ipen south asia hub

The International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) www.ipen.org is a global network of more than 500 public interest non-governmental organizations working together for the elimination of persistent organic pollutants, on an expedited yet socially equitable basis. The mission of IPEN is to achieve a world in which all chemicals are produced and used in ways that eliminate significant adverse effects on human health and the environment, and where pollutants and chemicals of equivalent concern no longer pollute our local and global environments and no longer contaminate our communities, our food, our bodies, or the bodies of our children and future generations. Since 1998, IPEN has ensured NGO participation in international and national chemical safety policy forums. In addition, IPEN projects and campaign put policy into practice through on-the ground activities.

There are eight regional hubs of IPEN those act as Regional Focal Points in Anglophone Africa, Francophone Africa, Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Caucasus & Central Asia, Latin America, Middle East, South Asia and Southeast Asia. Regional Hubs coordinate and communicate with IPEN Participating Organisations in their geographic regions, and report to the Network on the regions’ needs, activities, and perspectives.

Toxics Link as South Asia Regional hub.

After Stockholm convention came into force in 17 May 2004, Toxics Link has been designated as the regional hub of IPEN for South Asian region. Since then the organization has been engaged with the NGOs of South Asian countries and coordinated the international pollutants elimination project (IPEP) to eliminate and reduce the POPS. In the IPEP project, 18 NGOs participated and executed 34 projects pertaining to persistent organic pollutants.

In 2007, Toxics Link did the regional survey for South Asian countries to identify the possible emerging chemical safety issues in the region. After adoption of Strategic Approach to International Chemical Management (SAICM) or popularly known a Dubai declaration, Toxics Link and IPEN drafted the regional action plan for South Asian region on chemical safety issues. As a part of the regional action plan, Toxics Link is coordinating the International SAICM Implementation plan (ISIP) in the region. About 30 projects have been undertaken on the issues of chemical safety to achieve 2020 goal of Dubai declaration.

Apart from coordination, Toxics Link is also doing hand holding and building capacity of the NGOs of the region on the issue. The organization has also prepared the important reports on the progress of SAICM implementation in the countries of the region. There are more than 60 NGOs as a part of the network and Toxics Link is managing a dedicated list serve for South Asian region.

For more information-

http://www.ipen.org/ipenweb/ipen/hubs.html