An international "NGO Strategy Conference: Making our Environment Work for Children’s Health", jointly organised by the European Public Health Alliance and the European ECO-Forum, was held on the 15th-16th December 2003 in Brussels. The Final NGO Strategy Conference Report and the NGO Brussels Statement are now available below.
The conference brought together environmental, health, women, consumer and youth organisations to focus and bring new ideas to the preparations taking place for the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health - The Future For Our Children, which will take place in Budapest on 23-25 June 2004.
Health and environment ministers from the fifty-two countries of the WHO European Region will meet to adopt a Children’s Environment and Health Action Plan and a Ministerial Declaration, and it is vital that these discussions include active participation of NGOs.
The wide ranging Action Plan addresses fourteen environmental risk factors which have a negative impact on children’s health, ranging from indoor/outdoor air quality, hazardous chemicals, poor water supply to noise, transport, occupational safety and electromagnetic fields.
Alongside the ministerial event, the 2nd Healthy Planet Forum will provide a platform for civil society to highlight their concerns, showcase their innovative projects and activities, and comment on the decisions being taken by ministers.
The NGO Strategy Conference aimed to strengthen the voice of NGOs in this process and stimulate discussions on how the Budapest conference agenda can deliver real improvement to children’s health. It also provided an overview of opportunities to influence the agenda in the months to come.
The main topics to be discussed in the plenary sessions and workshops included:
Increasing NGO input into ministerial agenda items, which includes a Children’s Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe, and the Ministerial Declaration
Debating NGO priorities and drafting a Civil Society Statement
Preparing the content of the Healthy Planet Forum (plenary, workshops, NGO caucus, exhibition, interactive education tools, youth events, media work)
Presenting case studies and successful projects on improving children’s environment and health
Fundraising for NGO participation in Budapest
The organization of this NGO strategy conference was made possible thanks to the support of the UK Ministry of Health (travel and accommodation grants) and the Belgium Ministries of Health and Environment (venue and lunch-event) as well as the continuous support of WHO Europe.
To find out more, please visit:
Or contact:
Génon K. Jensen EPHA
Sascha Gabizon Women in Europe for our Common Future (WECF)
