Regional awareness raising workshop on enhancing cooperation and coordination

Since 2006, Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions have supported the enhancement of synergies and linkages among the three multilateral environmental agreements in specific areas where common issues arise. In this regard, the Conferences of the Parties (COP) to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions adopted a series of decisions that led in 2008-2009 to the adoption of a set of recommendations to promote cooperation and collaboration among the three conventions at the national, regional and international level (Basel Convention decision IX/10, Rotterdam Convention decision RC-4/11, Stockholm Convention decision SC-4/34). As part of the implementation of those recommendations, the simultaneous extraordinary meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the three Conventions (ex-COPs) are scheduled to take place on 22-23 February 2010 back-to-back with the 11th special session of the UNEP Governing Council.
This workshop is part of a series of regional Synergies workshops to be held in Asia, CEE, Central America and the Caribbean, French-speaking Africa, and the Middle East.

The workshop aimed at offering a holistic approach to the implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. A strong emphasis was put on the implementation of the Conventions at national and regional level in order to share good practices of coordination which facilitate joint-implementation. The workshop also provided training on the use of the Guidance on resource mobilisation in the field of chemicals and hazardous wastes. In addition the workshop addressed legal considerations for the development of an appropriate national legal framework towards a joint implementation of the Conventions.

• Participants became aware of the process under way to further promote cooperation and coordination among the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions and its possible implications at the regional and national levels;
• Participants have a better understanding of the status of implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions in the region as well as the national priorities identified by Parties to fulfill their obligations;
• Participants shared information and experience on existing coordination mechanisms at national level as well as identify the areas where further coordination might be required;
• Participants received guidance in relation to resource mobilisation strategies for the implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions;
• Participants strengthened their capacities to adopt and implement legal frameworks, including legislation, to regulate chemicals, hazardous and other wastes in compliance with international obligations under the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions by Parties to those Conventions.

The awareness raising workshop targeted official contact points; including Basel Convention’s Focal Points, Rotterdam Convention’s Designated National Authorities and Stockholm Conventions’ Official Contact Points from the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico.