Prior to the meeting, IPEN prepared Views on a Global Mercury Treaty, which explains why a global treaty on mercury is needed and puts forward a civil society vision for the treaty.
Once in Kenya, IPEN representatives carried out an important action to remind delegates about the true price of gold- children's health. In Africa, children under the age of 18 may constitute up to 30% - 50% of the workforce in artisanal small scale gold mining (ASGM), a practice that often uses mercury to extract gold, seriously endangering workers and the environment.
Flyers that were handed out to delegates during the acton (clck to enlarge):
One important way that IPEN representatives from NGOs around the world participated in the INC1 was by making interventions on specific issues during plenary. Please find the interventions below:
In June 2010, then-Prime Minister of Japan Yukio Hatoyama proposed naming the global mercury treaty, once finalized, the “Minamata Convention.” Unfortunately, the proposal was not discussed with Minamata victims and support groups before the announcement.
With the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, IPEN carried out hair sampling of government delegates and other INC1 participants to test for mercury levels.
