Chemicals are common ingredients in most of the products we consume, they are used from the production stage, they last throughout the use of products, and once disposed, they can remain in the environment long after, if not forever.
Chalani Rubesinghe is the Project Planning and Management Officer at the Center for Environmental Justice in Sri Lanka. She completed her Masters degree in environmental science and is author of "Save Environment, Save the Planet."
I have been working on the impact of chemicals exposure on women’s health ever since I joined the Centre for Environmental Justice, Sri Lanka in 2012. Starting as an environmental officer through my journey to project planning and management officer, I have worked with IPEN on various initiatives.
The IPEN Women's Caucus was established to provide a forum for planning, discussion, and engagement around gender issues related to chemical policy and advocacy. By providing venues where women in IPEN can share experiences, discuss strategies, and share skills, we aim to catalyze action by women in policy making arenas at all levels.
See below for Web Links and Documents from our Women's Caucus meetings, webinars, and more.
In 2022, IPEN published a report titled “Women Leaders: Addressing Chemicals and Waste Issues” showcasing women leaders' stories working at different levels to strengthen protections against harmful chemicals. We are now hosting a webinar to learn from these inspiring women and support their critical work toward achieving the SDGs. This webinar aims to provide a platform for women leaders to share their experiences and insights on addressing chemicals and waste issues and to provide practical strategies and tools for women to take action in their communities and organizations. By highlighting the critical role of women in addressing these challenges, we aim to inspire and empower women worldwide to take action for a more sustainable future.
This June, IPEN member Friends of the Earth-Togo launched a project on "Capacity building to consolidate food sovereignty in Togo - connecting to the movement in Africa.” The project aims by 2025 to ensure that food sovereignty and agroecology are considered essential to the achievement of women’s equality and environmental, social, economic justice.
From June 6-17, IPEN members will participate in the Meetings of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions taking place in Geneva, Switzerland. Check this page for updates throughout the meetings.
IPEN studies show how policy is driving massive investment in plastic waste-to-fuel processing, and that exports are threatening waste management in ASEAN countries and undermining the Basel Convention and climate change commitments.
Since the early 1990s, the production of alternative fuels has become a quite popular waste management option in different countries. Solid Recover Fuel (SRF) is considered as a complementary intervention to preparing the residual waste stream for material recovery or disposal in landfills. The treatment processes that produce waste-derived fuels have been widely implemented in some countries.
