Statement on Minamata and the Mercury Treaty from Ryukou Sakamoto, Director, Minamata Disease Citizen’s Group, and Hideki Sato, Director, Minamata Disease Victims’ Mutual Aid Society.
A survey of mercury content in the hair of delegates at the first UN negotiating meeting for a global treaty on mercury.
At the 1st International Negotiating Committee (INC1) for a Global Treaty on Mercury, negotiators from 40 countries were tested by IPEN and SSNC, and mercury levels between 93 ug/kg and 2956 ug/kg were found in their hair samples. More than one-third of the samples exceeded the US National Research Council mercury reference dose of 1000 ug/kg.
In 2009, governments of the world agreed to start negotiations on a global mercury treaty with the goal of finishing by 2013. After consultations and input from NGOs in all regions of the world, IPEN adopted its “Views on a Global Mercury Treaty” policy statement, which explains why a global treaty on mercury is needed and puts forward a civil society vision for the treaty.
The campaign aims at raising widespread awareness among business entrepreneurs, consumers and policy makers about the adverse impacts on human health from lead based decorative paints.
Ravi Agarwal, director of IPEN Participating Organization Toxics Link, on “Satyamev Jayate" telecast: Satyamev Jayate, National Channel, Star TV July 22, 2012
The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC4) to prepare a global treaty on mercury took place in Punta del Este, Uruguay and many IPENers participated.