Special Recognition Award
The Forum Standing Committee has decided to present an IFCS Special Recognition Award at Forum IV to recognize those contributing in an exceptional way on a special chemical topic or activity. It is distinguished from the Award of Merit which recognizes outstanding contributions on a global scale of a broader scope and nature.
We are pleased to announce that this year's recipient of the Special Recognition Award is the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN).
IPEN is a global network of public interest non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in support of a common goal of eliminating persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
Through its effective mobilizing and coordination of more than 350 public health, consumer, environmental, and other NGOs in 65 countries, IPEN contributed much to the successful negotiations of the Stockholm POPs Convention. Awareness raising in the general public and involvement of public interest NGOs was a crucial element for the acceptance and successful completion of the negotiations. IPEN was a key driving force to fulfil this task.
Since formal negotiations of the Stockholm Convention were completed in 2001, IPEN has continued to play a central role in international POPs work and has been a significant force in encouraging countries to ratify and implement the Convention. IPEN is engaged in educational activities on POPs and chemical safety and has produced information packages and a POPs Handbook for the Stockholm Convention. IPEN participating organizations work together to secure opportunities for meaningful participation by public interest NGOs and other civil society organizations in programmes at the local, country, regional and global levels associated with the implementation of the Stockholm Convention.
For more information about the work of IPEN, please visit: