On Wednesday 20th July and Thursday 21st July 2022, from 13:00 to 15:00 (CEST Geneva) on each day.
The WHO Global Chemicals and Health Network (GCHN) is a global forum for discussion among senior-level policy-makers and representatives about issues related to health and chemicals. The goal of the GCHN is to facilitate implementation of the WHO Chemicals Road Map by promoting collaboration on common policy challenges, perspectives and priorities of health ministries in managing chemicals, especially in light of the intersessional process on the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) and the sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020 (the intersessional process), and to facilitate continuity of contact among health ministries and with WHO.
In 2021, the World Health Assembly considered a report on the role of the health sector in the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management towards the 2020 goal and beyond and by resolution WHA74(25) decided to request the Director-General to report to the Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly in 2023 on progress made in implementing the road map, as well as on actions undertaken by the Secretariat to update the road map in the light of the outcome of the intersessional process to prepare recommendations regarding the Strategic Approach and the sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020.
It is timely therefore for the GCHN to meet to assist discussion on progress with the WHO Chemicals Roadmap and help identify health sector expectations for SAICM given that the intersessional process will shortly resume, with the Fourth meeting of the Intersessional Process considering the Strategic Approach and sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020 - Bucharest, Romania, 29 August-2 September 2022.
The two 2-hour sessions of the GHCN that are planned, will serve to familiarize participants with both the Roadmap and the SAICM intersessional process (first session) and to identify progress, current views, challenges and opportunities for the health sector in the sound management of chemicals (second session). Interpretation of the discussions into French and Spanish will be provided. Recording of the first session will also be made available in case participants are not able to attend on both days.