For a more comprehensive list of events in trade and sustainable development, please refer to ICTSD’s web calendar. Please bear in mind that dates and times of WTO meetings are often changed, and that the WTO does not always announce the important informal meetings of the different bodies.
ICTSD Event
31 May, Montreal, Canada: MULTILATERAL TRADE RULES AND THE CARTAGENA PROTOCOL: IS THERE SPACE FOR DOMESTIC PUBLIC POLICIES? Side-event organised by ICTSD for the second Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol, 13h15 to 14h45, Room FII - Level 1. Issues to be addressed will include the relationship between the biosafety and trade regimes; the implications of the WTO biotech dispute for domestic biosafety policy-making; and a Southern African perspective on the practical issue affecting biotech trade at the national level. For further information, see http://www.ictsd.org/dlogue/2005-05-31/2005-05-31-desc.htm.
Coming up in the next two weeks
30 May - 3 June, Montreal, Canada: SECOND MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES SERVING AS THE MEETING OF THE PARTIES TO THE CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY (COP/MOP-2). Organised by the Convention on Biological Diversity. For further information contact the CBD Secretariat, tel: (+1-514) 288-2220; fax: 288-6588; email: secretariat@biodiv.org; Internet: http://www.biodiv.org/doc/meeting.asp?mtg=MOP-02
30 May - 26 June, Internet: FAO E-MAIL CONFERENCE - BIOTECHNOLOGY AND CHARACTERISATION/CONSERVATION OF GENETIC RESOURCES. The FAO Biotechnology Forum is devoting its next e-mail conference to the role that biotechnology can play in the characterisation and conservation of crop, animal, forestry and fishery genetic resources in developing countries. The conference is free and open to everyone, and will be used to discuss and exchange experiences on this theme. For further information contact John Ruane; email: john.ruane@fao.org; Internet: http://www.fao.org/biotech/index.asp
1 June, Geneva, Switzerland: SEEKING SOLUTIONS: DEVELOPING NEW TREATMENTS AND IMPROVING ACCESS FOR POOR PEOPLE. This conference is organised by the Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health (CIPIH) of the World Health Organization (WHO). Attendance is by invitation only. For further information contact the World Health Organization, tel: (+41 22) 791 2764; fax: 791 4852; email: cipihopenforum@who.int; Internet: http://www.who.int/intellectualproperty/events/openforum/en/
2 June, Geneva, Switzerland: NEGOTIATING GROUP ON RULES. For further information, contact the WTO Information and Media Relations Division, Geneva; tel: (41-22) 739- 5007; fax: (41-22) 739-5458; email: enquiries@wto.org; Internet: www.wto.org
6-10 June, Washington D.C., United States of America: CONSULTATIONS AND GEF COUNCIL MEETING. This event is organised by the Global Environment Facility. For further information contact the secretariat, tel: (+1 202) 473-0508; fax: 522-3240/3245; e-mail: secretariat@TheGEF.org; Internet: http://gefweb.org/
6-10 June, New York, United States of America: 6TH MEETING OF THE UNITED NATIONS OPEN-ENDED INFORMAL CONSULTATIVE PROCESS ON OCEANS AND THE LAW OF THE SEA. For more information contact Mr. Vladimir Golitsyn; tel: (1) 212 963 3951; fax: (1) 212 963 5847; email: doalos@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/Depts/los/consultative_process/consultative_process.htm
Other Upcoming
16-18 June 2005, New York City, US: THE COMMUNITY COMMONS: A DIALOGUE ON LOCAL APPROACHES TO THE MDGS. This event is co-organised by UNDP, the Equator Initiative and Fordham University and is designed as a special civil society contribution towards the Millennium Review Summit in September 2005. The dialogue will be a forum for local communities and Indigenous Peoples’, bringing together representatives of Community-Based Organisations to debate, develop and present recommendations to the preparatory Civil Society Hearings, 24-24 June. For further information contact the Equator Initiative, tel: (+1 212) 457-1709; Fax: 457 1370 email: EquatorInitiative@undp.org; Internet: http://www.undp.org/equatorinitiative/secondary/events/CommunityCommons/CommunityCommons.htm
18-22 June, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo: 28TH SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL TROPICAL TIMBER COUNCIL (ITTC-38). Organised by the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO). For further information contact Manoel Sobral Filho, Executive Director, ITTO, tel: + 81 45 223 1110; fax: +81 45 223 1111; email: itto@itto.or.jp; Internet: http://www.itto.or.jp/live/PageDisplayHandler?pageId=189
11-13 July 2005, São Paulo, Brazil. THE GLOBAL FEED AND FOOD CONGRESS. Organised by FAO and the International Feed Industry Federation, this congress also includes six panel sessions, one of which is dedicated to biotechnology. For further information contact Global Feed & Food, tel: (+55 11) 3073-0102; email: global_feed_food@sight-momentum.com.br; Internet: www.globalfeed-food.com
21-27 August, Stockholm, Sweden: WORLD WATER WEEK. This event is organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute and will unite experts from more than 100 countries representing private sector, civil society, governmental, inter-governmental, science and water management sectors. For further information contact the Stockholm International Water Institute, tel: (+46 (0)8 )522 139 60; email: sympos@siwi.org; Internet: http://www.worldwaterweek.org/