As per paragraph 6 of Article 23 of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the United Nations, its specialized agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as any State not a Party to the Convention, may be represented at meetings of the Conference of the Parties as observers.
In addition, any body or agency, whether national or international, governmental or non-governmental, that is qualified in matters covered by the Convention and has informed the Secretariat of its wish to be represented at a meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention as an observer may be admitted unless at least one third of the Parties present object.
Organizations falling in the latter category that wish to attend meetings of the Conference of the Parties should submit to the Secretariat at least two months prior to the opening of the meeting, an application for admission as an observer, including information demonstrating qualification in matters covered by the Convention. Non-governmental organizations previously accredited with the intergovernmental negotiating committee on mercury should also submit such application.
This process does not apply to the United Nations, its specialized agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as any State not a Party to the Convention and any entity operating the mechanism referred to in paragraph 5 of Article 13 of the Convention.
Organizations approved to participate in the first, second and third meetings of the Conference of the Parties do not need to resubmit such application for admission. See organizations listed in documents UNEP/MC/COP.1/INF/16,
UNEP/MC/COP.2/INF/19 and UNEP/MC/COP.3/INF/27.
For more information on the participation of observers as well as on the admission process please click here.
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Please contact the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury should you require any further information.