English - UNITAR

Introduction
This workshop will build on previous regional workshops on the Basel, Rotterdam and
Stockholm Conventions. These earlier events were designed to explain the objectives of the
three conventions, the obligations that they impose on Parties, and how they are meant to
work at the national level. The three conventions are clearly mutually supportive and
complementary and together provide a coherent framework for managing the life cycle of
chemicals.
Participants
The participants will include Government Focal Points for the three Conventions as well as representatives from
Ministries of Foreign Affairs or the equivalent. A representative of the Basel Convention Regional Centre in
Cairo will also be invited. The Executive Secretaries of the three Conventions as well as selected experts will give
presentations intended to stimulate working group discussions.
Objectives
The objectives of the workshop will be to discuss and exchange experiences on how to:
• Promote an integrated approach to implementing the three conventions at the
national and regional levels.
• Promote cooperation and coordination amongst convention focal points and identify
opportunities for developing pilot projects for the environmentally sound
management of hazardous chemicals and wastes.
• Identify options for supporting and enhancing cooperation and joint implementation
of the three conventions.
Approach
The organizers expect the workshop to be highly participatory and invite participants to take full
part in the discussions, both in plenary and in the working groups.
Documents
Doc 1 – Agenda
Doc 2 – Provisional list of participants
Doc 3 – Terms of Reference for Working Group I
Doc 4 – Terms of Reference for Working Group II
Doc 5 – Overview of ratification status of Middle Eastern and North African Countries
Doc 6 – The November 2002 Cotonou workshop – summary and conclusions
Doc 7 – The September 2003 Pretoria workshop – summary and conclusions
Doc 8 – The January 2004 Montevido workshop – summary and conclusions
Doc 9 – The April 2004 Riga (Latvia) workshop – summary and conclusions
19