Dr. Klaus Toepfer, former Executive Director of the United Nations Environmental Programme, opened the three-day workshop in Geneva today with an address on "Perspectives on Governance, Civil Society Participation and Partnerships for National SAICM Implementation". The "Thematic Workshop on Governance, Civil Society Participation and Strengthening Partnerships for Chemicals and Waste Management and SAICM Implementation" will serve as an important preparatory activity for country pilot projects linked to Strategic Approach International Chemicals Management (SAICM) implementation.
The Workshop was organized by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
Mr. Jeremy Wates, the secretary of the UNECE Aarhus Convention, addressed the opening panel of the Workshop on the linkages between SAICM and the Aarhus Convention and its Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers. For Member States of the treaty, SAICM national implementation processes would be subject to the public participation requirements of article 7 of the Convention, according to Mr. Wates. Countries that are not Parties to the Convention could use Aarhus as a model for involving the public in national chemical management programmes and plans.
In comments following the session, Mr. Achim Halpaap, UNITAR's Principal Programme Coordinator, also emphasized the synergies between the Aarhus Convention and SAICM national implementation. "SAICM provides countries with an opportunity to demonstrate Aarhus [Convention] priniciples on the ground," he said.
Four SAICM country pilot projects are scheduled to commence in September 2006, through funding provided by the Government of Switzerland. Forty-two countries had submitted applications for support at the time of the deadline for the first round of support last May. One award each will be made to projects in Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia and the Pacific regions. Projects that do not receive support in the first round may be resubmitted or compete for SIACM Quick Start Programme funds. The deadline for Quick Start applications is 18 August 2006.
