Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to bring to your attention the upcoming second round table on public awareness, access to information and public participation regarding living modified organisms (LMOs)/genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that will be held from 15 to 17 November 2016 in Geneva at the Palais des Nations (Salle V). The round table is a joint event under the auspices of UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The round table aims to build countries’ capacities through sharing knowledge, experiences and lessons learned in promoting public awareness, access to information and public participation regarding living modified organisms/genetically modified organisms (LMOs/GMOs) and to make recommendations for future action at the national, regional and international levels. The meeting is expected to showcase the Protocol’s and the Aarhus Convention’s success stories and will further contribute to sustainable development and protecting biodiversity. It will also assist Parties, other interested Governments and stakeholders in furthering relevant sustainable development goals. The event will be open to participation of a wide range of stakeholders, such as Governments, media, academia, business and non-governmental organisations.

The outcomes of the event are intended to facilitate the ratification and implementation of the Aarhus Convention’s Almaty Amendment on GMOs and to contribute to the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety's Programme of Work on Public Awareness, Education and Participation concerning the safe transfer, handling and use of LMOs. The outcomes of the event will be presented at the upcoming sessions of both the Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention (11-13 September 2017, Montenegro) and of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol (4-17 December 2016, Cancun, Mexico).

Information on registration will be sent to you in due course. The provisional agenda and other documentation for the round table as well as information on participation will be made available on the round table’s web page http://www.unece.org/env/pp/grt_lmo_gmo_2016.  Please kindly note the dates of the round table and check the webpage regularly.

We look forward to welcoming you to Geneva for this important event.

With kind regards,

Ulrika Nilsson

Dear Colleagues,

In view of the upcoming Round table on public awareness, access to information and public participation regarding LMOs/GMOs (Geneva, 15 -17 November 2016), we are pleased to share with you the below information regarding documents, participation and practical arrangements for the event. The round table is a joint event under the auspices of UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

More information regarding the meeting is available on the following webpage: http://www.unece.org/env/pp/grt_lmo_gmo_2016#/

Documents

Provisional programme for the round table is available from the following webpage: http://www.unece.org/env/pp/grt_lmo_gmo_2016#/

Other documents for the meeting will be made available from this webpage in due course. Please note that this is a paper free meeting. No documents will be made available in the meeting room. Participants are strongly encouraged to download or print the meeting documents before the meeting so as not to face any problems in case of internet service disruption. Please check this web page regularly and make sure that you bring with you all documents required for the meeting.

Registration, Visa, Financial support and Practical information

Participants who are not applying for financial support are requested to register online before 1 November 2016 through the following link:   https://www2.unece.org/uncdb/app/ext/meeting-registration?id=A6iczV

Participants requiring a personal invitation letter for visa purposes should click on the “visa required” option and register for the meeting as early as possible, taking into account the period required to obtain the visa.

Limited funds are available to support delegates from countries with economies in transition, eligible for financial support, and NGOs. Participants who are applying for financial support should register as soon as possible, but before 20 September 2016. They should submit the completed financial support request form to the secretariat by e-mail (public.participation@unece.org) before the same date. Kindly note that financial support request would be considered only after submission of duly filled in Financial support request form and online registration through the link mentioned above.

Wireless internet is available in all meeting rooms. Kindly note that electrical power plugs and sockets are unique to Switzerland within the UNECE region (type J, three-pin, 230 V, 50 Hz), and respectively require an adaptor, though slim two-pin plugs (type C) will fit. For additional practical information, please consult: http://www.unece.org/env/pp/practical.

Key dates to remember

Deadline for registration with financial support: 20 September 2016
Deadline for registration without financial support: 1 November 2016

We are looking forward to welcoming you in Geneva in November.

With kind regards,

Ulrika Nilsson