Agenda

Opening remarks and welcome statement

10 min

Mr. Helmut Gaugitsch, Austria, Chair of the Global Round Table on GMOs/LMOs and moderator of the thematic session on GMOs (Moderator)

Representative of the Government of Armenia (TBC)

Ms. Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

Introduction of the international framework

15 min

Introduction to the Article 23 of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and outcomes of the 5th national reports on Article 23

Introduction to the Aarhus Convention with the GMO Amendment, including the recent outcomes from eighth session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention

Introduction to the Escazú Agreement, including the implementation and opportunities

Mr. Zakir Jafry, CBD secretariat

Ms. Maryna Yanush, Aarhus Convention secretariat

Mr. David Barrio Lamarche, ECLAC Escazu Agreement secretariat

Sharing experiences

Moderator

Parties

Implementation of awareness, access to information, public participation and access to justice provisions and legislation

Ms. Armenuhi Avagyan, Armenia

Ms. Maral Sagynalieva, FAO/GEF project, Kyrgyzstan

Ms. Camila Zepeda Lizama, Government of Mexico

Indigenous peoples and local community (IPLC) representative

Experiences in awareness-raising and participation of IPLCs in process and implementation of the Escazú Agreement

Ms. Maren Benedicte Nystad Storslett, Sámi Parliament, Norway

Ms. Ruth Spencer, Barnes Hill Community Development Organization, Antigua and Barbuda

Youth involvement

Experiences in awareness-raising, research and regulations involving scientists

Ms. Tatevik Lazaryan, Public Awareness and Monitoring Centre, Armenia

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

Experiences in awareness-raising and implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Aarhus Convention

Ms. Antje Lorch, Ecoropa

Mr. Jorge Iván Lu Palencia, Interamerican Association Environmental Defense

Special Rapporteur on Environment Defenders under the Aarhus Convention

Experiences in providing support to Parties and civil society in protecting environmental defenders

Mr. Michel Forst, Special Rapporteur on Environment Defenders under the Aarhus Convention

United Nations Environment Programme

Experiences in providing support to Parties to develop their Biosafety legislation

Ms. Patricia Kameri-Mbote Director, Law Division, United Nations Environment Programme

Open Discussion

10 min

Moderator

Closing remarks