Admission of Observers

The meetings of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) are open to participation by observers in accordance with paragraph 6 of Article 15 of the Basel Convention and the relevant Rules of Procedure.

National or international, governmental or non-governmental bodies or agencies wishing to attend OEWG-13 as observers should proceed as described below.

  • Previously admitted observers

Bodies or agencies that have already been admitted to past meetings of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention or its subsidiary bodies need to fill in the observer registration form for OEWG-13 and submit it to Ms. Jo Ann Edma.

In accordance with the Rules of Procedure, such bodies or agencies may be present at the meeting, if there is no objection from at least one-third of the Parties present.

  • New observers

Bodies or agencies that have not previously attended a meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention or its subsidiary bodies need to complete the procedure for admission as an observer. The application should include the completed application form and the following information:

  1. Information describing the body or agency;
  2. Information on the affiliation of the body or agency with non-governmental organizations or institutions;
  3. Information on the programmes and activities undertaken by the body or agency, or qualifications in fields relating to the transboundary movement, management or disposal of hazardous wastes;
  4. Description of any network and/or membership system.

Further information on the procedure for admission of observers is available here.

Please send the completed application form together with the required information to brs@brsmeas.org.

Upon confirmation by the Secretariat that the requesting body or agency appears to meet the criteria, the observer will need to submit the completed registration form to Ms. Jo Ann Edma.

This procedure for admission of observers does not apply to observers from the United Nations and its specialized agencies, the International Atomic Energy Agency, or any State and any political and/or economic integration organization not party to the Basel Convention. Such observers may, on invitation of the President, participate without the right to vote in the proceedings of the meeting, unless at least one third of the Parties present at the meeting object.

In accordance with the Rules of Procedure, bodies or agencies that meet the relevant criteria may be represented at the meeting, if there is no objection from at least one third of the Parties present.