1 May 2013, Geneva, Switzerland - The three conventions* that govern chemicals COPs 2013and hazardous waste safety at the global level will, for the first time, convene jointly in a meeting of the parties in Geneva from 28 April to 10 May 2013. Nearly two thousand participants from more than 160 countries will attend the two-week long meeting. The objective of the "Ordinary and extraordinary meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions” is to strengthen the implementation of the three conventions at the national, regional, and global levels, promote coherent policy guidance, and enhance efficiency in the provision of support to parties.

UNITAR is contributing through participation in 3 events:

  • Presenting the training and promotion elements of a project for the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC)  “Toolbox for Decision Making in Chemicals Management  
  • Presenting the UNITAR contribution to the revised guidance for National Implementation Plans for the Stockholm Convention, in collaboration with the Convention Secretariat and UNIDO
  • In collaboration with UNEP IETC (International Environmental Technology Center), presenting the results of the project to develop guidelines for national waste management strategies

* The Basel Convention regulates the export/import of hazardous waste; the Rotterdam Convention regulates information about the export/import of hazardous chemicals; and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants currently regulates 22 toxic substances that are persistent, travel long distances, bioaccumulate in organisms and are toxic.

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