Transcript The UNITAR/ILO Programme for Capacity Building to implement the GHS Chemicals and Waste Management UNITAR GHS Stocktaking Workshop For Southeast, East and Central Asia 15-17

The UNITAR/ILO Programme for Capacity
Building to implement the GHS
Chemicals and Waste Management
UNITAR
GHS Stocktaking Workshop For Southeast, East and Central Asia
15-17 September 2010
Beijing, People’s Republic of China
Outline
Overview on UNITAR
Why is the GHS important
UNITAR/ILO GHS Programme
Resources
Conclusion
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Overview on UNITAR
Overview
UNITAR – “Knowledge to Lead”
established in 1965 – autonomous body in the UN
system
original focus: UN institutional issues, peace and
security issues, and economic and social issues
current training focus around: environment;
governance; peace, security and diplomacy; and
research
Mission Statement
“To deliver innovative training and conduct research on
knowledge systems to develop the capacity of
beneficiaries.”
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Overview
UNITAR CWM Mission
To provide legal, institutional and technical support
to governments and stakeholders to develop
sustainable capacity for managing dangerous
chemicals and wastes
Project activities take place within the framework
of implementing international agreements aimed at
protecting human health and the environment,
while ensuring sustainable industrial development
and facilitating trade of chemicals
Training is the main tool
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Overview
Active at national, regional and international levels
Developing countries, transition countries, least
developed countries special focus (over 100
countries)
Main focus is the delivery of training/capacity
development assistance at the national level, to
assist countries to meet the huge number of
chemicals-related challenges they face
UNITAR CWM’s work relates directly to the
implementation of the Millennium Development
Goals
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Why is the GHS important
Purpose of the GHS
 To enhance the protection of human health and the
environment by providing an internationally comprehensible
system for hazard communication;
 To provide a recognized framework for countries without an
existing system;
 To reduce the need for testing and evaluation of chemicals;
and
 To facilitate international trade in chemicals whose hazards
have been properly assessed and identified on an
international basis.
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Why is the GHS important
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Why is the GHS important
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The GHS and International Chemicals Agreements
 GHS
implementation
can
play
an
important
role
in
facilitating
implementation of international chemicals
management agreements (e.g. Stockholm
& Rotterdam Conventions)
 Improved
capacity
for
chemical
classification and labeling (based on the
GHS) can contribute to successfully
meeting country obligations under these
Conventions
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GHS and SAICM
 The importance of implementing the GHS is
recognised in the Overarching Policy Strategy
(OPS) of SAICM, where implementation of the
GHS is identified under the overall objective of
“knowledge and information”
 GHS also included as a SAICM work area in the
Global Plan of Action
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International Responsibility
on GHS Implementation
International Responsibility for GHS Implementation
 United Nations Subcommittee of Experts on the GHS established
in 2001
 Maintain the GHS provisions, update when necessary
 Oversee implementation
 International focal points established by the Subcommittee
 United Nations Institute for Training and
 International Labor Organization (ILO)
Research (UNITAR)
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Context for GHS Capacity Building
• UNITAR/ILO nominated as focal point
 Focus on supporting developing and transition
countries
 Global, Regional, National, Stakeholder
activities
 Programme Advisory Group (PAG)
 WSSD Global GHS Partnership
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UNITAR/ILO Partnership
Programme
UNITAR/ILO activities – National level
 Vietnam, Uruguay, Jamaica (2008-09)
 Laos, Cambodia (2006-08)
 Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand (2005-07)
 The Gambia, Nigeria, Senegal (2004-2006)
 Sri Lanka, South Africa, Zambia (2001-2003)
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UNITAR/ILO – New national activities
 Barbados, Zambia, The Gambia, Congo (2010-12) –
supported by SAICM QSPTF
 PR China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, The Philippines
(2010-12) – supported by EU
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UNITAR/ILO – New national activities
CEE/CA
(2006)
 Barbados, Zambia, The Gambia,
supported by SAICM QSPTF
ECOWAS
(2008)
China/East
and Central
Asia
Congo
(2010-12)
(2010)
Arab
Region
(2006)
–
 PR China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, The Philippines
(2010-12) – supported by EU
South
Americ
a
(2004)
ASEAN
(20057)
SADC
(2003)
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UNITAR/ILO Approach
Industrial
Workplaces
Transport
Agriculture
Consumer
Products
GHS Implementation
Government
Business/
Industry
Public Interest/
Labour
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National Project Outcomes
 Multi-stakeholder engagement and collaboration
 Situation and Gap Analysis
 Awareness raising and training
 National GHS-implementing legislation
 Sectoral implementation plans
 High-level
endorsement
Implementation Strategy
activities)
of
a
National
GHS
(“road map” for future
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GHS Worldwide
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Resources
Resources
 Guidance Document on “Developing a
National GHS Implementation Strategy”
 Companion Handbook on “Understanding
the GHS”
 Website and GHS Capacity Building Library
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Resources
 Training Courses (under development)
 Regional Workshops
 Annual Reports (2002-2009)
 WSSD Global GHS Partnership
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WSSD Global GHS Partnership
 Launched by UNITAR, ILO, and OECD in 2002
 strengthen capacities at all levels and sectors -in particular in developing countries
 “WSSD Partnerships”: to enable all stakeholders
to make a concrete contribution to the outcomes
of the WSSD
 Meetings of the Partners (2003, 2007)
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Internet Resources
 WSSD GHS Partnership:
http://www.unitar.org/cwm/ghs_partnership/inde
x.htm
 UNITAR/ILO GHS Capacity Building Programme:
http://www.unitar.org/cwm/ghs/index.html
 UNSCEGHS Homepage
http://www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/ghs/ghs_welcome_e.ht
ml
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Conclusion
Conclusion
There is significant momentum internationally to
adopt and implement the GHS.
GHS very helpful framework for developing countries
– but challenging to implement!
The 2008 target will not be met, but significant
progress has been made in many regions around the
world (2008 the starting point?...)
There will be a continuing need to monitor
implementation issues as they develop, and ensure
they are addressed internationally.
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Thank you!