Summary of the project “Toxic Metals in Children’s Products” and International Conference on “Heavy Metals in Child Toys”

17-18 December 2012, Yerevan, Armenia The project “Toxic Metals in Children’s Products” started on September 2012 in the six countries of the Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA) with participation of the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN), “Eco-Accord” NGO, Global Green Grants Foundation (GGF), and GRID – Arendal. As part of the project from November 27 to December 9…

The Ninth Meeting of The Steering Committee of The National Water Policy Dialogue on IWRM in Armenia

12 December 2012, Yerevan, Armenia – The ninth meeting of the Steering Committee (SC) of the National Policy Dialogue (NPD) on Integrated Water Resources Management brought together over 50 representatives of governmental institutions, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders to discuss key water issues in Armenia. The meeting was organized in cooperation with the Agency of Water Resources Management…

Press Release: Toxic Metals in Children’s Products

11 December 2012, c. Yerevan Control over the children’s products is directly related to the child’s health. In a number of countries there is stable growth tendency in diseases among children and adolescents, one reason of which is the chemicalization of the industry, including the branches of industry manufacturing children’s products. In 2012 the 6 member organizations of the International…

AWHHE participates in IPEN General Assembly (Petrópolis) and Toxics-Free Future Forum (Rio de Janeiro) in Brazil, from 7 – 11 June, 2012, as well as Rio + 20 meetings, from 12- 18 June, 2012

The IPEN General Assembly was held on 07-10 of June in Petrópolis, Brazil just prior the Rio+20 summit. Main topics discussed during the GA were: Update & POP COP6, Beyond POPs & the 2020 Goal, Heavy Metals & Communications Training, Rio+20; Coalition Building; SGP. AWHHE representative Lusine Nalbandyan had a speech on POPs Policy Updates – National Success Stories –…

Global Webinar on New Findings on Mercury Exposure and Contamination

On the 4th December 2012, the Zero Mercury Working Group, in cooperation with scientists from the Biodiversity Research Institute and with other prominent scientists, is organizing a global webinar to release new findings that demonstrate extensive mercury contamination of seafood and to summarize recent studies that show health effects from methylmercury occurring below the level that was considered “safe” just a few years ago. Scientists will highlight new research and explain why current government “safety limits” should be strengthened worldwide.

2012 – “Raising awareness about the UNECE Water Convention and its Protocol on Water and Health and strengthening the role of the civil society organizations in their promotion and implementation”

The public and NGOs have a vital role to play in the development, implementation and support of the Water Convention and the Protocol. It is recognized in the Article 5(i) of the Protocol:  “Access to information and public participation in decision-making concerning water and health are needed, inter alia, in order to enhance the quality and the implementation of the…

What happened at ICCM3

Joe DiGangi, IPEN September 2012 The 3rd International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM3) took place from 16 – 21 September in Nairobi, Kenya. ICCM3 met to assess progress on implementation of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM); review and consider emerging policy issues; decide on a health sector strategy; and to make plans to reach its 2020 goal….

Third session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (17 – 21 September 2012, Nairobi, Kenya)

The third session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM 3) (http://www.saicm.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=82:iccm-3&catid=90:iccm-3&Itemid=473) gathered Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in Nairobi, Kenya, from 17 to 21 September 2012. ICCM3 has marked a major milestone in the implementation of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) (http://www.saicm.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=71&Itemid=473 ) since its adoption in 2006. For the first time, the Conference…

AWHHE Participates in Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC4) on Mercury, Punta del Este, Uruguay, 27 June to 2 July 2012

The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to prepare a global legally binding instrument on Mercury (INC4) was held in Punta del Este, Uruguay, from 27 June to 2 July 2012. Organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), this was the fourth meeting in a series of six meetings to negotiate a global, binding treaty to control and end…

First meeting of the Task Force on Public Participation in Decision-making

06 – 08 June 2012 Geneva, Switzerland The First meeting of the Task Force on Public Participation in Decision-making (http://www.unece.org/index.php?id=29428) was organised as a joint workshop under the auspices of the Task Force on Public Participation in Decision-making of the Aarhus Convention and the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on Water and Health (PWH) (http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/env/documents/2000/wat/mp.wat.2000.1.e.pdf) to the UNECE…