Asia-Pacific Regional Civil Society Meeting
Seoul, Republic of Korea
2-3 November

About 50 representatives from 21 countries covering the five sub-regions of the Asia Pacific region (Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and the South Pacific) are gathering in Seoul from 2-3 November 2006 to discuss the region’s input to the 8th Global Civil Society Forum (GCSF) to be held in February 2007 in Nairobi, Kenya. The GCSF will be held before the 24th session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (24th GC/GMEF), scheduled from 5 to 9 February 2007.

Issues to be discussed in Seoul include:

1. Water and the Environment- updated water policy and strategy of the United Nations Environment Programme with a focus on freshwater resources;
2. Chemical Management and the Strategic Approach to International Chemical Management (SAICM) as a background paper intended to stimulate discussion and highlight chemicals management issues of concern to Governments;
3. The Millennium Development Goals and the Environment;
4. Gender and the Environment as a response to the mandate given to the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme to integrate further gender equality and environment activities into the programme of work of UNEP;
5. Globalization, Ecosystems Services and Human Well-Being: Discussions will cover the challenge of globalization, environmental risks and human well-being, globalization and environmental opportunities and policies issues.

Most major groups are represented at the meeting (women, youth, indigenous peoples, NGOs, local authorities, worker and trade unions, business and industry, scientific community).

The meeting is organized in partnership with the UNEP Eco-Peace Leadership Centre (EPLC), which was launched in the Republic of Korea in August this year.  More details are available on-line at:  http://www.roap.unep.org/press/NR06-05.html

The meeting will have wide representation of 21 Asia Pacific countries including – Participants from the 21 countries include:

1. Central Asia:  Kazakhstan, Tajikstan and Uzbekistan
2. South Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka
3. Southeast Asia:  Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam
4. South Pacific:  Australia and Fiji
5. Northeast Asia:  China, Japan, Mongolia and the host country, the Republic of Korea.