which, for security purposes, must be kept visible and shown at all meetings. Participants must collect their badges in person and must present identification for this purpose.

United Nations agency staff are not required to register online and may enter meetings with their existing United Nations credentials, which must be validated for this purpose by sending a photocopy of both sides of the credential to the following e-mail addresses: ricardo.freitas@un.org and eduardo.barahona@un.org.

Participants are advised to arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of meetings in order to complete the accreditation process and United Nations security protocols.

 For any further information on participant accreditation, please contact María Eugenia Barozzi (mariaeugenia.barozzi@un.org, (+56) 2 2210 2520) or María Ester Novoa (mariaester.novoa@un.org, (+56) 2 2210 2726).

8. Opening session

The Fifth Regional Intergovernmental Conference on Ageing and the Rights of Older Persons in Latin America and the Caribbean will open on Tuesday, December 13, at 2:30 p.m. (Chile time, UTC -4).

9. Internet

Delegates will have access to a wireless Internet connection (Wi-Fi) in the conference rooms and in open areas.

10. Languages

The official language of the meeting will be Spanish. Simultaneous interpretation into English and French will be provided. Sign language interpretation will also be provided.

11. Documents

This will be a paper-smart meeting. All official documents and statements will be made available to read or download at the website http://crpd.cepal.org. Participants are advised to bring their laptop computer, tablet or other mobile device to the meeting, since only a limited number of printed documents will be available.

12. Facilities and services at ECLAC

• Bank: There is a branch of Banco de Chile in the basement of the ECLAC building. It is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Foreign currency may be exchanged from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
• Meals: ECLAC has a cafeteria and a canteen, which are open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Participants must pay directly for their own consumption at these facilities.
• Medical services: The ECLAC Medical Service (office number Z-210, ext. 2333) will be available to participants for first aid only. It is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2.30 p.m. to 6 p.m.