BS-IV/17. Public awareness, education and participation

The Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety,

Recalling Article 23 of the Protocol and decision BS-II/13 on public awareness, education and participation,

Underscoring the importance of public awareness, education and participation for the effective implementation of the Protocol,

Welcoming the activities undertaken by Parties and relevant organizations towards the implementation of Article 23 of the Protocol,

Noting the challenges in implementing Article 23 expressed by Parties in their first national reports, including a lack of financial and technical resources and limited access to existing awareness materials and activities,

Emphasizing the need for a cohesive and focused approach to public awareness, education and participation,

Taking note of the progress made by the Secretariat in implementing the outreach strategy for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety endorsed at the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol,

1. Decides to develop a programme of work on public awareness, education and participation concerning the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms, with specific operational objectives, scope of activities and outputs and modalities of implementation;

2. Invites Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations to submit to the Executive Secretary, at least twelve months before the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol, their views on the possible elements of a programme of work on public awareness, education and participation concerning the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms;

3. Requests the Executive Secretary to prepare a synthesis of the views in the submissions made by Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations;

4 Invites Parties, Governments and relevant organizations to make available through the Biosafety Clearing-House, materials and information on opportunities for supporting projects related to public awareness, education and participation concerning the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms;

5. Requests the Executive Secretary to prepare, taking into account submissions made in accordance with paragraph 2 above a programme of work on public awareness, education and participation concerning the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms for consideration at the fifth meeting of the Parties;

6. Welcomes the new outreach strategy for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (2008-2012) developed by the Executive Secretary (UNEP/CBD/BS/COP-MOP/4/INF/18) and requests the Executive Secretary to advance its implementation;

7. Invites Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations to cooperate with, and support, the Executive Secretary in the implementation of the Outreach Strategy;

8. Requests the Executive Secretary to report on the implementation of the outreach strategy at the sixth meeting of the Parties to the Protocol.