The 67th Session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted over 20 resolutions on public health issues, including on exposure to mercury and mercury compounds and the role of the World Health Organization and ministries of public health in the implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
The WHA is the World Health Organization's (WHO) supreme decision-making body.
24 May 2014: The 67th Session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted over 20 resolutions on public health issues, including on exposure to mercury and mercury compounds and the role of the World Health Organization and ministries of public health in the implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The WHA is the World Health Organization’s (WHO) supreme decision-making body.
The resolution requests the WHO Secretariat to provide expert advice to assist health ministries in implementing the Minamata Convention on Mercury and to support states developing and implementing strategies to identify and protect populations at risk. Assistance may also include adopting science-based health guidelines relating to exposure to mercury and mercury compounds and setting targets for mercury exposure reduction.
The resolution requests states to: take measures to ratify the Convention; address the health aspects of exposure to mercury and mercury compounds in the context of their health sector uses, by ensuring the sound management of mercury and mercury compounds throughout their life cycle; and recognize the interrelation between the environment and public health in the context of the implementation of the Minamata Convention and sustainable development. [Draft resolution: Public Health Impacts of Exposure to Mercury and Mercury Compounds] [WHA67 Website] [WHO Press release] [IISD RS Story on WHA 67]