Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Meeting

The overall goal of UNITAR's Persistent Organic Pollutants activities is to provide support to developing countries and countries with economies in transition to take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the environment. The POPs Programme Area, which is located within and draws upon methodologies developed through UNITAR's Chemicals and Waste Management Programme, aims to assist countries to strengthen the fundamentals of chemicals management in a number of areas; to provide technical assistance in specialized areas of POPs management; and to encourage integrated approaches involving all relevant ministries and stakeholders.

UNITAR delivers POPs-related assistance to countries in close cooperation with IOMC Participating Organisations, UNDP and countries, with technical expertise and financial resources dedicated to addressing challenges posed by POPs. UNITAR also executes projects (in whole or in part) on behalf of GEF implementing agencies; and co-executes enabling activities at the national level in direct partnership with governments. The POPs Programme Area could be viewed in terms of "planning" and "implementation"

United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) provides short-term executive training to national and local government officials of UN Member States and civil society representatives from around the world. UNITAR strives to respond to the growing demand from UN Member States, especially the least developed countries.

From 28 to 31st August 2012, ICVolunteers provided interpretation services (Spanish, English and Russian) for a conference hosted by UNITAR in Geneva, Palais des Nations: Chemicals and Waste Programme.

The event was attended by representatives from international organizations coming from countries such as Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Chile, Ecuador, Spain, Mexico and United States.

The Conference was about the development of a strategy to engage in supporting governments, organizations, and stakeholders in developing capacity to protect human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals and wastes.