27 February 2013: The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has released the final report of the “Africa Regional Capacity-Building Workshop on Public Awareness, Education and Participation Concerning the Safe Transfer, Handling and Use of Living Modified Organisms,” which conved from 5-9 November 2012, in Kampala, Uganda.

The workshop was organized to enhance the capacity of parties and other governments in Africa to implement the programme of work on public awareness, education and participation concerning the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) for the period 2011-2015, adopted by Decision BS-V/13 of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP/MOP). The workshop aimed to introduce participants to key concepts, tools and legal instruments relevant to public awareness, education, access to information and participation; facilitate exchange of information; and discuss strategies for enhancing regional and sub-regional cooperation in the implementation of the programme of work.

Following an introduction to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the programme of work on public awareness, education and participation concerning LMOs, participants heard presentations highlighting key regional and international legal frameworks underpinning public awareness, education, access to information and participation relating to matters concerning the environment. Presentations addressed Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration; the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters; and the draft model law on access to information in Africa. Participants were then introduced to various concepts, tools and approaches related to public awareness and education concerning LMOs, as well as to basic skills for proactive planning of public awareness activities. Presentations on various issues and experiences regarding public access to information concerning LMOs were discussed. The discourse also focused on cooperation with the Aarhus Convention and on promoting regional cooperation. [Publication: Report of the Africa Regional Capacity-Building Workshop on Public Awareness, Education and Participation Concerning the Safe Transfer, Handling and Use of Living Modified Organisms][Workshop Webpage]