The Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Review Committee (POPRC) is a subsidiary body to the Stockholm Convention established for reviewing chemicals proposed for global regulation. The 19th meeting of POPRC will convene in Rome this October 9-13.
Empowering women in the fight to eliminate toxic chemicals
Thursday, 14 September 2023
By Yuyun Ismawati
In 2019, during the week of the 78th independence of Indonesia, in mid-August the media covered various stories about the worst air pollution in the capital, Jakarta. The authorities tried to answer the questions with empty promises and mismatched solutions.
Replacing lead water lines is critical to the health and well-being of residents in the United States, especially those living in environmental justice areas that are low-income and/or predominantly black and brown communities. But where do these pipes go after being removed from our homes? In keeping with historical and recent patterns of waste colonialism, the U.S. is likely exporting removed lead pipes to recycling facilities in countries with minimal protections for the environment and workers.
Sofía Chavez is a founder and General Manager of Casa Cem in Mexico. Casa Cem is rooted in community, and links local research to national policy/laws. She holds a Masters of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science.
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.
Saadiyah F. Hassoon is an expert chemical engineer who graduated from the College of Engineering at the University of Baghdad in 1981. She worked for 34 years for the Iraqi government, and in the last 10 of them she was the head of the environmental department in state company for electrical industries. In 2003 she started to shift her focus to civil society work.
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.
IPEN network groups say delegates should reject chemical recycling for plastic wastes-- a polluting, unproven technology -- and support clean non-combustion technologies for destroying POPs waste
Tuesday, 25 April 2023
Stronger, more health-protective rules should be adopted for Low POPs Content Levels in wastes
