Finish the Job: Ban Lead Paint to Protect Children’s Health
IPEN Participating Organizations (POs), particularly in low- and middle-income countries, will hold a variety of activities to drum up public awareness and action on lead toxicity with emphasis on accelerating the adoption and/or implementation of mandatory lead paint control instruments towards the elimination of all lead-containing paints, a major source of lead exposure among children and other vulnerable populations.
Complementing the global theme “Bright Futures Begin Lead Free,” IPEN’s campaign activities will rally concerned duty-bearers and rights-holders to “Finish the Job: Ban Lead Paint to Protect Children’s Health” to hammer home the urgency of completing the still unfulfilled goal of banning the manufacture, import, export, distribution, sale and use of paints containing lead additives in all countries.
Though binding regulatory controls banning lead in paints have been enacted in a number of countries, many governments have yet to promulgate mandatory lead paint regulations and lead paints – decorative, industrial and other paint types – continue to be widely produced, traded and sold. With the adoption last year of the Global Framework on Chemicals – For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste, IPEN seeks renewed commitment among government, industry, and civil society stakeholders, including funding partners, to work together to eliminate lead in paints, an important and widespread source of childhood lead exposure, once and for all.
IPEN has been working on the ground and globally to end the use of lead paint. We:
- Work with and support our members, local and national public interest groups, who lead the efforts in their countries to end the use of lead in paint. Leadership at the country and regional level ensures a long-term commitment to the work.
- Create original research and data demonstrating ongoing production and sales of lead paint that is often the only information of its kind in the regions where we work in.
- Support our members’ local outreach, educational, and advocacy activities.
- Advocate for policies to ban lead paint in local, national, and global policy arenas.
IPEN has:
- Conducted more than 100 studies analyzing the lead content of more than 5,000 paints sold in 59 countries.
- Successfully advocated for lead paint bans or restrictions adopted in more than 30 countries, with regulations in development in several more.
- Co-created a globally recognized Lead Safe Paint® Certification program.
- Helped initiate and has served from the outset as lead civil society representative to the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint and conducted hundreds of locally led outreach, advocacy, and educational activities during the annual International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (ILPPW).
- Worked with POs and government counterparts in some countries to advocate for the listing of lead chromates—the most commonly used lead pigments in paint manufacturing—as hazardous chemicals under the Rotterdam Convention, which encouraged the Governments of Cameroon and Morocco to submit Lead Chromate Notifications to the Secretariat of the Rotterdam Convention.
For the ILPPW 2024, IPEN POs will undertake the following activities, some of which are supported by IPEN, the Lead Exposure Elimination Project (LEEP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners.
SOUTHEAST AND EAST ASIA
China. The Toxics-Free Corps/Shenzhen Zero Waste will conduct two face-to-face activities: 1) XRF testing service at a farmers' market, and 2) a lecture on the hazards of lead at the Autism Rehabilitation Center in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province. It will also publish an article on how to avoid lead exposure and reduce harm, and submit a policy proposal on standards for lead in paint which are currently under review.
Indonesia. Nexus3 Foundation will take steps to strengthen coordination among stakeholders, especially the government, industry, and consumers, to encourage an immediate ban on the use of lead in paint to protect the future of some 30.2 million Indonesian children against the harmful effects of lead exposure. This will be in line with the event title “The Bright Future of Indonesian Children Begins Without Lead.” Nexus3 will hold a media briefing to inform the public about the causes and symptoms of lead poisoning and how to prevent it. In addition to the distribution of educational materials in multiple languages, the group will utilize its social media platforms to share information, organize online discussions, and encourage people to share their stories.
Indonesia. The Yayasan Gita Pertiwi (GP) will join the online public discussion about the hazards of lead in paint and the need to address this preventable source of lead exposure together with the Nexus3 Foundation, Yayasan Lembaga Konsumen Indonesia (YLKI) and other panelists.
Indonesia. The Center for Regulation, Policy and Governance (CRPG) will participate in a virtual discussion on the dangers of lead and the need for Indonesia to adopt necessary control measures on the use of lead, especially in paint products.
Indonesia. The Yayasan Kepedulian untuk Anak (Yayasan KAKAK) will share information about lead exposure and lead poisoning prevention through the social media.
Indonesia. The Yayasan Lembaga Konsumen Indonesia (YLKI) will take part in an online conversation on the effects of lead exposure and the need for regulatory action, particularly on lead in paint.
Malaysia. The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) will organize a press conference to announce the results of the analysis of lead content in spices and children’s products. At the press conference, the group will display the samples containing lead and put up posters and placards specifically produced to highlight the dangers of lead. Media representatives and other attendees will be provided with copies of the CAP booklet "Lead and Ill Health." The event and other communication materials on the subject will be publicized through CAP’s website and social media platforms. Aside from releasing the data and raising awareness about lead toxicity, CAP will advocate for a lead paint law and for enforcement of lead content limit in food, in addition to stricter standards.
Malaysia. The Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Friends of the Earth Malaysia) will utilize the social media to increase citizens’ awareness about the various sources of lead exposure.
Philippines. The Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) will raise public awareness through social media about lead poisoning prevention, specifically the need to speed up and complete the global phase-out of all lead-containing paints, to protect vulnerable populations, children, women, and workers in particular, against the adverse impacts of lead exposure. Further, IDIS will conduct a mural painting activity with children and students in one public school to engage children, teachers, and parents in the call for a lead-safe and lead-free future.
Philippines. The EcoWaste Coalition will co-release with IPEN and the Philippine Paint & Coatings Association, Inc. (PPCAI) an unprecedented public notice to inform and warn paint retailers and consumers on non-compliant paints containing lead above the legal limit of 90 ppm to protect human health, the health of children and other vulnerable sectors in particular. The group will also draw attention to the urgent need to enforce the lead paint standard in consumer products such as reusable water bottles and tumblers. Prior and during the Week of Action, the group will disseminate IPEN’s social media cards on lead paint and lead poisoning prevention. It will reach out to government agencies and commercial establishments to appeal for the immediate removal of lead tainted products from the market, including online shopping platforms.
Philippines. As part of BAN Toxics' initiative to raise awareness on toxic chemicals, a public event to promote lead-free kids, schools and communities will take place during ILPPW 2024. In commemoration of the United Nations Day, more than 100 school kids dressed in national costumes of member states will parade to raise the concern on lead exposure in children’s products and push for lead-safe policies in school and communities. Series of activities includes consumer product screening i.e., toys and other children’s products for lead and publishing results to promote lead poisoning prevention and product safety.
Thailand. The Ecological Alert and Recovery – Thailand (EARTH), a member of IPEN, will raise public awareness through the social media about lead poisoning prevention, specifically the need to speed up and complete the global phase-out of all lead-containing paints, in order to protect vulnerable populations, children, women and workers in particular, against the adverse impacts of lead exposure.
Vietnam. The Research Centre for Gender, Family and Environment in Development (CGFED), a member of IPEN, will raise public awareness through social media about lead poisoning prevention, specifically the need to speed up and complete the global phase-out of all lead-containing paints, to protect vulnerable populations, children, women and workers in particular, against the adverse impacts of lead exposure.
SOUTH ASIA
Bangladesh. The Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) will observe ILPPW 2024 with activities focused on raising awareness and advocating for stronger regulations on lead. Key events include a human chain in Dhaka with 100 volunteers, a media briefing to share research findings on lead content in children’s products, and a children’s art competition to highlight the dangers of childhood lead poisoning. A policy dialogue with stakeholders from government bodies and industries will push for a lead-level standard in industrial paints. Continuous social media and SMS campaigns will also run throughout the week to engage the public and promote lead poisoning prevention.
India. The Prithvi Innovations, a member of IPEN, will raise public awareness through the social media about lead poisoning prevention, specifically the need to speed up and complete the global phase-out of all lead-containing paints, in order to protect vulnerable populations, children, women and workers in particular, against the adverse impacts of lead exposure.
India. The Indian Society for Lead Awareness and Research (InSLAR), in collaboration with the Department of Biochemistry, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, is organizing “LEADCON 2024,” a conference with an objective to raise awareness about the dangers and potential health hazards of lead, prioritize best practices that will prevent lead exposure from any source, and organize a policy dialogue on this major health issue.
India. The Toxics Link will highlight existing regulatory gaps and reach out to a large number of consumers to make them aware of the hazards of using lead-safe paint. An article will be prepared in English and Hindi and get published in the mainstream newspaper. A lecture is planned in a prominent college of Delhi University. A social media campaign will be launched during the ILPPW to inform and engage the public, mostly youth.
India. The Paryavaran Mitra, a member of IPEN, will raise public awareness through the social media about lead poisoning prevention, specifically the need to speed up and complete the global phase-out of all lead-containing paints, in order to protect vulnerable populations, children, women and workers in particular, against the adverse impacts of lead exposure.
India. The Hamraah Foundation will participate in a USEPA-UNEP webinar about lead, its impacts, and actions that can be taken to reduce potential lead exposures and lead poisoning.
Nepal. The Center for Public Health and Environmental Development (CEPHED) will organize a number of activities in Kathmandu City and other parts of Nepal, including the production and distribution of customized information materials about lead and lead poisoning prevention; workshop on gaps in chemical safety policies; workshop on the effective implementation of the lead paint standard; monitoring of compliance to the lead paint standard by small- and medium-size enterprises, preparation of compliance monitoring report, and outreach to the government using the said report; a competition on news articles on lead toxicity among health and environment journalists; and an advocacy campaign to push for nomination of lead chromates as hazardous chemicals under the Rotterdam Convention.
Sri Lanka. The People to People Volunteers will organize three awareness-raising workshops on lead poisoning prevention targeting two communities and one school.
Sri Lanka. The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ), a member of IPEN, will raise public awareness through the social media about lead poisoning prevention, specifically the need to speed up and complete the global phase-out of all lead-containing paints, in order to protect vulnerable populations, children, women and workers in particular, against the adverse impacts of lead exposure.
EASTERN EUROPE, CAUCASUS, AND CENTRAL ASIA
Armenia: The Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment (AWHHE), a member of IPEN, will raise public awareness through social media about lead poisoning prevention, in particular the need to accelerate and complete the global phase-out of all lead paints to protect vulnerable populations, particularly children, women and workers, from the negative effects of lead exposure.
Azerbaijan. The Ruzgar Ecological Society will gather stakeholders for a meeting to discuss the development of a new legislation limiting lead in paint. Target participants include concerned parliamentarians, lawyers, health, environment and industry experts, civil society representatives, and the mass media. To assist with the deliberations, model legislative acts from other countries will be shared prior to the meeting. During the meeting, the positions of the participants will be discussed, and a resolution will be prepared for submission to the state organs.
Georgia. The Gamarjoba will organize an information campaign in the national language to identify and popularize the necessary recommendations to strengthen the technical regulation on lead paint in Georgia. Through this effort, the group hopes to draw attention of stakeholders, particularly the governmental authorities, paint manufacturers, retail chains, journalists and the public, about the need to effectively enforce the regulation in order to minimize the use of lead in paint and reduce lead paint hazards.
Kyrgyzstan. The Independent Environmental Review, a member of IPEN, will raise public awareness through social media about lead poisoning prevention, in particular the need to accelerate and complete the global phase-out of all lead paints to protect vulnerable populations, particularly children, women and workers, from the negative effects of lead exposure.
Kyrgyzstan. The Public Foundation Door Media will promote media literacy and combat disinformation in Kyrgyzstan regarding lead, its properties, dangers, and common sources. Information materials will raise awareness about the risks lead poses to health and the environment, offering practical advice on how to minimize exposure. The campaign will empower communities with knowledge, helping them make informed decisions and protect their families from potential harm caused by lead contamination.
Kyrgyzstan. The Public Association ECOIS-Bishkek, a member of IPEN, will raise public awareness through social media about lead poisoning prevention, specifically the need to speed up and complete the global phase-out of all lead-containing paints, to protect vulnerable populations, children, women and workers in particular, against the adverse impacts of lead exposure.
MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA
Egypt. The Alrowad Foundation for Projects and Development, a member of IPEN, will raise public awareness through social media about the prevention of lead poisoning, specifically the need to accelerate and complete the global phase-out of all lead-containing paints, in order to protect vulnerable groups, children, women and workers in particular, from the harmful effects of lead exposure.
Jordan. The Land and Human to Advocate Progress (LHAP) will reach out to the government, particularly the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Health, to bridge the gap between the two ministries and encourage them to agree on coming up with a national legislation on lead in paint. Community consultations will also be carried out with media coverage to further shed light on the issue of lead and its implications to children’s health. LHAP will also aim for a meeting with the paint industry to assess and evaluate the status of using alternatives to lead after the Royal Scientific Society (RSS) project which has worked with industry on alternatives. LHAP will also continue working with the Ministry of Environment regarding the listing of lead chromates in the Rotterdam Convention.
Jordan. The Jordan Environment Society (JES) will organize awareness campaign activities in Amman, Irbid, Jerash, Bani Kenaneh, and Ajloun targeting different sectors. The activities are expected to increase awareness about children’s vulnerability to lead exposure, the various sources of lead exposure, and steps to avoid exposure.
Morocco. The Moroccan Association for Health, Environment and Toxicovigilance (AMSETOX) will communicate with stakeholders to verify the extent to which the adopted lead paint standard is applied, and advocate for increased control of paints sold in Morocco. AMSETOX will further raise people’s awareness about the dangers of lead, including lead in paint, through the conventional and social media.
Tunisia. The Association d'Education Environnementale pour les futures generations (AEEFG) will spread information through its Facebook page about the adverse impacts of lead exposure in order to push for the release of an official regulation banning lead in paint in Tunisia.
ANGLOPHONE AFRICA
Ethiopia. The Pesticide Action Nexus Association (PAN Ethiopia) will undertake a campaign to list lead chromates as hazardous chemicals under the Rotterdam Convention. This will assist in implementing the country’s regulation passed in 2018 to control the production, import and export of paints with lead content above 90 ppm.
Gambia, The. The Young Volunteers for the Environment (YVE Gambia) intends to conduct a national multistakeholder forum on the occasion of the ILPPW 2024 to learn from key health, financial, social and environmental stakeholder groups (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Trade, Standard Bureau, Consumer Protection Agency, National Assembly, major paint importers, media, civil society and others ) and develop, in collaboration with them, innovative and sustainable strategies or solutions to address some of the most pressing challenges on lead paint dangers, controls and elimination in The Gambia. The planned activities will inspire key stakeholders to work together in achieving the advancement of standards, regulations, and phase out of lead paints in The Gambia.
Kenya. The Centre for Environment Justice and Development (CEJAD) will raise public awareness through the social media about lead poisoning prevention, specifically the need to speed up and complete the global phase-out of all lead-containing paints, in order to protect vulnerable populations, children, women and workers in particular, against the adverse impacts of lead exposure.
Kenya. The Eco Ethics – Kenya in cooperation with Pwani University will convene a meeting and talk about the occurrence of lead, side effects of exposure and remedies.
Liberia. The Pollution Control Association of Liberia (PCAL) will host a workshop entitled “Education and Awareness Workshop on Lead Paint” to increase the level of awareness about the dangers of lead paint, including the health and social impacts. The workshop involving various stakeholders will also discuss the issues on lead paint trade and policy legislation. PCAL will also produce and disseminate lead in paint fact sheets and other educational materials.
Nigeria. The Centre for Earth Works (CFEW), a member of IPEN, will raise public awareness through the social media about lead poisoning prevention, specifically the need to speed up and complete the global phase-out of all lead-containing paints, in order to protect vulnerable populations, children, women and workers in particular, against the adverse impacts of lead exposure.
Nigeria. The Community Action Against Plastic Waste (CAPws) will organize a multistakeholder capacity building and advocacy on lead poisoning prevention and the dangers of lead exposure in children and generally public health and the environment. Some 150 selected senior government officers, policy makers, and other key stakeholders from Ondo, Kwara, and Kano states of Nigeria will be invited.
Tanzania. The Agenda for Environment and Responsible Development (AGENDA), the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), the Government Chemist Laboratory Authority (GCLA), and the industry will train media practitioners about the sources, effects, and control measures on lead poisoning using materials from Lead Paint Alliance and from local sources. This will be followed by information dissemination to the public by the media. Through this program, public awareness about the issue will be enhanced. In addition, AGENDA will monitor published stories in the media for the next 10 months to identify the best reporters for possible recognition at next year’s ILPPW.
Tanzania. The Irrigation Training and Economic Empowerment Organization (IRTECO), a member of IPEN, will raise public awareness through the social media about lead poisoning prevention, specifically the need to speed up and complete the global phase-out of all lead-containing paints, in order to protect vulnerable populations, children, women and workers in particular, against the adverse impacts of lead exposure.
Uganda. The Bio Vision Africa (BIVA–Uganda) will hold a multistakeholder event to raise awareness on dangers of exposure to lead in paint, especially in children. The event will receive updates from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) on the status of lead in paint including, policy, legal and regulatory frameworks in place and planned adjustments regarding the manufacture, sell and use of leaded paint. It will also receive updates from paint industry regarding strategies for the manufacture of lead-free paints, opportunities, challenges and lessons to learn.
Uganda. The Western Media for Environment and Conservation (WEMECO) will hold a radio talk show on Kazi-Njema Radio in Hoima, the oil city of Uganda, to highlight the adverse effects of lead exposure and the vulnerability of young children.
Zambia. The Children’s Environmental Health Foundation (CEHF) will reach out to the government to push for the upgrading of the voluntary lead paint standard ZS1185 into a mandatory one to support the elimination of lead-containing paints in Zambia.
FRANCOPHONE AFRICA
Benin. The Groupe d'Action pour la Promotion et la Protection de la Flore et la Faune (ONG-GAPROFFA) will raise awareness among young painters about the lead content of paints sold in Benin and advocate for a lead paint standard to protect human health.
Benin. The Grande Puissance de Dieu –Benin will campaign in schools to raise awareness among children about lead poisoning prevention, organize a workshop for building painters, and disseminate information through the radio and the social media.
Burkina Faso. The Association Jeunesse pour l'Environnement et le Développement durable (AJEDD) will raise awareness through social media platforms about the dangers of exposure to lead, particularly lead in paint, and the need to take regulatory measures to limit this.
Cameroon. The Action des Femmes pour une Planète Bio (AFEPB) will organize a workshop among media personnel and young engineers at the Yaoundé Higher School of Public Works to raise their awareness on the dangers of exposure to lead and the need to comply with the ministerial decree setting the lead content in paints at 90 ppm.
Cameroon. The Centre de Recherche et d’Éducation pour le Développement (CREPD) will hold an event to educate the public about the dangers associated with lead paint such as the health and environmental risks and highlight safe alternatives to lead in paint manufacturing. CREPD will encourage public procurement of paints without lead as an effective means to engage in community actions to eliminate lead paints and foster a healthier environment for all.
Cameroon. The Jeunes Volontaires pour l'Environnement (JVE Cameroon) will hold multistakeholder activities consisting of an information and awareness-raising workshop for the various users of products containing lead (traders and consumers), radio and TV announcements and interviews, and a digital campaign aimed at spreading the word via social networks. A mini school caravan during which the project team will visit schools to raise awareness among pupils and teachers of the dangers of lead is also being planned.
D.R. Congo. The Appui aux Initiatives Communautaire de Conservation de l’Environnement et de Développement Durable (AICED) will advocate for the establishment of a legal framework to control the manufacture, import, sale and use of lead-containing paints, and demand transparency from manufacturers as to the materials they used in the production of paints.
D.R. Congo. The Solidarité pour la Protection des Droits de l'Enfant (SOPRODE) will organize a workshop bringing together key stakeholders to advance the elimination of lead paint in D.R. Congo. The workshop aims to analyze the current state of the use of lead paint and the impacts on public health and the environment in the country; share information on best practices, challenges, and successes achieved in other countries or regions; develop concrete action plans to reduce and eliminate the use of lead paint, including passing regulatory measures, conducting awareness raising initiatives, and organizing technical fora to discussion substitution of lead in paint; and encourage cooperation between different stakeholder actors to ensure the implementation of adopted strategies.
Niger. The Association Vie et Développement (AVD Kowa Murna) will organize an awareness-raising campaign on lead poisoning using posters, social media posts and other means.
Senegal. The Pesticide Action Network (PAN Africa) will raise awareness about the adverse impacts of lead exposure to children’s health and advocate for a regulation prohibiting lead in paint in Senegal. PAN Africa will involve and work with the media for an advocacy campaign targeting policy makers and others.
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
Colombia. The Asociación Colnodo will run an awareness campaign on social media to highlight the urgency of lead poisoning prevention. This initiative will emphasize the critical need to accelerate and complete the global elimination of lead use. By doing so, Colnodo aims to protect vulnerable groups, particularly children, women, and workers from the harmful effects of lead exposure, and promote a healthy, lead-free environment for all.
Jamaica. The Caribbean Poison Information Network (CARPIN) of the University of Technology, Jamaica, will elevate the discussion on the importance of enforcing regulations to prevent lead poisoning through online seminar, social media campaign, and an information booth. These activities will help to increase awareness on lead poisoning, engage stakeholders, and create resources for stakeholders’ access.
Mexico. Casa Cem will conduct a social media campaign using materials from the Lead Paint Alliance and IPEN. It will also write letters to UNEP and WHO officials responsible for the publication of the list of countries that have legally binding regulations to control lead in paints to clarify Mexico´s regulation to limit lead in paint.
OTHER REGIONS
Australia. In addition to the annual ILPPW events of Volcano Art Prize and Annual General Meeting, the LEAD Group, Inc. will partner with WHO/UNICEF to eliminate childhood lead poisoning. A project to have a portable X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) device for bone lead assessment of cumulative lead exposure in humans and wildlife will be launched. A petition to end new lead mine approvals in Australia to be signed by eligible voters will be initiated. This initiative will hopefully start a global trend to end lead mining and start collecting, transporting, recycling and manufacturing only lead acid batteries made from 100% recycled lead.
USA. The Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT), a member of IPEN, will raise public awareness through the social media about lead poisoning prevention, specifically the need to speed up and complete the global phase-out of all lead-containing paints, in order to protect vulnerable populations, children, women and workers in particular, against the adverse impacts of lead exposure.