TW10: Thematic Workshop on Governance, Civil Society Participation and Strengthening Partnerships for Chemicals and Waste Management and SAICM Implementation

19-21 June 2006, Geneva, Switzerland

Experiences gained by UNITAR as it has assisted countries with chemicals management capacity building projects suggest that issues of governance (“the how”) are as important as technical issues (“the what”) towards achieving successful and results-oriented capacity building. This major theme, and the clear link between governance and SAICM implementation, was highlighted by Achim Halpaap, Principal Co-ordinator of UNITAR’s Programmes in Chemicals, Waste and Environmental Governance at the UNITAR/IOMC Thematic Workshop on “Governance, Civil Society, Participation and Strengthening Partnerships for Chemicals and Waste Management and SAICM Implementation.” Over 100 persons from a wide and diverse range of governments, NGOs, industry groups, IGOs, labour organizations, and academia participated in the workshop. Sponsors and partners for the event included the Government of Switzerland, OPCW, and organizations collaborating in the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC).

The workshop also served as a major preparatory event for national SAICM pilot projects in four countries to be supported by UNITAR in 2006-2009 with resources from the Swiss Government. Workshop results and the final report will be placed on this webpage in due course. The opening remarks and presentations made at the workshop, as well as the written submissions provided in advance, are available via the links above.