A key outcome of the 23rd session of UNEP’sGoverning Council in February 2005 is decision 23on the “Cooperation between UNEP, relevant multi-lateral environmental agreements and other organi-zations”.

In it, UNEP is requested to strengthen its support forthe Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, tofurther promote the full cooperation and synergies bet-ween the three Conventions and to promote coopera-tion between the three Conventions and the MontrealProtocol, UNEP Chemicals and the World CustomsOrganizations in addressing international illegal traffic-king of hazardous chemicals and hazardous wastes.These positive developments are further enhanced bythe Governing Council’s request to UNEP to promotecooperation with the Basel Convention RegionalCentres in the implementation of activities of othermultilateral environmental agreements and institutions

related to hazardous wastes and chemicals. The decisionalso underlines the sustained approach to synergies bet-ween the three Conventions (please see box on POPstechnical guidelines) and the maximization of resourcesalready in place, with room for growth.

The areas of work of the Basel, Rotterdam andStockholm Conventions will be very much enhanced.For the Basel Convention, the special focus on the rolethe Basel Convention Regional Centres (BCRCs) hasplayed in the promotion and implementation of relatedmulti-lateral environmental agreements represents a fur-ther validation of their function in capacity building.There is continued action around the BCRCs: in thisissue, we report on the official launch of the BCRC fortraining and technology transfer for French speakingcountries in Africa and on a Memorandum ofUnderstanding between the Basel Convention andUNEP’s Regional Seas Programme/Global Programme

Editorial: UNEP’s 23rd Governing Council

Synergies Further Promoted

The technical guidelines on environmentally soundmanagement of persistent organic pollutants (POPs)as wastes, prepared in the framework of the BaselConvention will be considered by the first meeting ofthe Conference of Parties to the StockholmConvention in May 2005. They were adopted by theConference of the Parties to the Basel Convention atits seventh meeting inOctober 2004.

The intention is to haveguidelines that are used andkept under review by theParties of both the BaselConvention and theStockholm Convention, inaccordance with the respec-tive provisions of the two Conventions.

More than one hundred governments worked hard anddiligently, with the active participation of industry and NGOsto make this a reality. Both the Secretariat of the BaselConvention and the Secretariat of the StockholmConvention, with the technical and scientific support ofUNEP Chemicals, played a major role in driving the process.

The preparation of these guidelines is a significantachievement in putting into concrete terms our com-mon objectives of promoting synergies, mutual sup-port and effective co-operation between the chemicalsand waste conventions, which was one of the keyrecommendations on international environmentalgovernance endorsed by the Seventh Special Session of

Governing Council andsubsequently by the WorldSummit on SustainableDevelopment. This uniqueco-operation is setting thetone for moving furtherahead in strengthening thecoordinated implementa-tion of related MEAs and isan eloquent testimony to

the important role that UNEP plays in this regard.Countries party to the Basel and StockholmConventions are invited to support positive andconcrete action on the technical guidelines at theCOP1 of the Stockholm Convention so that theapplication of the guidelines as a joint instrument forthe implementation of the two Conventions may bepromoted.

Cooperation between the Basel and Stockholm Conventions on the Environ-mentally Sound Management of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) as Wastes

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INSIDE:

EDITORIAL● Synergies Further Promoted 1-2● Cooperation between the Basel

and Stockholm Conventionsover POPs Guidelines 1

● Third Meeting of the MobilePhone Working Group 2

● Upcoming Meetings of Interest 2● Co-ordinated Approach

to Ship Scrapping 3● Basel Convention and UNEP

to fight Coastal Pollution Together 4● Open-ended Working Group :

Bureau Elections 4● Basel Convention Tsunami

Response 4● Green Customs Partners Meetings 5● Hazardous Waste Management

Priority Issue for Alliance of Small Island Developing States Strategy 5

● Launch of BCRC for FrenchSpeaking Countries in Africa 6

● Regional Workshop on MEACompliance and Enforcement 6

● Regional Workshop on Stockholm Implementation and Synergies 6

● Latest SBC Publications 6● SAICM Regional Meeting

in Senegal 7● Become a Partner 7● Launch of “Municipality Project”

in Guayaquil 7● Secretariat Staff News 8● Call for National Legislation 8

To receive the SBC Bulletin, for anyquestions about it or news items for it,please contact :Nicole Dawe, Information Officer,Basel Convention Secretariat,email: Nicole.Dawe@unep.ch tel. +41 (0) 22 917 82 20

One World, Don’t Waste It

of Action for the Protection of the MarineEnvironment from Land-based Activities inwhich BCRCs will play a key role in programmeimplementation. I therefore welcome the reco-gnition given to this worthy regional networkand look forward to UNEP’s continued supportto multi-lateral environmental agreements.

The decision also requested UNEP to developfurther its mercury programme in order to sup-port the efforts of countries to take action regar-ding mercury pollution. The Basel Conventionis expected to cooperate actively with UNEP onthe programme consistent with its mandate.

I wish you a pleasant read

By Sachiko Kuwabara-YamamotoExecutive SecretaryBasel Convention

Sachiko Kuwabara-Yamamoto

The third meeting of the Mobile PhoneWorking Group (MPWG) took place in Genevaon 15-16 March 2005. Two new members werewelcomed, the telecom operators Bell Canadaand France Telecom/Orange.

The MPWG manages the Mobile PhonePartnership Initiative, a unique public-private part-nership, which aims to improve the environmentalfriendliness of mobile phones, influence consumerbehaviour and political institutions, and promote thesustainable and environmentally sound refurbishingand recycling of used and end-of-life mobile phones.

A second outcome of the meeting was the agree-ment over a roadmap towards the development andimplementation of pilot projects on the collectionand sustainable treatment schemes for used andend-of-life mobile phones in rapidly industrialisingand developing countries.

The pilot projects will also facilitate the transfer ofknow-how based on the guidelines produced by thefour project groups set up under the MPPI -mobilephone refurbishment; collection and transboundarymovement rules; material recovery and recycling;and design consideration- while taking local consu-mer participation patterns and available facilitiesinto consideration. The roadmap for pilot projectdevelopment will be finalized by the next meeting ofthe MPWG, which is scheduled to take place in July2005 in Geneva.

The MPPI membership is composed of expertsfrom Parties and Signatories to the Basel

Convention, Basel Convention Regional Centres,representatives of mobile phone manufacturers andtelecom operators and representatives of the BaselConvention Secretariat. The members areArgentina, Australia, Belarus, Brazil, Canada, CzechRepublic, Germany, Japan, Pakistan, Republic ofKorea, Sweden, Switzerland, USA, UK, Alcatel, LG,Matsushita (Panasonic), Mitsubishi, Nokia, Philips,Motorola, NEC, Samsung, Sharp, Siemens, SonyEricsson, Vodafone, Bell Canada, FranceTelecom/Orange, Basel Convention RegionalCentre (BCRC) China, BCRC Slovak Republic,BCRC Indonesia.

It has been recognized that participation fromdeveloping countries in teleconferences and mee-tings would be welcome and important. The nextteleconference is scheduled for 4 May 2005.

For more information, please contact Mr. Pierre Portas,Deputy Executive Secretary, SBC,email: Pierre.Portas@unep.ch,tel. 41 (0)22 917 8217, fax. 41 (0)22 797 3454

Third Meeting of the Mobile Phone Working Group

● SAICM Regional Meeting, Bangkok, Thailand,4-7 April 2005

● Twenty-third session of the IntergovernmentalPanel on Climate Change, 8 April, AddisAbaba, Ethiopia

● Thirteenth Session of the Commission onSustainble Development, 11-22 April 2005,New York, USA

● INECE International Conference onEnvironmental Compliance and Enforcementfrom10-15 April 2005 in Marrakech, Morocco

● SAICM Regional Meeting, Punta del Este,

Uruguay, 27-29 April 2005● Ministerial Conference on 3R Initiative, 28-30

April 2005, Tokyo, Japan● First Conference to the Parties of the

Stockholm Convention, 2-6 May, Punta delEste, Uruguay

● SAICM Regional Meeting, 16-18 May 2005,Ljubljania, Slovenia

● Interpol conference on environmental crimes,2-3 June 2005, Lyon, France

● GEF Consultations and Council Meeting, 6-10 June, Washington DC, USA

Upcoming Meetings of Interest to the Basel Convention

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www.basel.int

A Joint Working Group on ship scrappingestablished by the International MaritimeOrganization, the International LabourOrganization and the Parties to the BaselConvention concluded their first meeting atIMO headquarters in London mid-February.

The overall task set by the three Organizationsfor the Group was to act as a platform for consul-tation, co-ordination and co-operation in relationto their work programmes and activities on shipscrapping. The Group aimed to promote a coordinated approach to the relevant aspects of shipscrapping with the aim of avoiding duplication ofwork and overlapping of roles, responsibilitiesand competencies between the threeOrganizations, and identifying further needs.

During the meeting, the Group developed a listof the main items that are being considered by thethree Organizations concurrently. This includesthe possible development of mandatory require-ments, a reporting system for ships destined forrecycling, the development of a “single list” ofpotentially hazardous materials on board, theissue of the abandonment of ships on land or inport, the promotion of the implementation of theGuidelines on ship scrapping and technical co-operation. For each item identified, a list of workprogramme activities being carried out or plan-ned by each of the Organizations was developed,and a number of recommendations was proposedto be taken into account by the threeOrganizations, as appropriate, during their futuredeliberations on these work items.

Specifically, the Group agreed that the threeOrganizations should ensure that the issue of “aban-donment of ships on land or in ports” would be ade-quately covered by an international legally bindinginstrument, as deemed appropriate.

With a view to identifying any possible gaps,overlaps, or ambiguities, the Group began a com-prehensive initial examination of the relevant IMO,ILO and BC guidelines on ship scrapping. TheGroup agreed that intersessional work and furtherwork at the second session would be needed.

The implementation of the guidelines was seen

as being of paramount importance for the minimi-zation of the environmental, occupational healthand safety hazards related to ship recycling and theimprovement of the protection of human healthand the environment at ship recycling facilities.

The implementation of the guidelines shouldbe also promoted, it was agreed, through jointtechnical co-operation activities and the Groupagreed to invite Governments and other stakehol-ders to provide information to the threeOrganizations on any technical co-operation acti-vities or other relevant initiatives already laun-ched or planned so that these activities could betaken into account in the future technical co-ope-ration programmes of the Organizations. EachOrganization should be asked to invite the othertwo to participate in any workshops or seminarsthey organize, and that a section providing infor-mation on the guidelines of the other twoOrganizations be included in the programme ofany such activities. It was agreed that the threeOrganizations should be asked to consider a glo-bal technical co-operation programme on shipscrapping.

In considering the issue of the establishment ofa ship recycling fund, the Group was of the opi-nion that all efforts should be focused on the fur-ther consideration by IMO of the proposal whichhad been agreed in principle by the 52nd sessionof the Marine Environment ProtectionCommittee for the establishment of anInternational Ship Recycling Fund to promotethe safe and environmentally-sound managementof ship recycling through IMO’s technical co-operation activities.

During the meeting, ageneral discussion tookplace on issues such as thepossible roles of flag States,port States, recycling Statesand any other concerned States,in the context of ship scrapping,as well as on possible reporting sys-tems for ships destined for scrap-ping, but it was agreed that more sub-stantive discussions would require theprior submission of documents and writ-

ten proposals for consideration by the JointWorking Group. These matters will be the subjectof substantive discussion at the next meeting ofthe JWG.

The Group also agreed that any regulatorymeasures proposed should aim at the develop-ment of a realistic, well-balanced and effectivesolution to the problems of ship recycling andwhich at the same time should take into accountthe need for sustainable ship breaking, and that itshould be recommended that ship scrappingcountries submit to the three Organizations, asappropriate, any available information on theirship scrapping activities.

The full report of the first session of the JointILO/IMO/BC Working Group will be submittedto the 4th session of the Open-ended WorkingGroup of the Basel Convention, to the 53rd ses-sion of the IMO Marine Environment ProtectionCommittee, and to the 292nd session of the ILOGoverning Body.

The report is available athttp://www.basel.int/legalmatters/ilo-imo-sbc-wg/index.htmlThe second session of the Joint Working Groupwill be hosted by the Basel Convention inGeneva, Switzerland, date to be confirmed.

For more information, please contactMs. Donata Rugarabamu,Senior Legal Officer, SBC,email Donata.Rugarabamu@unep.ch,tel. +41 (0) 22 917 82 19,fax. +41 (0) 22 797 34 54

IMO, ILO and Basel Convention Adopt Co-ordinated Approach to Ship Scrapping as Joint Working Group Makes Progress

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UNEP’s Regional Seas Programme/GlobalProgramme of Action for the Protection of theMarine Environment from Land-basedActivities and the Basel Convention have joinedforces in the fight against coastal pollution withthe signing of a Memorandum ofUnderstanding in Nairobi on 1 March 2005.

The main area of cooperation will be the envi-ronmentally sound management of hazardouswastes in order to prevent coastal and marine pol-lution. Marine litter is targeted through the envi-ronmental management of plastic waste, used lead-acid batteries and used oils and lubricants. The twoorganisations will raise awareness on hazardouswaste and marine pollution and support each otherwith technical and legal training.

Many of the joint activities will be carried outusing the 13 Basel Convention Regional Centres(BCRCs) as platforms for regional cooperationwith the various Regional Seas Programmes.

The Basel Convention Secretariat and theRegional Seas Programme also work on theProgramme of Action for the SustainableDevelopment of Small Island Developing States(known as the “Barbados Programme of Action”).

Small Island Developing States generally sufferfrom a lack of trained personnel to handle the envi-ronmentally sound management of hazardouswaste, as well as from high transportation costs anda shortage of available land. Because the manage-ment of solid waste is generally a first priority,hazardous wastes management can receive fewerresources.

The Regional Seas Programme is an allianceamongst the Regional Seas Conventions andAction Plans (RSCAP). Its objective is the protec-tion of the coastal and marine environment,having concern not only for the consequences butalso for the causes of environmental degradationand encompassing a comprehensive approach tocombating environmental problems through themanagement of marine and coastal areas. The 13regions covered by the Programme each benefit

from an action plan formulated according to the

needs of the region as perceived by theGovernments concerned. The regions are the BlackSea, Caribbean, East Asian Seas, Eastern Africa,Kuwait, Mediterranean, North West Pacific, RedSea and Gulf of Aden, South Asian Seas, SouthEast Pacific, South Pacific, South West Atlantic,West and Central Africa.

The Memorandum of Understanding wassigned by Mrs. Veerle Vandeweerd, DeputyDirector of the Division of Environmental PolicyImplementation and Head of the GlobalProgramme of Action for the Protection of theMarine Environment from Land-based Activities,and by Mrs. Sachiko Kuwabara-Yamamoto,Executive Secretary of the Basel ConventionSecretariat.

For more information, please contactMs. Donata Rugarabamu,Senior Legal Officer, SBC,email Donata.Rugarabamu@unep.ch,tel. +41 (0) 22 917 82 19,fax. +41 (0) 22 797 34 54orMr. Nelson Sabogal,Senior Programme Officer, SBC,email: Nelson.Sabogal@unep.ch,tel. +41 (0)22 917 82 12,fax. +41 (0)22 797 34 54

1 The 14 Basel Convention Regional Centres are located inArgentina, China, Egypt, El Salvador, Indonesia, Iran, Nigeria,Russian Federation, Senegal, Slovak Republic, the SouthPacific Regional Environment Programme (Samoa), SouthAfrica, Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay.

Basel Convention on Hazardous Wastes and UNEP RegionalSeas Programme to fight coastal pollution together

One World, Don’t Waste It

Open-ended Working Group:Bureau elections

At the next meeting of the Open-endedWorking Group, which will take place on 4-8July 2005, elections will be held for a newBureau of the Open-ended Working Group.The Secretariat has communicated with themembers of the Bureau of the Seventh Meetingof the Conference of the Parties, asking them toinitiate regional consultations for possible nomi-nations for the Bureau positions.

The positions for which the elections will beheld are as follows: two co-chairs, one with tech-nical and one with legal/implementation exper-tise; two vice-chairs, one with technical and onewith legal/implementation expertise; and onerapporteur. Due regard must be had to the prin-ciple of equitable geographical representationand to the relevant expertise of the nominees.

For more information, please contactMs. Donata Rugarabamu,Senior Legal Officer, SBC,email Donata.Rugarabamu@unep.ch,tel. +41 (0) 22 917 82 19,fax. +41 (0) 22 797 34 54

Basel Convention Response to Tsunami Disaster

In response to the tragedy of the Tsunami in Asia in December 2004, the Basel Convention Secretariatcontributed, together with the World Health Organization and the Food and Agricultural Organization,to formulate guidelines regarding hazardous waste management in Tsunami-affected areas.

The guidelines focus on emergency phase hazardous waste management and can be consulted on theBasel Convention website’s home page www.basel.int In addition, the Secretariat is working closely withthe UNEP Asian Tsunami task force that conducted rapid environment assessment, including wasteand hazardous waste issues, in the affected areas.

For more information, please contactMr. Pierre Portas, Deputy Executive Secretary, SBC,

email: Pierre.Portas@unep.ch, tel. 41 (0)22 917 8217, fax. 41 (0)22 797 3454

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Green Customs Partners Meeting

www.basel.int

The partners of the Green Customs Initiativemet on 26-27 January 2005 in the offices ofUNEP/DTIE, which performs the Secretariatfunctions of GCI.

The Green Customs Initiative was launched tohelp combat illegal international trade in commo-dities such as ozone depleting substances, toxicchemicals, hazardous wastes and endangered spe-cies by building the capacity of customs officials.The partners involved are the Convention onInternational Trade in Endangered Species ofWild Fauna and Flora, UNEP DTIE’sOzonAction Programme, Interpol, the WorldCustoms Organization and the Basel Convention.

The January meeting agreed that awareness-rai-sing material should be developed for the GCI andthat a network of information officers from thepartners would be established. This network couldalso liaise on the development of a logo for GCI,and on the maintenance of the GCI website.

The partners agreed that an essential compo-nent of the awareness training material will be atraining manual, which will contain backgroundinformation on GCI and extensive reference tothe training material already developed by eachentity of the Green Customs Initiative.

For background information on the GreenCustoms Initiative, please consulthttp://www.uneptie.org/ozonaction/customs/about/background.htm

For more information, please contactMs. Donata Rugarabamu,Senior Legal Officer, SBC,email Donata.Rugarabamu@unep.ch,tel. +41 (0) 22 917 82 19,fax. +41 (0) 22 797 34 54

Hazardous Waste Management Priority Issue forAlliance of Small Island Developing States Strategy

The Basel Convention has 164 States and theEuropean Community as Parties. Since our lastBulletin of December 2004, Guinea-Bissauacceded to the Convention on 9 February 2005.Jordan recently approved of the Ban

Amendment to the Basel Convention on 6 December 2004, which now has 55 States andthe European Community as Parties. Please seeour ratification tables which include a glossaryof frequently used terms at www.basel.int

The International Meeting for the SustainableDevelopment in Small Island Developing States(SIDS) took place in Mauritius on 10-14 January2005 and was the ten-year review of the BarbadosProgramme of Action, which had been adoptedin 1994, identifying priority areas and necessaryactions to address the challenges faced by smallisland states.

The issue of hazardous waste management inSIDS is of particular concern given their acuteshortage of space and need for appropriate tech-nical infrastructure.

The Mauritius meeting adopted the” AOSIS “Strategy (Alliance of Small Island States) for theFurther Implementation of the BarbadosProgramme of Action in which the developmentof integrated waste management policies, cove-ring both solid municipal waste and hazardouswaste, and the promotion of regional approaches,play an important role.

This policy orientation is in the same line asdecision VII/7 of the seventh Meeting of theConference of the Parties to the BaselConvention as well as section VII of the Plan ofImplementation of the World Summit forSustainable Development (Johannesburg,September 2002), in which SIDS are singled outas a special case both for environment and deve-lopment.

The mandates at the international level arenow clear enough and concurrent for Parties tothe Basel Convention to consider the develop-ment of relevant regional and national strategiesto transcribe this political support into action.

For more information, please contactMr. Vincent Jugault,Programme Officer, SBC,email: Vincent.Jugault@unep.ch,tel. 41 (0)22 917 8223,fax. 41 (0)22 797 3454

Joining the Party

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The Basel Convention Regional Centre forFrancophone Africa in Senegal was officiallylaunched on 1 March 2005 following thesigning of a Framework Agreement between theSecretariat of the Basel Convention and theGovernment of the Republic of Senegal.

The core functions of the Regional Centre are todevelop training programmes in the field of theenvironmentally sound management of hazardousand other wastes and to work on the transfer ofenvironmentally sound technology and the mini-mization of the generation of hazardous wastes.

Present at the signing were Ms SachikoKuwabara-Yamamoto, Executive Secretary of theBasel Convention Secretariat and AmbassadorOusmane Camara for the Government of theRepublic of Senegal.

Ms. Kuwabara-Yamamoto underlined that“capacity building is essential for the implementa-tion of the Basel Convention” and added that theCentres play an important role in the managementof hazardous waste in an environmentally soundmanner.

For Ambassador Camara “the legal establishmentof the Centre represents an important opportunityfor French speaking Africa to contribute to theBasel Convention process efficiently”.

The 13 Basel Convention Regional Centres arelocated in Argentina, China, Egypt, El Salvador,Indonesia, Nigeria, Russian Federation, Senegal,Slovak Republic, the South Pacific RegionalEnvironment Programme (Samoa), South Africa,Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay.

For more information, please contactMs. Donata RugarabamuSenior Legal Officer, SBC,email Donata.Rugarabamu@unep.ch,tel. +41 (0) 22 917 82 19,fax +41 (0) 22 797 34 54orMr. Vincent Jugault,Programme Officer, SBC,email: Vincent.Jugault@unep.ch,tel. 41 (0)22 917 8223,fax. 41 (0)22 797 3454

One World, Don’t Waste It

Official launch of Basel Convention Regional Centre For Training and Technology Transfer

for French Speaking Countries in AfricaThe Basel Convention Secretariat participated in the Regional

Workshop on Compliance with and Enforcement of MultilateralEnvironmental Agreements (MEAs) held in Mexico City on 7-10March 2005 and organised by UNEP’s Division of EnvironmentalPolicy Implementation (DEPI) and UNEP’s Regional Office forLatin America and the Carribean (ROLAC).

The workshop was attended by experts involved in the imple-mentation and enforcement of MEAs from the following countries:Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, ElSalvador, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,Uruguay and Venezuela. Also in attendance were representatives ofUNEP/DEPI and of UNEP/ROLAC.

The meeting was a platform to discuss and make inputs to adraft manual on Compliance with and Enforcement of MultilateralEnvironmental Agreements prepared by UNEP/DEPI through pre-sentations made on several MEAs such as the Convention on theInternational Trade of Endangered Species, the RAMSARConvention on Wetlands, the Convention on the Conservation ofMigratory Species, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification(a.o.) followed by group consultations. The manual is to serve as anover-arching guide on MEA compliance and enforcement.

For more information, please contact:Ms. Donata Rugarabamu, Senior Legal Officer, SBC,email Donata.Rugarabamu@unep.ch,tel. +41 (0) 22 917 82 19, fax. +41 (0) 22 797 34 54

The Basel Convention Secretariat participated in a RegionalWorkshop on the Implementation of Stockholm Convention andsynergies with other chemical related agreements in Cairo on 21-24February 2005. The event was organized by UNEP Chemicals andthe Egyptian Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs, in coope-ration with the BCRC-Egypt and the financial support of theGovernment of Switzerland.

The Regional Workshop was attended by representatives of thefollowing countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran(Islamic Republic of ), Jordan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya,Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, SyrianArab Republic, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The following Non-Governmental Organizations and other entitiesalso participated: SBC, UNEP-Chemicals, UNEP-Regional Officefor West Asia, BCRC-Egypt, Environmental Health Fund (EHF)and the Arab League.

The objectives of the meeting were to identify and discuss com-mon issues to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventionsand the Montreal Protocol and to strengthen the co-operationamong the respective national Focal Points and other stakeholdersinvolved in the process of implementing and enforcing theseMultilateral Environmental Agreements. The meeting also focusedon identifying common difficulties in their implementation areasof synergy and on building on past activities for future commonproject formulation.

The recommendations focused on legislative and institutionalframeworks, human and financial resources, capacity building andtechnical support, among others, and can be obtained from theSBC. The need for the close coordination of legal issues was espe-cially stressed by the participants.

For more information, please contact:Mr. Nelson Sabogal, Senior Programme Officer, SBC,email: Nelson.Sabogal@unep.ch,tel. +41 (0)22 917 82 12, fax: +41 (0)22 797 34 54

● Guidance Manual. Preparation of National Health-Care Waste Management Plans in Sub-Saharan Countries, hard copy, English

● Training Manual for the Preparation of National Used Lead Acid Batteries Environmentally Sound Management Plans

in the Context of the Implementation of the Basel Convention, hard copy, English

For questions on and requests for publications andinformation material, please contact Nicole Dawe,Information Officer, email: Nicole.Dawe@unep.ch, tel.+41 (0) 22 917 82 20

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Latest SBC Publications and Information Material

Regional Workshop on Compliance withand Enforcement of Multilateral

Environmental Agreements

Regional Workshop on theImplementation of the Stockholm

Convention and Synergies with otherChemical Related Agreements

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Strategic Approach to International

Chemicals ManagementRegional Meeting in Senegal

www.basel.int

A project to build a public-private partnershipwith industry on the environmentally sound col-lection, testing, and final disposal of oil wastes, wasofficially launched on the 7 March 2005 inGuayaquil, Ecuador.

The collaboration process will involve the muni-cipality of Guayaquil, the national authorities inEcuador, the cement industry, the oil industry,civil society as well as the Secretariat of the BaselConvention. The Holcim Group will be a keypartner from the private sector for the project.

Feasibility studies for the ESM of oil wastes inthe province of Guayaquil and the country as awhole will be carried out. On the basis of these stu-dies, a demonstration project for the ESM of oilywastes, including the co-processing of oily wastes incement kilns, will be implemented and will involvetraining and capacity building activities at the locallevel.

The project will aim to highlight the benefits ofconcluding public-private partnerships, in particu-lar those involving local authorities and the priva-te sector in the management of hazardous andother wastes. The collaboration between the muni-cipality of Guayaquil with the municipality of BeloHorizonte and the State of Minas Gerais and theexchange of expertise between these institutionswith the contribution of the UNITAR-Decentralized Cooperation Programme and the

Basel Convention Coordinating Centre inUruguay will constitute an important element ofthe project.

This initiative will be carried out under the fra-mework of the Strategic Action Plan of the BaselConvention adopted at the sixth meeting of theConference of the Parties to the Basel Convention(December 2002) as well as under the guidelinesto the World Summit on SustainableDevelopment held in Johannesburg (September2002). All stakeholders are deemed to contributein-kind and financial support to the project whichhas potential for replication in other countries inthe region and other regions.

For more information, please contactMr. Vincent Jugault, Programme Officer, SBC,email: Vincent.Jugault@unep.ch,tel. 41 (0)22 917 8223,fax. 41 (0)22 797 3454

Launch of a 'Municipality Project' in Guayaquil, Ecuador

The Basel Convention Secretariat participated inthe Second African Regional Consultation on theDevelopment of a Strategic Approach toInternational Chemicals Management (SAICM),in Saly, Senegal, on 15-18 March 2005. It was orga-nized by the Government of Senegal in close

cooperation with UNEP-Chemicals and theSecretariat of SAICM.

The meeting was the first regional consultationto be organized as a follow up to the second sessionof the SAICM Preparatory Committee held inNairobi in October 2004. The main issues discus-sed by the participants from more than 45 coun-tries in Africa, as well as specialized internationalorganizations, industry representatives and NGOs,included the development of an overarching policystrategy, proposed institutional arrangements, pro-posed financial mechanism and concrete measuresin the context of SAICM.

The meeting saw fruitful exchanges between theparticipants who proposed concrete recommenda-tions on the way forward for the SAICM process. Italso set a positive note for future regional consulta-tions and further SAICM negotiations.

For more information, please contactMr. Vincent Jugault, Programme Officer, SBC,email: Vincent.Jugault@unep.ch,tel. 41 (0)22 917 8223,fax. 41 (0)22 797 3454

Whether you are a corporation, non-govern-mental organisation, foundation or govern-ment agency, partnering with the BaselConvention is simple. The Secretariat willwork with you to create a tailored programmeto meet your needs. There are many benefits toforming a partnership with the BaselConvention, including:

● Access to the expert capacity of theSecretariat, almost 160 Parties to the BaselConvention and 13 Basel ConventionsRegional Centres around the globe;

● Opportunities to leverage your funds orresources with those of other Partners.

Forging a partnership with the BaselConvention is a smart investment in a betterworld.

To discuss your interest in partnering with theBasel Convention, contact

Pierre Portas on +41 22 917 82 17 or by email: Pierre.Portas@unep.ch

Become a Partner

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Basel Convention Bulletin

Basel Convention BulletinSecretariat of the Basel Convention13-15 chemin des Anémones1219 Geneva - Switzerland

© Copyright 2005 UNEP

Contact: Nicole DaweInformation OfficerTel: +41(0) 22-917-82 20Fax: +41(0) 22-797-34 54Email: Nicole.Dawe@unep.chwww.basel.int

In early 2004, the Secretariat of the BaselConvention started to collect texts of national legis-lation and measures of the Parties to theConvention on the implementation of the BaselConvention, both in hard copy and in electronicform.

As of 14 March 2005 the Secretariat has receivedthe national legislation from 63 Parties to theConvention, which can be found on the SBC web-site at the following URL:http://www.basel.int/legalmatters/natleg/frset-main.html. (some texts are only available in thenational language of the country concerned).

The goal of the Secretariat is to publish online acomplete set of national legislation adopted by allParties to the Convention. Please send hard and/orelectronic copies of national legislation texts to:

Sophie SchlingemannLegal Consultant to the secretariat of the BaselConventionInternational Environment HouseChemin des Anémones 151219 Chatelaine – Geneva – SwitzerlandFor electronic copies :sophie.schlingemann@unep.chTel. 00-41-22-9178.341

Call for National Legislation on Basel Convention

Melissa Su Thomas joined the Legal Unit as anintern in January 2005. She will be working with Ms.Donata Rugarabamu, Senior Legal Officer, for sixmonths. She carries out work pertaining to theImplementation and Compliance Committee, and thelegal issues surrounding the full and partial dismant-ling of ships. Melissa, a British national of Malaysian

descent, is currently a post-graduate student at theGraduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva,specializing in International Law. Prior to coming toGeneva, she completed her Bachelors of Law at theUniversity of Warwick in the United Kingdom.

A Bolivian national, Ms. Tatiana Romero has beenan intern in the Capacity Building and Training Unitsince February, where she will work with Mr. NelsonSabogal, Senior Programme Officer, on the BaselRegional Centre in Argentina until May 2005.She gra-duated with a Master's Degree in EnvironmentalScience from Lund University in Sweden and has aBachelor's Degree in Business Economics fromUniversidad Metropolitana in Venezuela.

Tatiana’s area of expertise is private sector engage-ment through corporate social responsibility andsocially responsible investments. Prior to joining SBC,Tatiana obtained work experience in accounting andhuman resource management in the private sector.

Basel Convention SecretariatStaff News

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