Assisting parties to protect human health and the environment
March / April 2018 - No. 19
Welcome
Dear Readers,
There is lots to read concerning the push for sound management of chemicals and waste, including a focus on gender and new call for BRS Gender Heroes, new and strengthened Basel Convention partnerships, calls for Stockholm Convention technical information, a new Rotterdam Convention publication and much more besides. #Detox!
The BRS Executive Secretary, Rolph Payet met with the Secretary General Houlin Zhao to discuss enhanced cooperation between the two organisations to tackle areas of joint concern such as E-waste from used IT equipment.
In order to exchange information and to manage hazardous chemicals and pesticides in a life-cycle approach it is important that all stakeholders are involved. Depending on the country, these stakeholders might vary.
Rotterdam Convention Parties in West Africa’s Sahelian region are working together to protect human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals.
Additional information invited from Parties and other stakeholders by 20 April 2018 to assist ongoing process for the assessment of continued need for PFOS.
Three-quarters of the BRS Science and Technical Assistance Branch are female, adding their voices to the international day of Women and Girls in Science, 11 February.
The BRS Secretariat invites Parties and stakeholders to submit stories highlighting innovative or inspiring examples of gender mainstreaming for sound management of chemicals and waste.
The new members of the Chemical Review Committee meet for an orientation workshop in Rome, 16 to 18 April, ahead of commencing their terms of office on 1 May.
BRS, together with UN Environment, the ILO and the ITU amongst others, is part of a new coalition of UN organisations formed at the recent WSIS2018 Forum to achieve a shared goal of tackling the ever-growing issue of electronic waste.
Visit or follow the @brsmeas twitter account to view a series of powerful photos demonstrating the impacts of chemicals and waste on nature and wildlife.
