First-ever Chemicals and Waste Youth Forum Met During ICCM5

Children and young people are hurt the most and often heard the least with respect to chemicals and waste management. They are “locked into a world of waste but locked out of political processes to address it.”

To address these challenges, the first-ever youth forum on chemicals and waste sought to engage youth in the design, implementation, monitoring, follow-up, and review of chemicals and waste policies at all levels. Several panel discussions and a moderated intergenerational dialogue with youth and key decision makers took place in the margins of the fifth session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5).

Panel discussions included ‘Children, Adolescents and Their Exposure to Toxic Chemicals: Environmental Health Case Studies and Priorities" and "‘The Right to a Toxic-Free Environment for Children and All Generations".

ISLANDS recognises youth as a key stakeholders and aims to engage with young people in SIDS region on toxic chemicals and waste through the Tide Turners initiative.