ICAO will hold the Eighth Symposium and Exhibition on MRTDs, Biometrics and Security Standards on 10 to 12 October 2012. A select group of Industry Partners will complement the Symposium, displaying a broad range of products and services related to MRTDs, biometric identification, travel document security applications and border inspection systems.
The 2012 Symposium follows last year's successful event, attended by over 500 participants from States, international organizations, companies and other institutions. As usual, it will take place at ICAO Headquarters, 999 University Street, Montréal, Quebec, Canada. The Symposium programme will be posted on this website as soon as it becomes available and will be continually updated.
The presentations and handouts will be available only in English. Simultaneous interpretation will be available in English, French, Spanish and Russian.
This important annual event will address ICAO MRTD standards and specifications, identity management best practices and related border security issues. In addition, the 2012 Symposium will focus on the humanitarian dimension. The programme will explore global humanitarian assistance efforts where reliable identification and issuance of travel documents play an important role in post-disaster or post-conflict rehabilitation. A number of case studies will be presented by relief organisations and international aid programmes, with reference to identity management and travel documents. This session also builds on the MRTD programme’s ongoing cooperation with UNHCR addressing the needs of refugees and stateless persons.
In anticipation of the 2013 ICAO Assembly, the Symposium will have a dedicated session on ICAO policy making and consultative procedures. The ICAO Secretariat will explain to government agencies how to ensure that they effectively communicate their views and priorities on travel document and border control issues, to make the voices heard and taken into account in the ICAO policy making process. In particular, this session will address the 2013 Assembly work items related to travel documents and border controls, and explore the role of national ICAO points of contact (DGCAs).
For details please see the Programme link above.
