Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) Global Outreach Campaign Update
The concept of the SAICM Global Outreach Campaign was first introduced at the 2006 IPEN General Assembly, but it was not until late 2007 that we were able to secure initial funding to start campaign development and coordinate the Outreach Planning Committee for this campaign. This Committee consists of representatives from the following international NGO networks who are registered as SAICM Focal Points: Health Care Without Harm (HCWH); the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN); International Society of Doctors for the Environment, (ISDE); Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF); and the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA).
The Outreach Planning Committee met in person for the first time in Toronto, Ontario in late January. All Planning Committee member representatives attended, and were able to confirm the campaign objectives and implementation plan. The overall campaign objectives are:
Campaign Elements:
Common Statement
The Campaign will consist of a Common Statement, which will be used as an outreach tool and as a framework for educating NGOs and CSOs about SAICM, and which will help expand the numbers, spread and types of NGOs globally engaged in chemical safety activities. This Statement will be translated into all 6 UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) for broad distribution and use. The Common Statement and the translations currently available are at the bottom of this announcement.
Educational Material
The Committee also agreed to develop complementary campaign educational materials. It was agreed that the audience for these materials
are the leaders and constituents of the NGOs and CSOs who will be targeted for outreach activities. It was further agreed that the
educational materials will be composed of a series of short pamphlets on different relevant topics, in a common format and common
editorial style. These will be produced and disseminated in all six UN languages. Additionally, as possible, corresponding PowerPoint
Presentations will be produced.
The following is a list of desired topics for the educational materials. The listing represents the
priority that will be given to the order of their production:
1. SAICM Introduction;
2. Chemicals and Health;
3. Legislative and Regulatory Reform;
4. Pesticides;
5. Toxic Metals;
6. POPs; and
7. Chemicals and Wastes.
It was discussed and agreed that the SAICM Outreach Campaign should be implemented in ways that are complementary to and synergistic with the priorities and objectives of the ongoing work of the participating networks. The topics to be addressed by the educational materials above were also considered to be themes that outreach activities might utilize, understanding that a different set of materials may be used by different networks and in approaches to different constituencies.
Next Steps :
The IPEN Secretariat will keep the Network informed of how to engage and participate in the Global Outreach Campaign, once materials are prepared and available.
If you have any questions about the Campaign and/or if you are with a non-profit, civil society organization and your organization would like to endorse the Common Statement, please do not hesitate to contact the IPEN Secretariat at (ipen@ipen.org).
Version: 2.0 (March 2, 2007)