The Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Minamata Convention on Mercury was held on 10 and 11 October 2013 in Kumamoto, Japan, with a ceremonial opening held in Minamata on 9 October 2013.
At the ceremonial opening, the Government of Japan welcomed delegates and reminded them of the events which led to the recognition of the dangers of mercury poisoning. A storyteller, whose life had been affected by the Minamata Disease, presented the lifelong effects for many of the people of Minamata Bay.
The meeting was officially opened in Kumamoto, and proceeded to adopt the text of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the resolutions to be annexed to the Final Act, and then the Final Act itself. The Convention and Final Act were then opened for signature, followed by statements from attending governments and other delegates.
The outcome of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries as contained in the Final Act can be accessed below or by clicking here.
UNEP(DTIE)/Hg/CONF/1 - Provisional agenda
UNEP(DTIE)/Hg/CONF/1/Add.1 - Annotations to the Provisional Agenda
UNEP(DTIE)/Hg/CONF/2 - Scenario note for the Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Minamata Convention on Mercury
UNEP(DTIE)/Hg/CONF/3 - Text of the Minamata Convention on Mercury for adoption by the Conference of Plenipotentiaries
UNEP(DTIE)/Hg/CONF/4 - Final Act of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Minamata Convention on Mercury
UNEP(DTIE)/Hg/CONF/INF.1 - Rules of procedure for the Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Minamata Convention on Mercury