Third Conference of the Parties to the Bamako Convention

The Third Conference of the Parties to the Bamako Convention will take place from 12 to 14 February 2020 in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

The theme of the Conference is: From Decisions to Action: Working for Africa with a Safe Chemicals and Waste Future.

The Bamako Convention on the Ban of the Import into Africa and the Control of Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within Africa (Bamako Convention) is a treaty of African nations prohibiting the import into Africa of any hazardous (including radioactive) waste. The Convention was adopted in 1991 and came into force in 1998 with the aim of protecting human and environmental health.

The Bamako Convention prohibits the import into Africa as well as the dumping or incineration into the oceans and inland waters of hazardous wastes, including radioactive waste.

The Conference will focus on, among other issues, the need for a more effective implementation of the Bamako Convention in Africa by giving Parties a platform to discuss appropriate legal, administrative and other measures to prohibit the import into Africa and control the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes within Africa. Parties will also discuss the new list of substances which have been banned, cancelled or refused registration by government regulatory action, or voluntarily withdrawn from registration in the country of manufacture, for human health or environmental reason under paragraph 1(d) of Article 2 of the Bamako Convention. At the Conference, Parties will consider and discuss the criteria and terms of reference for hosting the Secretariat of the Bamako Convention in Bamako, Mali, and discuss opportunities for enhancing the cooperation, collaboration and synergies with the Basel and other chemicals-related conventions and frameworks, and with the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM).

The Conference will bring together ministers in charge of the environment, and their delegation, from States Parties to the Bamako Convention. The Conference will also be attended by delegates from countries signatories, non-signatories, specialized agencies, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, other observers and representative of the media.

The Conference venue is the Centre International De Conférences De Kintélé.

For more information please contact Francis Oloo.  E-mail: oloo[at]un.org

For media enquiries please contact Mohamed Atani.  E-mail: mohamed.atani[at]un.org