Sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-6) | Minamata Convention on Mercury

Sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-6) | Minamata Convention on Mercury
Sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-6)
Geneva,
Switzerland,
03 Nov
2025
07 Nov
2025
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2025-11-03T10:00:00 - 2025-11-07T18:00:00
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Meeting Information
Meeting Information
Programme of work and budget for the biennium 2026–2027
The
Programme of work and budget for the biennium 2026-2027
, submitted to COP-6 as information document
UNEP/MC/COP.6/INF/38
, was updated by the Secretariat based on the COP-6 decisions to guide the work during the intersessional period.
This publication provides additional information on the work planned for the biennium 2026–2027, including on mandates, background information and rationales, activities and outputs, and costs associated with specific activities.
The sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (
COP-6
) took place in
Geneva, Switzerland
, from
3 to 7 November 2025
. During COP-5, the Conference of the Parties elected
Osvaldo Álvarez
(Chile) as the
President of COP-6
For previous highlights on the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, please click on the link below.
Fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-5)
30 October - 03 November 2023
COP Meetings
Switzerland
Geneva
Documents
Documents
Regional Meetings
Regional Meetings
Regional preparatory meeting for COP-6: GRULAC
03 - 04 September 2025
Regional Meetings
Chile
Santiago
Regional preparatory meeting for COP-6: Eastern European States
16 - 17 September 2025
Regional Meetings
Switzerland
Geneva
Regional preparatory meeting for COP-6: Asia-Pacific
23 - 24 September 2025
Regional Meetings
Thailand
Bangkok
Regional preparatory meeting for COP-6: Africa
07 - 09 October 2025
Regional Meetings
Kenya
Nairobi
Newsroom
Newsroom
From the Executive Secretary
MC/COP6/2026/1
11 Feb 2026
Invitation to Parties and stakeholders to submit information and other contributions in support of work under the Minamata Convention on Mercury following the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties
At its sixth meeting, held from 3 to 7 November 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland, the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-6) adopted a number of decisions inviting Parties and other stakeholders to provide information and make contributions to support the work of the C
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Publication
06 Feb 2026
Programme of work and budget for the biennium 2026–2027
Publication based on the annex to document
UNEP/MC/COP.6/INF/38
, which complements
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Video
21 Jan 2026
Minamata Convention COP-6: Highlights and Key Messages
Watch the video on the meeting held in Geneva from 3 to 7 November 2025, where key decisions were adopted to strengthen global efforts in the fight against mercury pollution.
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10 Nov 2025
Newsletter: COP-6 outcomes and highlights
At COP-6, Parties adopted 22 key decisions to tackle toxic mercury: relive the highlights of the meeting, explore our newsroom and live blog, view our photo albums, and read the IISD-ENB coverage.
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Highlights
10 Nov 2025
COP-6 closing press conference
Watch the press conference held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, highlighting the key outcomes of COP-6 and their importance in advancing the objective of the Convention worldwide.
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Video
10 Nov 2025
Short video statement: Monika Stankiewicz
Watch the words of the Minamata Convention Executive Secretary: “We have just finished COP-6 with great outcomes that will advance the work to eliminate mercury everywhere in the world“.
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Press release
07 Nov 2025
Minamata Convention COP-6 agrees to end the use of dental amalgam by 2034, marking a historic milestone in reducing mercury pollution
Parties adopted 22 decisions to advance implementation, cooperation, and protect human health and the environment from mercury pollution.
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07 Nov 2025
Newsletter: COP-6 day 5 (Friday 7 November)
Fifth and last day of COP-6 in Geneva: stay updated for the schedule, knowledge labs, live blog, photo albums, coverage by IISD-ENB, and live streaming in all 6 UN languages.
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07 Nov 2025
Short video statement: Anil Sookdeo
Watch the words of the Global Environment Facility Senior Environment Specialist: "The GEF takes its role in the financial mechanism of the Minamata Convention very seriously".
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Highlights
06 Nov 2025
Recognizing the dedication of Parties and delegates at COP-6
Throughout the COP-6 week, the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury has extended its appreciation for the exceptional dedication and support demonstrated by Parties and delegates.
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06 Nov 2025
Short video statement: Fernando Trujillo
Watch the words of the 2024 NatGeo Explorer of the Year: "Let's encourage a monitoring programme of the mercury in regions like the Amazon".
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06 Nov 2025
Newsletter: COP-6 day 4 (Thursday 6 November)
Fourth day of COP-6 in Geneva: stay updated for the schedule, special events, knowledge labs, live blog, photo albums, coverage by IISD-ENB, and live streaming in all 6 UN languages.
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Highlights
05 Nov 2025
IISD-ENB coverage on COP-6
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) covers the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (3-7 November).
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Video
05 Nov 2025
Short video statement: Osvaldo Álvarez
Watch the words of the COP-6 President: "Let's ensure the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention through real, measurable action".
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05 Nov 2025
Newsletter: COP-6 day 3 (Wednesday 5 November)
Third day of COP-6 in Geneva: stay updated for the schedule, special events, knowledge labs, live blog, photo albums, coverage by IISD-ENB, and live streaming in all 6 UN languages.
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04 Nov 2025
Newsletter: COP-6 day 2 (Tuesday 4 November)
Second day of COP-6 in Geneva, Switzerland: stay updated for the schedule, special events, knowledge labs, live blog, coverage by IISD-ENB, and live streaming in all 6 UN languages.
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Press release
03 Nov 2025
Minamata Convention COP-6 opens in Geneva to strengthen global action on mercury pollution
The sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-6) takes place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 3 to 7 November 2025, bringing together over 1,000 participants and partner organizations to advance global efforts to make mercury history.
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Video
03 Nov 2025
Short video statement: Aileen Mioko Smith
Watch the words of the Executive Director of Green Action in Japan, photographer and co-author of "Minamata" (1975) at COP-6.
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Highlights
03 Nov 2025
Keep an eye on COP-6
Visit the Convention’s Flickr account to view photos from the COP-6 activities and participants illustrating each day of negotiations.
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03 Nov 2025
Newsletter: COP-6 begins (Monday 3 November)
Today marks the start of COP-6 in Geneva, Switzerland: stay updated for the schedule, special events, live blog, coverage by IISD-ENB, and live streaming in all 6 UN languages.
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Statement
03 Nov 2025
Remarks: Monika Stankiewicz at the opening of Minamata Convention COP-6
Opening remarks by Monika Stankiewicz, Executive Secretary of the Minamata Convention, at the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention (COP-6) in Geneva, Switzerland.
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Live Blog
03 Dec 2025
14:27 CET
Unpacking COP-6: regional groups
Regional groups play a central role in shaping negotiations and building a common understanding ahead of each COP. Their preparatory discussions help Parties align positions, identify shared priorities, and ensure that national perspectives are reflected in regional approaches. Thanks to financial support from Switzerland, all regional preparatory meetings convened successfully, and dedicated negotiations and co-chairs training, funded by Germany, strengthened delegates’ capacity to engage effectively in the process.
“At COP-6 Parties were working in a very collegial atmosphere, which proves that multilateralism works,” noted Executive Secretary
Monika Stankiewicz
. The constructive engagement of regional groups contributed significantly to the spirit of cooperation that defined the week and supported progress across key agenda items.
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07 Nov 2025
10:16 CET
Knowledge labs (Friday 7 November)
On the last day of COP-6, two final
knowledge labs
concluded a week of information sharing and collaboration. The sessions highlighted practical advances in mercury waste management and in mercury reduction in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), reflecting the Convention’s spirit of cooperation across sectors and regions, at both local and global levels.
“Mercury Wastes Management in Countries: Latest Advances and Experience in Protecting Human Health and the Environment”
, was organized by the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership together with the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions. The session showcased the value of harmonized approaches across multilateral environmental agreements, with speakers sharing recent tools supporting the environmentally sound disposal of mercury-containing waste under both the Minamata and Basel Conventions. The discussion featured examples of projects advancing mercury phase-out and capacity-building initiatives, including training materials jointly developed by the Minamata and BRS Secretariats with the Global Mercury Partnership’s Waste Management area of work.
“Mercury Reduction in Artisanal Gold Mining Using Local Knowledge and Practical Strategies – From Data to Action”
, hosted by the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM), focused on the importance of stakeholder-driven solutions in reducing mercury use in ASGM. Speakers emphasized the need for technological innovation and both technical and local knowledge-sharing mechanisms. Data transparency and reliability were also identified as essential to support mercury-free solutions centered on community needs and priorities, underlining the importance of stakeholder engagement for both practitioners and policymakers in advancing effective mercury mitigation strategies.
Taking place in parallel with the negotiations and decisions adopted by the Parties to address mercury pollution, these final knowledge labs helped wrap up the last day of COP-6 with a strong message of cooperation, innovation and inclusivity: key ingredients in the global efforts to make mercury history. Learn more about all
knowledge labs
here.
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07 Nov 2025
08:51 CET
Detoxifying Cosmetics​ and Beauty Ideals: Movie screening and panel discussion
© Global Mercury Partnership
On Thursday 6 November, the final special event of COP-6,
Detoxifying Cosmetics and Beauty Ideals
, brought together policymakers, artists and experts at the Graduate Institute in Geneva to explore how art and dialogue can drive change in addressing mercury use in cosmetics. Organized by the
Global Mercury Partnership
in collaboration with the
Graduate Institute
World Health Organization
(WHO) and
Biodiversity Research Institute
, the session examined the health, environmental and social dimensions of toxic beauty standards and their links to mercury pollution.
The event featured representatives of the Minamata Convention alongside photographer
Angélica Dass
, UNEP’s
Ludovic Bernaudat
, WHO’s
Serge Molly Allo’o Allo’o
, and filmmaker
Adama Bineta Sow
, who shared perspectives on promoting safe and more equitable approaches to beauty and self-image. Bernaudat emphasized the importance of keeping mercury and all harmful chemicals out of cosmetics, noting that when societies face the health impacts caused by cosmetic use, they have already failed to address the core issue of toxic beauty ideals that make people use these products in the first place.
The discussion was followed by the screening of "
Timpi Tampa"
, a Senegalese film directed by Sow that uses humor and emotion to challenge colorism and celebrate diversity, which was met with strong engagement from a full audience. The director explained that her inspiration came from observing the growing use of skin-lightening products in Senegal and her desire to encourage women to appreciate their natural beauty and not feel the need to change and poison their bodies.
The special event illustrated how art can complement policy efforts and serve as a powerful medium for awareness-raising and social change, demonstrating that when words fall short, art can carry the message forward.
Learn more about the event
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06 Nov 2025
21:32 CET
Knowledge labs (Thursday 6 November)
The third day of sessions at COP-6 showcased six
Knowledge Labs
that spotlighted innovation, collaboration and inclusion in tackling mercury pollution, from data-driven chemicals management to community-led monitoring and case studies from across the globe.
Parties Perú and Bangladesh Present Prototypes for Mercury-Free Dentistry in the Americas and Asia
” organized by the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, discussed the issues of oral health and mercury in dental treatments. With strong NGO engagement, the session showcased country examples in eliminating dental amalgam: Perú’s new legislation and Bangladesh’s multi-sectoral collaboration involving military, dental schools and civil society.
The UNEP session “
Fostering the Integration of Chemicals Pollution into National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs)
” addressed the interlinkages between chemical wastes and biodiversity management, featuring contributions by Claudia Vega and
Aileen Mioko Smith
. With high attendance, the knowledge lab shared guidance, country experiences and feedback on integrating and mainstreaming pollution into National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans under the Convention on Biological Diversity and Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
In “
Informing Integrated Chemicals Management: Data Needs and Experience from Mercury
”, hosted by the UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution, speakers examined how data can support integrated chemicals management. With opening remarks from Global Environment Facility’s Anil Sookdeo, the
Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm
Conventions Secretariat's
Abiola Olanipekun
, and Minamata Convention Secretariat’s Brenda Koekkoek, the panel emphasized the need for data generation, consistency and comparability, called for global collaboration on monitoring, data generation use, and strengthened capacities to support sound management of chemicals and waste.
The planetGOLD programme and Natural Resources Defense Council, together with the World Bank’s AEHPMP, co-hosted “
Advancing Gender-Inclusive Solutions in ASGM
”. Recognizing the disproportionate impacts of mercury on women, the discussion focused on empowering women in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). Speakers from Bolivia, Ghana and Tanzania shared tools, strategies and stories of partnering with women miners to improve opportunities and working conditions through capacity building and technical support for mercury-free technologies.
Later in the evening, “
Indigenous Peoples and Mercury Monitoring: Experiences in Promoting Human Rights and Co-production of Knowledge Approaches in the Arctic and the Amazon
” organized by the Inuit Circumpolar Council and Federación Nativa del Río Madre de Dios y Afluentes, highlighted community-led mercury monitoring initiatives. Speakers underscored the importance of safeguarding Indigenous knowledge and ancestral understanding as integral to effective policy and the continuation of traditional ways of life. A key topic was the need for stronger collaboration among authorities, scientists and healthcare professionals to effectively communicate the dangers of mercury exposure. The session emphasized how these efforts can advance human rights, environmental justice and mercury governance.
At the same time, “
GEF-UNDP Experiences on the Elimination of Mercury from Consumer and Healthcare Products
” was hosted by the United Nations Development Programme. Representatives from China, Ecuador and Ghana, with insights from several other regions, presented case studies on phasing out mercury devices, promoting safe and accessible alternatives to mercury, and managing mercury waste to protect human health and the environment.
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06 Nov 2025
18:02 CET
Recognizing the dedication of Parties and delegates at COP-6
SIP special recognition
Throughout the COP-6 week, the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury has extended its appreciation for the
exceptional dedication and support
demonstrated by Parties and delegates.
On Monday 3 November, the Secretariat expressed its gratitude to the donors of the
Specific International Programme
(SIP) to support Capacity-Building and Technical Assistance (pictured above): Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America. It was also acknowledged the generous support of the Government of Italy, which funded a Junior Professional Officer position within the Secretariat that was instrumental in supporting the SIP.
These donors have collectively contributed USD 8.4 million, enabling 34 projects to be approved and implemented across 31 countries through four rounds of funding. A significant number of approved projects have focused on mercury-added products, the environmentally sound management of mercury waste, national regulatory frameworks, and awareness-raising activities. The work of the SIP remains an essential component of the effective implementation of the Minamata Convention.
On Tuesday 4 November, the Secretariat recognized the Parties that have already submitted their
second full national reports
, well ahead of the 31 December 2025 deadline. Recognition was accorded to Austria, Burundi, Comoros, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Mongolia, Sweden, Togo and Uganda. The high reporting rate under the Minamata Convention is a source of great pride for this young multilateral environmental agreement and reflects the continued commitment of its Parties.
Also instrumental to the effective implementation of the Convention are the co-chairs of its bodies, who were recognized on Wednesday 5 November. The co-chairs of the
SIP Governing Board
, Andrew Clark and Obed Meringo Baloyi, review and approve projects for the Specific International Programme.
In the
Open-ended Scientific Group
, co-chairs Dominique Bally Kpokro and Alexandra Steffan, and previously former co-chair Terry Keating, inform the Convention on mercury research and bridges the gap between science and policy. The
Effectiveness Evaluation Group
co-chairs, Linroy Christian and Katerina Sebkova, and previously former co-chair Itsuki Kuroda, assess the overall effectiveness of the Convention at the global level.
The
Implementation and Compliance Committee
was also acknowledged, with special appreciation extended to chair Yunfang Hu and vice-chair Eva Salplachtova, and previously former vice-chair Musa Kuzumila Ngunila, for their leadership in facilitating the smooth integration of the Convention by Parties and acknowledging their respective national capabilities and circumstances.
The Secretariat of the Minamata Convention believes that it is important to celebrate the ongoing dedication of Parties and delegates, and looks forward to acknowledge and celebrate even more achievements in the future. See photos from the special recognition occasions on
our Flickr account
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05 Nov 2025
22:05 CET
Knowledge labs (Wednesday 5 November)
The second day of
Knowledge Labs
at COP-6 featured six sessions covering a wide range of topics spanning science, policy and art, aimed at raising awareness, sharing tools and fostering collaboration to help tackle mercury pollution.
The session “
Detoxifying Cosmetics and Beauty Ideals: Global Voices and Solutions to Reduce Demand for Mercury and Skin Lightening
”, organized by UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch, brought together speakers from governments and the private sector. Participants discussed how businesses can empower consumers to make informed, safe, and equitable choices. Artist Angélica Dass, creator of the
Humanae photo exhibition
, discussed her creative process and how art can serve as a catalyst for change, illustrating the diversity of human skin tones and challenging discriminatory beauty standards and colorism-fueled cosmetic practices.
In “
Minamata Disease: Bearing Witness through Photography – Lessons from Minamata for Tomorrow’s Challenges
”, organized by the Minamata Photographers’ Eye Project, Aileen Mioko Smith shared her experience documenting the victims of mercury pollution in Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture. Showcasing the
photo exhibition
displayed at the venue, she highlighted the importance of using art for activism, motivating action in legislation and management of chemical pollutants, and helping prevent future mercury-related tragedies around the world.
The session “
How Partnerships and Research Infrastructures Enhance Implementation of the Minamata Convention
”, organized by the Czech Republic, RECETOX, and Masaryk University, showcased innovative tools supporting national implementation of the Convention, including a real-time mercury data platform, population exposure and risk mitigation tools, and an open-access research infrastructure for laboratories and monitoring networks. Speakers emphasized the importance of strong links between scientific research and policymaking, highlighting the need for cohesive data frameworks to support effective monitoring and implementation.
Building the Evidence: Linking Human and Biota Mercury Monitoring under the Minamata Convention
”, co-hosted by the Open-ended Scientific Group, Jožef Stefan Institute, Biodiversity Research Institute, and Dartmouth College, presented findings on mercury monitoring in humans and biota, highlighting how harmonized monitoring efforts can provide complementary evidence to evaluate the Convention’s effectiveness and inform efficient global mercury management strategies.
In “
Shaping Action: Confronting the Illegal Mercury Trade
”, organized by the Environmental Investigation Agency (United States), speakers examined regional experiences in addressing illicit mercury trade and use. The discussion underlined the importance of monitoring online platforms and the need for reducing demand for mercury compounds, particularly in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), to help prevent illegal mercury flows.
The Secretariat of Indigenous Health of the Brazilian Ministry of Health launched the “
Technical Manual for the Care of Indigenous Peoples Exposed to Mercury: A Health-Based Approach Rooted in Rights and Territory
”, guiding health services in caring for Indigenous Peoples exposed to mercury. The session emphasized the urgent need for coordinated measures on mercury monitoring to reduce the impacts on health and uphold the rights to life and health of impacted communities.
To Top
05 Nov 2025
19:07 CET
Launch of the Women Caucus of the Minamata Convention on Mercury
A milestone moment took place today at #MinamataCOP6 with the official launch of the
Women’s Caucus of the Minamata Convention on Mercury
, a new space to strengthen the participation and leadership of women in the Convention’s work.
Co-organized by the
Geneva Environment Network
(GEN) and co-convened by
Women4Biodiversity
and the
MSP Institute
, with the support of the Minamata Convention Secretariat, the event gathered delegates, experts, and advocates from around the world.
The Women’s Caucus is a space for advancing the equality and empowerment of women within the implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. It provides a self-organized framework for collective action guided by shared experiences and perspectives on preventing women’s exposure to mercury and driving positive change for women in mercury-related decision-making processes.
The Caucus will work to ensure that women’s experiences, expertise and leadership shape a new era for mercury and chemicals governance through a collaborative and integrated approach.
Watch the recording of the event on
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04 Nov 2025
21:56 CET
Inspiring the next generation: Fernando Trujillo meets Ecolint students
As part of his activities around the Minamata Convention COP-6, National Geographic Explorer and conservation scientist
Fernando Trujillo
spent the day with students from the
International School of Geneva (Ecolint)
, visiting both the Nations and La Châtaigneraie campuses. Through three lively sessions, he reached around
450 students
, taking them on a journey from his early days as a student to his life’s mission protecting the
Amazon and its pink river dolphins
With powerful storytelling, Trujillo shared how science, passion, and perseverance can help change the world. He described
pink dolphins as sentinels of the Amazon
, warning of the threats facing ecosystems and people. These unique and
endangered species
are increasingly at risk due to habitat degradation, climate change, and mercury pollution. He spoke about the impacts of these pressures and how the
Minamata Convention
works to reduce such contamination.
Drawing from more than
80 river expeditions and over 90,000 kilometres
of travel through South American rivers, Trujillo encouraged students to stay curious and courageous. “
We need to connect science with solutions and with people,
” he said, emphasizing the importance of working with local communities and offering them sustainable alternatives. His message was one of
hope, passion, humility, teamwork, and discipline,
and a call to action:
Don’t be passive. Don’t just watch this world, be part of it. Engage. You can make a difference
”.
To Top
04 Nov 2025
21:36 CET
Knowledge labs (Tuesday 4 November)
On Tuesday, the
Knowledge Labs
began their series of sessions at COP-6, bringing together governments, organizations, and civil society participants to engage in 45-minute exchanges and showcase their work supporting the implementation of the Minamata Convention.
The day opened between Plenary sessions with “
From Science to Policy – Integrating Data for the First Effectiveness Evaluation
”, organized by the Open-Ended Scientific Group and the Minamata Convention Secretariat. With opening remarks by Brenda Koekkoek, Senior Programme Officer of the Secretariat, who underscored the importance of linking science and policy across Multilateral Environmental Agreements, the session provided an overview of the evaluation process. Speakers also shared findings from the scientific community (MCHgMAP) on mercury trends in air, oceans, and land that will inform long-term decision-making.
During the evening slot of the knowledge labs, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in cooperation with IPEN, the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights, and Mexico, led “
Health, Human Rights and Mercury Impacts of ASGM: Prioritising Health Interventions
”. With strong participation from NGOs and Indigenous Peoples, the session focused on urgent health impacts of mercury and strategies for prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The panel emphasized the importance of dialogue and the power of information, with particular attention to groups in vulnerable situations, especially women, children and Indigenous Peoples.
At the same time, the UN Environment Programme Law Division hosted “
InforMEA in Action: Supporting Minamata Convention Implementation through Digital Tools and Legal Transparency
”. Participants explored with live demos and real-world cases, how digital tools and legal transparency support the implementation of the Minamata Convention, from aligning laws to interoperability and national reporting. Experts from various Multilateral Environmental Agreements joined to share experiences and highlight how digital governance contributes to mercury reduction and broader environmental benefits.
Another session, “
Learning from the Past Experience and into the Future: from Minamata High School
” was organized by the high school with the Ministry of the Environment of Japan. Students Norimi Motoyama and Mio Iwasaka presented the mercury studies curriculum and a high school survey on awareness and understanding of mercury in the affected community, demonstrating how education can preserve and advance the legacy of Minamata and inspire new generations.
One more session, "
Mining Impacts Calculator: A Tool for Mercury Impact Assessment in ASGM
”, was presented by the Brazil Ministry of Environment and the Conservation Strategy Fund Brazil. The session introduced the Mining Impacts Calculator, an online tool already rolled out in Brazil and Peru that quantifies the social and environmental costs of artisanal gold mining, with a focus on mercury pollution. Through a live demonstration centered on its application in the Amazon region, participants explored how the calculator can serve as a tool for evaluating legal frameworks, tracking policy efficacy, and monitoring the effects of mercury on the environment.
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04 Nov 2025
21:15 CET
The planetGOLD Programme – Learnings and Looking Ahead
On Tuesday, 4 November, this special event shared observations and lessons learned from an analysis of the first phase of the
planetGOLD programme
. The
session
brought together representatives from participating countries, GEF, UNEP, UNDP and partners to reflect on progress since 2018.
Speakers outlined how the first phase of planetGOLD, active in nine countries, helped formalize mining operations, promote safer technologies and improve miners’ access to finance and markets. Participants also discussed the challenges that remain, from scaling up mercury-free techniques to strengthening policies and traceability systems that can help miners transition responsibly.
The event closed with a forward-looking discussion on the upcoming phase of the programme, highlighting its alignment with the Minamata Convention’s goal and its contribution to climate, biodiversity and health benefits.
Watch the video summary of planetGOLD’s first phase
here
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03 Nov 2025
20:43 CET
Driving Effective and Inclusive Implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury
At the first official day of COP-6, delegates and partners gathered to explore how to accelerate action under the Minamata Convention through cooperation and inclusivity. Opening the session, COP-6 President
Osvaldo Álvarez Pérez
highlighted that the financial mechanism has been pivotal for the Convention, calling for “resources that are inclusive and aligned with real needs” and for engagement of Indigenous Peoples, women, youth, and local communities.
After screening the TED talk
The Hidden Cost of Buying Gold
by
Claudia Vega
(CINCIA), the speakers shared powerful perspectives, from Vega describing mercury as “the silent toxic,” to UNEP Deputy Executive Director
Elizabeth Mrema
, who announced the launch of the Women’s Caucus, and
Dr. Rüdiger Krech
WHO
), who called mercury control “a moral imperative.”
Rolph Payet
(Executive Secretary, BRS Conventions) underscored the need for collaboration and capacity building, while
Fernando Trujillo
(Nat GEO Explorer) reminded participants of the Amazon’s fragility and the urgency of national action plans.
Chizuru Aoki
(GEF) spoke on the financial mechanism and the need for sustainable funding. Youth and Indigenous Peoples representative
Alexyss McClellan-Ufugusuku
urged the importance of early education and participation rights, while Executive
Secretary
Monika Stankiewicz
reaffirmed that “every COP shows what we can achieve when we work together,” adding that “you give us hope, and I will work hard to meet those expectations.”
The discussion facilitated the exchange of experiences and featured actions to implement the Minamata Convention that also bring socio-economic, human and environmental benefits. As the Convention moves forward, speakers called for turning words into action and ensuring that no one is left behind in the global effort to make mercury history.
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02 Nov 2025
20:44 CET
From Science to Action: Protecting the Amazon from Mercury Pollution
On the evening before the official opening of the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-6), a livestreamed
public event
was held at the International Conference Centre in Geneva, bringing together participants and guests to focus on the Amazon, a region profoundly affected by mercury pollution. The session, organized with the Geneva Environment Network, connected science, storytelling, and advocacy, linking the legacy of Minamata to the urgent realities facing the Amazon today.
Executive Secretary
Monika Stankiewicz
welcomed participants, expressing gratitude for their shared commitment to protecting people and the planet. “I am deeply grateful to all the remarkable speakers who have joined us today. Each of you has inspired me, and I know you will inspire our audience to do everything in our power to make mercury history”, she said.
Conservation scientist and National Geographic Rolex Explorer of the Year
Fernando Trujillo
shared decades of research revealing alarming levels of mercury in river dolphins, sentinel species that mirror the contamination threatening Amazonian ecosystems and human health. He called for stronger mercury monitoring, gold traceability, and local action in support of the Minamata Convention.
Aileen Mioko Smith
, Executive Director of Green Action Japan and co-author of
Minamata
with photographer W. Eugene Smith, reflected on the photographs that exposed the human toll of Minamata disease, reminding the audience that “we still have a long way to go to end mercury pollution.”
The dialogue was followed by the screening of the documentary
Amazon, the New Minamata?
, directed by
Jorge Bodanzky
, which portrays the impacts of mercury on Indigenous Peoples of Brazil’s Tapajós River. Bodanzky shared his nine-year journey documenting the film, and Indigenous leader
Jairo Saw Munduruku
called for balance and unity: “the Amazon belongs to all of us”, before singing a traditional song for life and harmony.
Watch the
livestream of the panel
here.
To Top
02 Nov 2025
20:02 CET
Secretariat briefing on financial resources and mechanism
Ahead of COP-6, the special events began with a dedicated
Secretariat briefing on financial resources and mechanism
The session opened with remarks by Executive Secretary
Monika Stankiewicz
, who praised the ongoing efforts of Parties and stakeholders. “When I think about implementation of this Convention, I am so inspired by the work that Parties and a broad range of partners and stakeholders are doing”, she said.
COP-6 President
Osvaldo Álvarez Pérez
of Chile underlined that the
financial mechanism
is central to supporting developing countries in fulfilling their obligations, noting the strong contributions of both the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Specific International Programme (SIP), while calling for renewed donor engagement as “the Convention is still young and the coming years will be critical.”
The Secretariat provided a comprehensive overview of the mechanism’s current status, including updates on GEF and SIP funding, timelines for Party obligations, and preparations for the third review of the financial mechanism. Participants heard reflections on lessons from GEF-8 and SIP projects, and updates on the GEF-9 replenishment process. The interactive discussion closed with a shared sense of purpose: ensuring that the financial mechanism remains responsive, adequately resourced, and effective in enabling all Parties to make mercury history.
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17 Oct 2025
17:23 CET
Day five: Online events ahead of COP-6
On Friday 17 October, the final day of online events ahead of COP-6 brought together UN experts, scientists, industry leaders and community advocates to spotlight the real-world challenges of addressing mercury and the opportunities for a healthier, mercury-free future.
The morning opened with "
Managing Mercury in Offshore Oil and Gas: Risks, Challenges, and Opportunities
", hosted by the Global Mercury Partnership Oil & Gas Working Group. Speakers examined the significant issue for the offshore oil and gas industry, potentially released through emissions and discharges across the activity life cycle. The session explored the pathways to the marine environment from operations through to decommissioning, discussing challenges and opportunities, including the establishment an Oil & Gas working group under the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership. The
presentations
and
video recording
of the session are available.
Midday featured "
An Evidence-Based Pathway to Mercury-Free Materials for the Prevention and Management of Dental Caries
", organized by the World Health Organization. The event shared new evidence on mercury-free restorative materials and less invasive oral health techniques, exploring the forthcoming WHO Guideline on Environmentally Friendly and Less Invasive Oral Health Care. Speakers also presented country success stories in phasing out dental amalgam, highlighting efforts in line with the implementation of the Minamata Convention, as well as the Global Oral Health Action Plan 2023–2030 and the Bangkok Declaration—No Health without Oral Health. The
presentations
and
video recording
of the event are available.
In the afternoon, the Save Environment and People Agency (SEPA) of Zambia led "
Pollution of the Lufupa River by Mercury in Kasempa District
". The session presented the impacts of artisanal gold mining on communities, and the ongoing efforts to raise awareness, promote safer mining practices, and call for increased support to protect both people and ecosystems as mining activity expands in the region. The
presentations
of this event are available.
The last event of the week was "
Evaluating Mercury’s Impact on the Food Chain Across Six Mining Regions in Ghana
", organized by Pure Earth in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency of Ghana and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The online session presented new study results on mercury contamination in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) communities in Ghana, revealing how mercury exposure affects local food chains and human health. The
presentations
and
video recording
of this event are available.
Together, these sessions concluded the week of online events ahead of COP-6, which provided an informal platform for Parties and observers to share knowledge, experiences and innovations, reflecting the Minamata Convention’s commitment to cooperation and shared progress toward a mercury-free future for all.
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16 Oct 2025
17:41 CET
Day four: Online events ahead of COP-6
On Thursday 16 October, the fourth day of online events started with "
From Science to Action: Insights from the Minamata Convention and Emerging Priorities
", organized by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP) and hosted by the Geneva Environment Network. Drawing on lessons from the Minamata Convention, the discussion addressed emerging priorities, especially around metals, metalloids, and minerals, and shared actionable ideas to guide the Panel’s early work. A
video recording and further information
are available.
At midday, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights led "
The Impacts of Mercury Exposure on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Ways to Address Them
", hosted by the Geneva Environment Network as well. The event highlighted the serious threats posed by mercury exposure from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) to the health, rights and cultures of Indigenous Peoples. The UN Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights, Indigenous leaders, and other experts emphasized the importance of meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples at the COP and in the Convention’s implementation processes. A
video recording and further information
are available.
In the afternoon, the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership presented "
Review of the Implementation of Article 7 on ASGM: From Guidance to Implementation
". The session outlined progress made since the establishment of ASGM mercury baselines in more than 35 countries, and presented UNEP’s new guidance for the Review of the Implementation of Article 7 (RIA). Participants also explored the first GEF-funded project supporting 23 countries to conduct their RIAs, sharing lessons from both implementing agencies and participating governments. The
presentations
and
video recording
of this event are available.
Later in the day, the International Center for Comparative Environmental Law organized "
Measuring the Effectiveness of the Minamata Convention through Legal Indicators
", which introduced innovative legal indicators developed by environmental law experts to assess the Convention’s effectiveness in protecting human health and the environment.
The final event of the day, "
Engaging Online Platforms in Enforcing Restricted Product Policies for Mercury-Added Cosmetics
", was co-organized by the Sri Lanka Consumer Affairs Authority and the Zero Mercury Working Group. Although the Convention bans the manufacture and trade of mercury-containing skin-lightening products, their production and distribution persist, particularly through online marketplaces. The discussion highlighted case studies (including the Amazon settlement) and explored legal and voluntary measures to strengthen enforcement and prevent the online sale of mercury-added cosmetics. The
presentations
of this event are available.
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15 Oct 2025
16:25 CET
Day three: Online events ahead of COP-6
On Wednesday 15 October, The third day of online events ahead of COP-6 opened with "
Overview of the Specific International Programme (SIP) and Sharing of Lessons Learned from Completed Projects
" organized by the Minamata Convention Secretariat. Speakers, including a Co-Chair of the SIP Governing Board and project managers from Ecuador, North Macedonia, Senegal and Sri Lanka, reflected on the impact of 34 SIP-supported projects worldwide. The
presentations
and
video recording
of this session are available.
At midday, the Secretariat hosted "
Effectiveness Evaluation: Draft Report of the Open-ended Scientific Group (OESG)
". Lead scientists presented findings from ongoing monitoring work across air, biota, and human health, with the OESG members outlining how mercury monitoring data and the development of a scientific report is key for evaluating the Convention’s effectiveness. The
presentations
and
video recording
of this event are available.
In the afternoon, the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, in collaboration with the Arab Centre for Environmental Health, organized "
Actions and Measures to Phase Out Dental Amalgam by 2030 in the Arab Region
". The event explored strategies supported and inspired by the African Proposal to eliminate dental amalgam use, promoting mercury-free dentistry and improving oral health outcomes.
The following session, "B
ridging Generations to #MakeMercuryHistory: New Tools and Partnerships for a Child- and Youth-Responsive Minamata Convention
", organized by the Chemicals and Waste Youth Platform, spotlighted the voices of young leaders, UN partners and reseearches. Participants introduced the work to deveop the Minamata Convention for Youth Toolkit and first Global Youth Declaration on Mercury, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and youth engagement to protect children’s health. The
presentations
of this event are available.
The day concluded with "
An Integrated Approach for the Amazon: International Synergies in Combating Mercury Pollution and Defending Human Rights
", organized by the Foundation for Conservation and Sustainable Development Perú. Conducted in Spanish, the session explored proposals for an Amazon Chapter in the Minamata Convention and linkages with the Escazú Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Speakers underscored the urgent need for coordinated regional and international action to address mercury pollution across the Amazon. The
presentations
and
video recording
of this event is available.
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14 Oct 2025
16:07 CET
Day two: Online events ahead of COP-6
On Tuesday 14 October, the second day of online events ahead of COP-6 continued to provide an informal platform for Parties and observers to exchange experiences and highlight progress in tackling mercury across key sectors.
The day began with "
Managing Mercury Wastes in the Healthcare Sector: From Existing Tools to Inclusive Applications
", organized by the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership. The event shared latest tools and case studies illustrating collaborative approaches to reduce mercury exposure and promote environmentally sound waste handling from dental amalgam and mercury containing medical devices. The
presentations
and
video recording
of this event are available.
The next session, "
Multi-country Initiatives Addressing Air Emissions of Mercury
", was organized by the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention. The discussion focused on addressing atmospheric emissions of mercury and mercury compounds from specific point sources. The event highlighted initiatives supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), including projects targeting emissions from coal-fired power plants and non-ferrous metals production facilities. The
presentations
and
video recording
of this event are available.
In the afternoon, the FDI World Dental Federation (FDI) and the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) co-hosted "
Dental Amalgam Phase Down: Alternatives, Access, and Implementation Realities
". The session examined the shift from dental amalgam to alternative restorative materials, assessing their performance, accessibility and affordability. Speakers from government, research and clinical sectors discussed the latest updates on dental amalgam and alternative restorative materials. The
presentations
and
video recording
of this event are available.
The final event of the day, "
Strengthening the Minamata Convention: A New Approach to the Global Mercury Trade and Use in ASGM
", was organized by the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN). The webinar explored the effects of primary mercury mining and legal mercury trade, with a particular focus on mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). Presenters shared new biomonitoring data from Indigenous communities in Peru and Nicaragua, underscoring the human and environmental impacts of mercury use in ASGM.
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13 Oct 2025
17:12 CET
Day one: Online events ahead of COP-6
The week of online events leading up to the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-6) began on Monday 13 October, with a full programme of discussions from different regions, partners and stakeholders highlighting global efforts to address mercury pollution.
The day opened with "
The Hidden Threat in the Mirror: Ending Mercury in Skin-Lightening Products (SLPs) Now!
", organized by the Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) and the Asian Center for Environmental Health. With opening remarks by members of the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention, the inaugural event drew attention to the urgent need to eliminate mercury use in skin-lightening products and showcased new research and collaborative initiatives.
The
presentations
of this event are available.
This was followed by "
Integrating Chemicals and Waste Management into Biodiversity Conservation
", organized by UNEP and the Convention on Biological Diversity. The session focused on how chemicals and waste management can strengthen biodiversity conservation, highlighting the value of synergy across multilateral environmental agreements. T
he
presentations
and
video recording
of this event are available.
In the afternoon, the Global Mercury Partnership Waste Management Area - Japan hosted "
Advancing Mercury Waste Management: Solutions and Actions
". The session presented practical tools, best practices, and examples of mercury waste management from various sectors, along with updates on partnership activities. The
presentations
and
video recording
of this event are available.
The day concluded with "
Indigenous and Scientific Voices from the Amazon on Cross-Border Mercury Protectio
n", organized by Fundación Gaia Amazonas. Conducted in Spanish, the event brought together scientists and Indigenous leaders to discuss the impacts of mercury pollution from gold mining on ecosystems and human health, and to explore collaborative and cross-border solutions for the Amazon region. The
presentations
and
video recording
of this event are available.
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10 Oct 2025
13:28 CET
Africa regional preparatory meeting
The
African regional preparatory meeting
for the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-6) was convened from 7 to 9 October at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.
Participants expressed their appreciation to the co-chairs, Sidi Ould Aloueimine (Mauritania) and Mohamed Abdulai Kamara (Sierra Leone), whose guidance was instrumental in framing the discussions. Acknowledgement was also given to government delegates and civil society representatives for their active engagement and substantive contributions.
Conducted in both English and French, this meeting offered a key opportunity for dialogue in the region, allowing stakeholders to review progress made, identify challenges, and coordinate positions in advance of the COP-6 negotiations scheduled for November in Geneva. The event was made possible through the generous financial support provided by Switzerland and Germany.
Check the
Secretariat presentations
and the
photos of the meeting
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02 Oct 2025
12:14 CET
GEN briefing on Minamata Convention COP-6
This hybrid briefing took place in Geneva, Switzerland, on 2 October (13:00–14:30 CEST), organized under the Geneva Environment Network (GEN). The Secretariat of the Minamata Convention provided updates on the preparations for COP-6, including an overview of logistical arrangements, the tentative programme of events, and how the upcoming meeting can best support Parties and the wider community working to reduce mercury pollution.
The Executive Secretary of the Minamata Convention, Monika Stankiewicz, stated: "As we approach COP-6, I would like to share with you why I remain highly optimistic the Minamata Convention on Mercury will continue making positive impact on people's lives everywhere and will serve as a shining example of multilateral cooperation and a model of an actionable multilateral environmental agreement (MEA)".
The session was opened by the COP-6 President, Osvaldo Patricio Álvarez Pérez, who underlined: "Let's use this moment to build on our successes, face these challenges head on and push for a mercury-free world".
Learn
more about the event
and watch the
video recording
To Top
24 Sep 2025
13:21 CET
Asia-Pacific regional preparatory meeting
On 23 and 24 September, the
Asia-Pacific regional preparatory meeting
for the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-6) was held at the United Nations ESCAP headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand.
Special appreciation was expressed to co-chairs Saeed A. Alzahrani (Saudi Arabia) and Aisha Humera Moriani (Pakistan) for helping frame the discussions, and to all government delegates and civil society participants for their constructive engagement and valuable contributions.
The preparatory meeting served as an important moment for dialogue, enabling participants to reflect on progress, consider challenges and align positions before negotiations begin in Geneva this November for COP-6. The meeting was organized thanks to the generous financial support provided by Switzerland.
Check the
Secretariat presentations
and the
photos of the meeting
To Top
17 Sep 2025
14:35 CET
Eastern European States regional preparatory meeting
The
Eastern European States regional preparatory meeting
for the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-6) took place on 16 and 17 September in Geneva.
The consultation provided governments and stakeholders with a space to prepare for the negotiations and exchange perspectives, building a shared understanding of regional priorities and supporting Parties in arriving in Geneva in November ready to work together for a successful COP-6.
Appreciation was extended to all government delegates and civil society participants for their valuable contributions, in particular to co-chairs Claudia Dumitru (Romania) and Irma Gurguliani (Georgia) for guiding the discussions. The regional preparatory meeting was organized thanks to the generous financial support provided by Switzerland.
Check the
Secretariat presentations
and
photos of the meeting
To Top
04 Sep 2025
14:28 CET
GRULAC regional preparatory meeting
On 3 and 4 September, Santiago de Chile hosted the
regional preparatory meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean
in the lead-up to the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-6).
This was the first of the series of regional consultations, which continued in the following weeks with the meetings for Eastern Europe, Asia and the Pacific, and Africa. Through this constructive dialogue, countries of the region moved closer to arriving in Geneva in November prepared to negotiate and contribute to a successful COP-6.
Sincere appreciation was extended to ECLAC for its hospitality, to the Chair of the meeting, Miriam Medel García, to COP-6 President Osvaldo Álvarez-Pérez, to Bureau member Linroy Christian, and to all government representatives and civil society participants for their active engagement and valuable contributions. The regional preparatory meeting was organized thanks to the generous financial support provided by Switzerland and Germany.
The meeting also piloted the new training module for co-chairs and negotiators, based on the
recently published manual
. Check the
Secretariat presentations
and
photos of the meeting
To Top
03 Dec 2025
Unpacking COP-6: regional groups
07 Nov 2025
Knowledge labs (Friday 7 November)
07 Nov 2025
Detoxifying Cosmetics​ and Beauty Ideals: Movie screening and panel discussion
06 Nov 2025
Knowledge labs (Thursday 6 November)
06 Nov 2025
Recognizing the dedication of Parties and delegates at COP-6
05 Nov 2025
Knowledge labs (Wednesday 5 November)
05 Nov 2025
Launch of the Women Caucus of the Minamata Convention on Mercury
04 Nov 2025
Inspiring the next generation: Fernando Trujillo meets Ecolint students
04 Nov 2025
Knowledge labs (Tuesday 4 November)
04 Nov 2025
The planetGOLD Programme – Learnings and Looking Ahead
03 Nov 2025
Driving Effective and Inclusive Implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury
02 Nov 2025
From Science to Action: Protecting the Amazon from Mercury Pollution
02 Nov 2025
Secretariat briefing on financial resources and mechanism
17 Oct 2025
Day five: Online events ahead of COP-6
16 Oct 2025
Day four: Online events ahead of COP-6
15 Oct 2025
Day three: Online events ahead of COP-6
14 Oct 2025
Day two: Online events ahead of COP-6
13 Oct 2025
Day one: Online events ahead of COP-6
10 Oct 2025
Africa regional preparatory meeting
02 Oct 2025
GEN briefing on Minamata Convention COP-6
24 Sep 2025
Asia-Pacific regional preparatory meeting
17 Sep 2025
Eastern European States regional preparatory meeting
04 Sep 2025
GRULAC regional preparatory meeting
Intersessional Work
Intersessional Work
Intersessional work and Submissions for COP-6
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The Conference of the Parties had its
fifth meeting
from 30 October to 3 November 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland, and agreed on a number of action items. The Executive Secretary sent a
letter
to Parties and observers on 22 January 2024 to
call for information
to follow up on these action items.
The progress on these action items can be found on the individual pages linked below. Links will be added as information becomes available.
Indigenous peoples and local communities
Mercury supply sources and trade
Annexes A and B (products and processes)
Cosmetics (Decision MC-5/5)
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining
Emissions of mercury
Mercury waste
Financial mechanism
First effectiveness evaluation
Women and girls
Biodiversity
Indigenous peoples and local communities
Broadening participation
A. Support Initiatives
With generous support from the Government of Finland and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and in partnership with the Children and Waste Youth Platform, the Secretariat covered for Indigenous representatives from four socio-cultural regions: Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Pacific.
B. Collaborations
Collaborative efforts to support Indigenous Peoples' engagement in mercury-related issues have been strengthened through close collaboration with organizations such as FENAMAD (Federación Nativa del Río Madre de Dios y Afluentes) and FCDS (Fundación para la Conservación y el Desarrollo Sostenible). Additional collaboration partners include the Chemicals and Waste Youth Platform, the Global Environment Facility Secretariat and GEF funded Inclusive Conservation Initiative, and the Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Voluntary Fund for the Indigenous Peoples. These collaborations have enabled joint activities, capacity-building, and knowledge exchange, particularly around the impacts of mercury on health and the environment and have helped amplify Indigenous perspectives in global environmental discussions.
C. Awareness and Engagement Activities
2025
Training Session for Indigenous Fellows
Geneva, 7 July 2025
A targeted training session was delivered by the Secretariat to 40 Indigenous fellows as part of the Indigenous Fellowship Programme, focusing on mercury impacts and UN engagement mechanisms.
Informal Dialogue on Engagement Mechanisms
Geneva, 17 July 2025
Indigenous experts participated in a dialogue hosted by the Secretariat to discuss effective mechanisms for engagement in multilateral environmental agreements.
Side Event on Mercury Impact Survey Results
Geneva, 17 July 2025
A side event was organized by the Secretariat at the Palais des Nations to present findings from a survey on the needs and priorities of Indigenous Peoples and local communities regarding mercury exposure.
First Exchange of Amazonian Indigenous Peoples on Illegal Gold Mining and Mercury Contamination
Online / Leticia, Colombia, 10–12 July 2025
Indigenous representatives from Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru gathered for the first time to address the silent crisis of mercury pollution from illegal artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). The event was organized by the Foundation for Conservation and Sustainable Development (FCDS), the Amazon Alliance for the Reduction of Gold Mining Impacts (AAMI), and the Observatory of Illegal Mining and Linked Activities in Key Biodiversity Areas (OMI), with support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The Secretariat participated by delivering opening remarks and answered participants’ questions, and shared insights on the Convention’s work related to mercury and Indigenous engagement.
2024
DESA Expert Group Meeting on Indigenous Rights and Mineral Extraction
Online, 2–4 December 2024
Participation of the Secretariat in a UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs led meeting focused on Indigenous Peoples in voluntary isolation and initial contact, in the context of critical mineral extraction.
Aliança Munduruku, Kayapo, and Yanomami Meeting
Geneva, 15–19 July 2024
Engagement of the Secretariat during the 17th session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, with representatives from Amazonian Indigenous groups.
Needs and priorities of Indigenous Peoples and local communities
In response to decision MC-5/7 paragraph 7, the Secretariat developed draft provisional guide on the effective engagement and participation of Indigenous Peoples and of local communities in the development, implementation and review of ASGM national action plans. The document was developed through the generous financial support of Australia and Norway. It is based on a desk review of similar engagement protocols and its aim is to reflect the existing best practices for engagement of Indigenous Peoples and for engagement of local communities. The provisional guide is
available here
A report summarizing the results of a survey on the needs and priorities of Indigenous Peoples and local communities regarding the impacts of mercury on health, livelihoods, culture, and traditional knowledge was prepared in line with paragraph 4 of decision MC-5/1 and is
available here
Decision MC-5/1
Noting with concern that Indigenous Peoples, as well as local communities, are particularly vulnerable to mercury exposure and are among the first to face the serious health and environmental effects resulting from mercury pollution owing to their close relationship with the environment and its resources, and welcoming the role of Indigenous Peoples, as well as local communities, and particularly the engagement of women and girls, who have faced the effects of mercury with resilience, in achieving the objective of the Minamata Convention and the targets and goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the COP noted the importance of broadening participation of Indigenous Peoples, as well as local communities, in the implementation of projects and programmes undertaken under the Minamata Convention and encouraged parties to support, as appropriate, participation of Indigenous Peoples’ organizations, as well as local communities and other relevant stakeholders, in meetings of the Conference of the Parties, and in other related processes.
Mercury supply sources and trade
Decision MC-5/2
The Secretariat is carrying out the following activities to implement the above-mentioned decision in 2024-2025:
a) Updates to guidance on trade in primary mined mercury and stocks and sources
The Conference of the Parties, in decision MC-5/2, requested the Secretariat, subject to the availability of resources, to:
Draft an update to the existing guidance on stocks adopted in decision MC-1/2 to include types of action that could be taken to fulfil the continuing obligation to endeavour to identify stocks and sources as per paragraph 5 (a) of Article 3 of the Convention (para. 5 (a)); and
Develop guidance to assist parties in identifying, managing and reducing mercury trade from primary mercury mining (para. 5 (e)).
The Secretariat has developed, with the generous financial contributions from Canada and Spain, the above-mentioned documents, both in the form of draft updates to the existing guidance on Article 3 adopted by the Conference of the Parties in decision MC-1/2:
Draft updates to the guidance on stocks and sources adopted in decision MC-1/2
Draft updates to the guidance on the use of forms on import and export of mercury adopted in decision MC-1/2
A document on
additional information on types of actions that could be taken to fulfill the ongoing obligation of Parties to identify individual stocks and sources of mercury and mercury compounds
was also developed as reference.
Parties are invited to review the draft updates (only the underlined text) and submit comments, if any, by using the following commenting forms, and emailing it to the Secretariat (
mea-minamatasecretariat
[at]
un.org
) by 24 July 2025:
Comment form: stocks and sources
Comment form: trade from primary mercury mining
Please do not hesitate to contact Richard Gutierrez at
richard.gutierrez
[at]
un.org
(on guidance on stocks and sources) and Eisaku Toda at
eisaku.toda
[at]
un.org
(for guidance on trade in primary mined mercury), should you need any further information on this matter.
b) Information on experiences and challenges in the implementation of Art. 3
In decision MC-5/2 on mercury supply sources and trade, COP-5 invited Parties to submit to the Secretariat, by 25 March 2025, information on experiences and challenges faced in the implementation of Article 3 as well as information on activities undertaken in relation to the Bali Declaration on combating illegal trade in mercury to be compiled by the Secretariat for consideration by COP-6.
The following submissions have been received:
Burkina Faso
Canada
Indonesia
Japan
Peru
Philippines
Senegal
Togo
c) Study of the global supply, production, trade and use of mercury compounds (decision MC-5/3)
COP-5 adopted
decision MC-5/3
requesting the Secretariat to: (a) initiate a study of the global supply, production, trade and use of mercury compounds; and (b) present the report to the Conference of the Parties at its sixth meeting for consideration.
In response to the above-mentioned request and thanks to the generous contribution of Canada and Spain, the Secretariat developed this
draft study
. Parties and stakeholders are invited to submit comments and input using
this form
and email it to the Secretariat (
mea-minamatasecretariat
[at]
un.org
) by Wednesday, 5 March 2025.
Annexes A and B (products and processes)
Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) production (Decision MC-5/6)
Parties and relevant organizations were invited to submit, on a voluntary basis, information on technically and economically feasible alternatives to the use of mercury and mercury compounds in vinyl chloride monomer production, in accordance with Paragraph 8 of Article 5 and Paragraph 1 of Article 17 of the Convention,
by 31 March 2025
. Submitted information is posted below. The submission deadline has been extended to 30 April 2025. As the Secretariat have been informed of further submissions from parties to come, it will wait until 14 May 2025.
Brazil
Burkina Faso
China
Mozambique
Norway
Senegal
Switzerland
Uganda
United States of America
Natural Resources Defense Council
United Nations Industrial Development Organization
Zero Mercury Working Group
Cosmetics (Decision MC-5/5)
The Executive Secretary sent a
letter
to Parties and observers to invite the submission of information by 30 June 2024 using the
submission format
. The submissions received have been uploaded
here
. A draft report compiling and synthesizing the submitted information is available
here
, with Annex 1 (excel table)
here
. Parties and relevant stakeholders are invited to review and comment on the draft, using this
comment form
by Monday 28 April 2025.
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining
Those Parties who have notified the Secretariat pursuant to Article 7.3 and have not yet submitted their ASGM National Action Plan are invited to do so at their earliest convenience. Submitted NAPs are published
here
. Those Parties who have submitted a National Action Plan are reminded of the obligation to provide a review every three years of the progress made in implementing obligations under Article 7 and to include such reviews in reports submitted pursuant to Article 21. The deadline for the next full national reports is 31 December 2025.
a) Review of the implementation of article 7
Under paragraph 3(c) of article 7, Parties that have notified the Secretariat that the artisanal and small-scale gold mining and processing (ASGM) in their territory is more than insignificant and has developed and submitted their artisanal and small-scale gold mining national action plans to the Secretariat are required to conduct a review every three years of progress toward their article 7 obligations and include these reviews in their reports under article 21.
The Secretariat, in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Global Mercury Partnership and its ASGM partnership area, has developed draft supplemental guidance for the review of the implementation of article 7 in line with paragraph 3 of article 7 and to support the implementation of decision MC-5/7 paragraph 3(c) — link to be uploaded soon.
Draft supplemental guidance for the review of the implementation of article 7
Parties and stakeholders are invited to review the draft supplemental guidance and provide comments
using this form
and submit them to the Secretariat (
mea-minamatasecretariat
[at]
un.org
) by
24 July 2025
--->
b) Effective engagement of Indigenous Peoples, local communities and other stakeholders
Decision MC-5/7 paragraph 7 requested the Secretariat to prepare a supplemental section of the guidance document on developing a national action plan to reduce and, where feasible, eliminate mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining, on the effective engagement and participation of Indigenous Peoples, local communities and other stakeholders in the development and implementation of national action plans.
A draft supplemental guidance document was developed by the Secretariat in response to the above-mentioned request and posted on the website on 26 March 2025. Parties, Indigenous Peoples organization, local communities and relevant stakeholders were invited to submit comments until 30 April 2025. The updated draft supplemental guidance will be posted shortly.
Emissions of mercury
Parties with experience in using the
guidance
adopted by the COP pursuant to Article 8 (8) and (9) are encouraged to provide the Secretariat with information on such experience. Submissions will be posted on this web page. Information submitted by 31 March 2025 will be compiled for COP-6.
Mercury waste
Parties are invited to submit information regarding their waste management regulations and programmes as mentioned in Article 11 (3) (a), with a focus on matters not addressed by the technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with mercury or mercury compounds under the Basel Convention, by 31 October 2024. The following submissions have been received. The Secretariat is to collect and organize the information and make it available by 1 January 2025.
Argentina
Costa Rica
EU and its member states
Japan
Kuwait
Saudi Arabia
Thailand
Uganda
Financial mechanism
The Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury is collecting proposals in relation to providing surge capacity in servicing the COP-6 and developing the report on relevant Convention obligations and deadlines and the extent to which such obligations and deadlines are being met by Parties. The deadline for submissions is 12 June 2025.
Details can be found here
First effectiveness evaluation
Decision MC-5/14
For the work between COP-4 and COP-5, please visit
here
Effectiveness evaluation Group (EEG)
At its fifth meeting, in
decision MC-5/14,
the COP established the Effectiveness Evaluation Group (EEG) to work in accordance with the terms of reference outlined in annex I to the decision and agreed to consider the outcome of the first effectiveness evaluation of the Convention at its seventh meeting tentatively scheduled to take place in 2027. In the same decision, the COP adopted the indicators for the first effectiveness evaluation as contained in annex II to the decision.
In accordance with its terms of reference, the EEG is composed of 25 participants from Parties, comprising five representatives of Parties from each of the five United Nations regions, and nominated by the regions. The list of EEG members can be
accessed here.
The co-chairs of the Open-ended Scientific Group (see below) and the Chair of the Implementation and Compliance Committee will be invited to participate in the EEG as observers. Moreover, five observers from developed and developing countries will also be invited, drawing from civil society, Indigenous organizations, local community organizations, intergovernmental organizations, industry and the Global Mercury Partnership, to contribute to the work of the EEG. Additional observers may be invited on an ad hoc basis.
The Effectiveness Evaluation Group will work online and will hold up to two face-to-face meetings. The first meeting of the Effectiveness Evaluation Group was held online on 25 June 2024. During the first meeting, the EEG elected its co-Chairs: Ms. Itsuki Kuroda, from Japan, and Mr. Linroy Christian, from Antigua and Barbuda, and agreed on a
tentative timeline
for the work to be carried out during the current intersessional period, including tentative dates for meetings, milestones and review by Parties.
The second and third meetings of the EEG took place online on 4 September and 5 December 2024, respectively.
The documents for the EEG meetings are available through its
online workspace
Open-Ended Scientific Group
The Open-Ended Scientific Group was established pursuant to Decision
MC-4/11
. The current list of OESG members and experts in the roster to contribute to its work is
available here
. Parties that have not nominated a member may wish to submit a nomination by sending the
nomination form
to the Secretariat. Parties and stakeholders may also wish to nominate experts to the roster by completing an
online form
, or using the same nomination form available above.
The OESG has developed
plans
for its work to develop data summaries, and
called for
expressions of intent to provide mercury monitoring, emission and releases data from parties and stakeholders. The Secretariat has received 106
expressions of interest
as of May 2024.
The Secretariat has made a contract with the Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI) to establish a data repository and to receive and compile the data. On behalf of the OESG, BRI is reaching out to the contact points indicated in the expressions of intent to invite the submission of data to the repository, together with a
data use authorization form
in which submitters may specify the condition of data use as appropriate.
The OESG, noting the current data gap,
renewed its call
for expression of interest to submit data. Parties and stakeholders are encouraged to submit their expression of interest through an
online form
is preparing to collect these data, as well as to call for additional expressions of intent.
In relation to the collection and analysis of mercury emissions and releases data, the Secretariat convened a global workshop on comparability of mercury emission and release data in Cape Town, South Africa, on 18-19 July 2024, with the financial support from the European Union. (See the
concept note
). The report of the work on emission/release inventories is available
here
The OESG held its second face-to-face meeting in Minamata, Japan, from 17 to 21 March 2025. Meeting documents are available from
here
The OESG has developed a draft report “Overview of monitoring, emission and release data” to invite review and comments by Parties. The draft report is available from the following link:
Draft report (including Annex I)
Annex II-a: List of observational data sets, sorted by country
Annex II-b: List of observational data sets, sorted by region or ocean
Annex II-c: Anthropogenic emissions and releases data
Parties are invited to provide comments about the data that has been collected or identified and, if appropriate, to identify additional data sources. Additional data that is identified during the comment process will be acknowledged in the OESG’s scientific report and will be incorporated into the data analysis as time and resources allow. Comments should be submitted to the Secretariat (
mea-minamatasecretariat
[at]
un.org
) by email by 24 July 2025.
Women and girls
Gender action plan (decision MC-5/15)
Parties and stakeholders are invited to engage in
priority activities
of the
gender action plan
for the 2024-2025 biennium.
The Secretariat is carrying out the following priority activities as part of the implementation of the Gender action Plan for the 2024-2025 biennium:
On the occasion of International Women's Day, the Secretariat organized the
first webinar
of the 2024 Minamata Online series on the theme “Mainstreaming gender in capacity-building projects: practical approaches”. This webinar showcased how gender considerations are integrated by the Specific International Programme, the Global Environment Facility and the Special Programme on Institutional Strengthening for the Chemicals Cluster into application criteria for funding, application guidelines, project applications, reporting forms and project evaluation processes. The delivery of the webinar is one of the priority activities for this biennium under the Minamata Convention Gender Action Plan.
Thanks to the generous support of Finland, the Secretariat is also planning the delivery of two other gender priority activities in 2024: the review of gender elements in existing national action plans and the development of case studies on the gender dimensions of projects funded by the SIP.
The Secretariat is aslo reviewing, according to gender considerations, national reports submitted by parties under article 21 to identify measures related to the control of mercury-added products used primarily by women and children, such as cosmetics and dental amalgam.
Biodiversity
In
decision MC-5/17
, the COP encouraged Parties and invited other Governments and local and subnational governments, as well as relevant organizations and stakeholders, as appropriate, to:
Promote research on the impacts of mercury on biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services;
Reflect national mercury reduction and control targets in their revised or updated national biodiversity strategies and action plans to align with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework;
Share the experience gained to promote coordination and integration of biodiversity- and mercury-related priorities through policy development and implementation, including lessons learned and challenges faced;
Disseminate information on actions that can generate co‑benefits for the Minamata Convention and the Kunming‑Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
The Secretariat was requested to support Parties and other stakeholders in sharing their experience and to compile and synthesize the information gathered and prepare a draft road map, including possible actions and indicators, to support Parties in demonstrating and maximizing the co-benefits arising from the implementation of the Minamata Convention and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its sixth meeting.
Accordingly, the Secretariat has been undertaking the following activities:
Webinars for the National Focal Points to the biodiversity and chemicals and waste Conventions and other government officials have been organized (in April and September 2024) together with the CBD Secretariat and BRS Secretariat. A third webinar is being planned.
The draft road map mandated in decision MC-5/17 is being developed for submission to COP-6.
Draft technical document
to guide integration of actions to reduce mercury pollution from artisanal and small-scale gold mining into revised or updated National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans. Parties and stakeholders are invited to submit comments and input using this
form
and email it to the Secretariat (
mea-minamatasecretariat
[at]
un.org
) by 24 July 2025.
Previous intersessional work
Submissions for COP-1
Intersessional work and submissions for COP-2
Intersessional work and submissions for COP-3
Intersessional work and submissions for COP-4
Intersessional work and submissions for COP-5
Information for participants
Information for participants
Becoming a Party at the time of the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties
The Minamata Convention entered into force on 16 August 2017, the 90th day after the date of deposit of the 50th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. For each State or regional economic integration organization that ratifies, accepts or approves the Convention or accedes thereto after the deposit of this 50th instrument, the Convention will enter into force on the 90th day after the date of deposit by such State or regional economic integration organization of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. Hence, in order to be Parties to the Minamata Convention at the time of the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, countries and regional economic integration organizations that have not yet done so should deposit their instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the United Nations Secretary-General, who is the depository of the Convention,
no later than 4 August 2025
. The updated list of Parties can be found on the
Convention website
Registration and travel assistance
As in previous years, the registration of delegates is a two-step process:
Online registration:
The names, titles and contact information of your designated representatives to attend the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties should be communicated to the Secretariat using Kronos online registration platform that will be available from
7 July 2025
. The individual link to access the registration platform with the instructions will be sent to National Focal Points for the Minamata Convention on Mercury and/or Permanent Missions to the United Nations Environment Programme and to the United Nations in Geneva. You are kindly invited to check the
contact details of the NFPs
and notify the Secretariat about any update (if needed).
Submission of supporting documents:
Furthermore, Parties are requested to send to the Secretariat at
MEA-MinamataMeetings
[at]
un.org
(MEA-MinamataMeetings[at]un[dot]org)
the official nomination letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a Note verbale from the Permanent Mission of the Party to the United Nations Office at Geneva with the names and contact details of the designated representatives.
Please note that documents issued by any other entity will not be accepted
The deadline for online registration and for sending the official nomination letter for
all delegates other than those requesting travel support is 24 October 2025
Financial assistance
may be available to support the participation of
one
delegate per eligible developing country Party. The travel support must be clearly requested and sponsored participant must be clearly specified in the official nomination letter. The deadline for online registration and for sending the official nomination letter
for sponsored delegates
is
5 September 2025
On-site registration at the Conference Centre will be possible and extended waiting times need to be expected. The Secretariat strongly encourages all participants to register prior to the deadline. Pre-registration will facilitate the issuance of conference badges upon arrival on site, and the preparation of the list of participants. Participants who do not wish to have their coordinates appear on the list of participants for each of the meetings should inform the registration desk upon their arrival at the venue.
Please note that the completion of the registration process is subject to the submission of all required information and subsequent confirmation by the Secretariat. Delegates are invited not to make any travel arrangements before receiving the registration confirmation from the Secretariat. Once the registration is validated in Kronos, each member of the delegation will receive a confirmation email with further logistical information and details.
Credentials for Parties to the Minamata Convention
In order to take part in decision-making at the meeting, Parties must be accredited. Credentials for the head of delegation, alternate representatives and advisers are issued either by the Head of State or Government or by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. In the case of a regional economic integration organization, credentials should be issued by the competent authority of that organization. Information regarding any change in the composition of the delegation should be submitted using the same procedure.
Samples of credentials are available in
Arabic
Chinese
French
Russian
and
Spanish
Original credentials must be submitted to the Secretariat no later than twenty-four hours after the opening of the meeting (therefore by 10 am on Tuesday, 4 November 2025). In order to facilitate the clearance process, Parties are invited to submit their original credentials in advance of the meeting,
preferably by 17 October 2025
, to:
The Executive Secretary
Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury
United Nations Environment Programme
Avenue de la Paix 8-14, 1211
Geneva 10, Switzerland
If not submitted in advance of the meeting, Parties can hand over original credentials of their representatives at the registration desk upon arrival at the meeting venue on the first day of the meeting.
Advance electronic copies of credentials can be sent to
MEA-MinamataMeetings
[at]
un.org
Travel support
Financial assistance may be available to support the participation of
one participant per eligible developing country Party
. The assistance will include daily subsistence allowance (DSA) at United Nations rate and round-trip economy ticket. The sponsored participant must be clearly specified in the official nomination letter.
Important
: the deadline for registration in the online platform and for sending the official nomination letter
for sponsored delegates is 5 September 2025
Once confirmed for participation, the sponsored participants will receive additional instructions on their travel arrangements. Air travel will be arranged according to the United Nations regulations, via the most economical and direct means possible in all cases. Please note that changes to air tickets after they have been issued will not be permitted.
In order to facilitate the payment of subsistence allowance at the venue, sponsored participants will be requested to submit copies of their passport and boarding passes to the Secretariat staff at the location and time indicated during the meeting. For any query related to travel and DSA, sponsored participants are invited to contact the Secretariat at:
mea-minamatameetings
[at]
un.org
Accomodation
Participants are responsible for making their own accommodation arrangements in advance of the meeting and for covering any associated incurred costs. The Secretariat encourages all Parties to make such arrangements at the earliest possible opportunity.
Please note that accommodation support for the non-sponsored governments and NGO representatives participating at the COP-6 may be provided by International Geneva Welcome Centre (CAGI). Please check
CAGI website
or contact
delegates.cagi
[at]
etat.ge.ch
for more details about the eligibility criteria and the conditions that apply.
Visa
All participants are responsible for obtaining their visa for entering Switzerland, as well as any necessary transit visa(s), as appropriate. Visa support letters can be provided by the Secretariat upon request.
Observers
Rule 6 of the rules of procedure for the Conference of the Parties provides that the United Nations, its specialized agencies, the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as any State not party to the Convention and any entity operating the mechanism referred to in paragraph 5 of Article 13 of the Convention, may, upon the invitation of the President, participate in the proceedings of any meeting without the right to vote, unless at least one-third of the Parties present at the meeting object.
Rule 7 of the rules of procedure provides that any body or agency, whether national or international, governmental or non-governmental, admitted as an observer may, upon the invitation of the President, participate without the right to vote in the proceedings of any meeting in matters of direct concern to the body or agency they represent, unless at least one-third of the Parties present at the meeting object.
Upon invitation by the President, observers may present their statements orally. The number of oral statements to be delivered at the meeting depends on the time available. With respect to NGOs, preference will be given to those speaking on behalf of groups of organizations or coalitions. Written statements could also be submitted in one of the official languages of the United Nations (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, or Spanish).
Organizations approved to participate in the previous meetings of the Conference of the Parties do not need to resubmit such application for admission. See organizations listed in documents
UNEP/MC/COP.1/INF/16
UNEP/MC/COP.2/INF/19
UNEP/MC/COP.3/INF/27
UNEP/MC/COP.4/INF/28/Rev.1
and
UNEP/MC/COP.5/INF/39
Organizations wishing to obtain observership status should submit to the Secretariat by e-mail:
mea-minamatameetings
[at]
un.org
at least two months prior to the opening of the meeting, an application for admission as an observer at meetings of the COP, including information demonstrating it is qualified in matters covered by the Convention. The Secretariat will screen the applications to check their completeness and conformity with the requirements of the Convention. Successful applications will be submitted to COP-6.
Further information with regard to the participation of observers in meetings of the Conference of the Parties may be found on the
website
Media
Media professionals that represent bona fide media organizations (formally registered as a media organization in a country recognized by the United Nations General Assembly) are invited to attend the sixth meeting of the Minamata Convention (COP-6) taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 3 to 7 November 2025. By following the accreditation process, each journalist can be issued with credentials to enable access to the plenary sessions, side events and exhibition area.
Media admittance follows the
Guidelines for Media accreditation and access
Accreditation will be granted upon presentation of valid press credentials, including each of the following:
Completed
Accreditation Form
Letter of assignment on the official letterhead of a media organization signed by the publisher/assignment editor, editor-in-chief or bureau chief, specifying the name and functional title of the journalist. Unsigned letters or e-mails will not be accepted;
Photocopy of a valid press card/work pass; and
Photocopy of passport/national ID card.
Please submit the Accreditation Form together with the documents listed above as soon as possible to the Secretariat through the Communications and Knowledge Management Officer, Anna García Sans at
anna.garcia
[at]
un.org
Note that double accreditation is not allowed (e.g. as press and delegate, or as press and nongovernmental organization).
Venue
The sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from Monday, 3 November to 7 November 2025. Regional consultations and other preparatory meetings will take place in the afternoon of Sunday, 2 November 2025.
The meeting will be held at:
Geneva International Conference Centre – Centre International de Conférences Genève (CICG)
Rue de Varembé 17. 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
Tel.: + 41 (0) 22 791 91 11, Fax: + 41 (0) 22 791 90 64
Website: www.cicg.ch
Internet access
Free wireless internet access is available in all conference and meeting rooms and in the public areas of the CICG.
Restaurants / Catering services
Catering services for lunch will be available at the Geneva International Conference Centre, at the bar and restaurant located on the ground and first-floor levels. Other cafes, restaurants and shops are within walking distance of the meeting venue.
Banking facilities
Banking services are available at the nearby area, the closest one being UBS Switzerland AG Vermont-Nations located at Chemin Camille-Vidart 17b, 1202 Geneva.
On-site registration and badge issuance
Participants are requested to register online in advance of the meeting and obtain their meeting badge at the registration desk at the venue, upon presentation of one of the following valid identification documents, in Latin alphabets:
Valid national passport issued by a government recognized by the United Nations;
Valid national ID cards issued by a Schengen State;
Valid travel document recognized by the UN.
The registration counter is located on the ground floor of the CICG and will have the following opening hours:
Sunday, 2 November
: 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 pm
Monday to Friday, 3 November to 7 November
: 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 pm
Access to the meeting venue is subject to the presentation of a valid meeting badge. For security reasons, the display of conference badge is mandatory at all times to get access to the meeting venue and meeting rooms. Any loss of a conference badge should be reported immediately to the registration counter.
Delegates are encouraged to obtain their conference badge/register prior to the morning of 3 November to reduce the queuing and lineups on the day of the official opening.
NOTE: Only the names of duly registered participants will be included in the list of participants of the meeting.
Exhibition space
An exhibition space will be set up at the COP-6 venue, the Geneva International Convention Centre (CICG).
The exhibition intends to relay relevant information and showcase the efforts of governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, private sector and academia towards the implementation of the Minamata Convention, in such areas as government policies, technologies, research, awareness raising or partnership.
Accepted exhibitors can find
more information here
Schedule and streaming of plenary sessions
The official opening of COP-6 will take place on Monday, 3 November 2025, at 10.00 a.m. The plenary sessions of the meeting are planned to be held daily from 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and from 3.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. The plenary sessions of the meeting will be live-streamed in 6 languages and the streaming will be made available through the COP-6 webpage and
YouTube Channel
Code of Conduct to Prevent Harassment at events organized under the Minamata Convention
The United Nations issued the Code of Conduct to prevent harassment, including sexual harassment, at UN System events, which include meetings, conferences, side events, workshops and other events organized under the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The Secretariat of the Minamata Convention is committed to enabling events at which everyone can participate in an inclusive, respectful and safe environment. Delegates are invited to familiarize themselves with the Code of Conduct,
which can be accessed here
Greening the COP*
The Minamata Convention Secretariat has taken steps to
enhance and promote the environmental sustainability
of its activities, including in the preparation and conduct of its meetings.
The sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention (COP-6) will be conducted in accordance with the Secretariat’s environmental sustainability efforts. A number of measures will be put in place to
reduce the environmental impact of COP-6
and offset unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions related to it.
The Secretariat will work with the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG) and the caterer to reduce the environmental impact of their services. CICG and the caterer have adopted several measures to reduce their environmental footprint. For more information on the environmental measures taken by CICG, please consult the
environmental chart
of the Foundation for Buildings for International Organizations (FIPOI).
All
participants have an essential role to play
in reducing the environmental footprint of COP-6, and your support in this important effort is greatly appreciated.
Sustainability measures that will be adopted at the venue
Reducing waste production
: COP-6 will aim at reducing wastes, especially plastic waste, at the meeting venue, in collaboration with CICG and the caterer:
The use of plastic in containers, bottles, sandwich wraps, cutlery and cups will be minimized and replaced with alternatives. Please see below a table of items that will be available at COP-6, and suggested actions to reduce waste production;
Participants are strongly encouraged to bring refillable drinking containers (cups, mugs, bottles) to be used at the Café/Restaurant and hydration stations located throughout the venue;
A discount on hot drinks will be offered by the caterer at the Café le 6ème Continent (Ground Floor) and at the Restaurant (First Floor) to the participants who use their own reusable cups;
The venue has a recycling programme, and recycling bins are disposed in various locations throughout the venue.
Paperless meeting
: The meeting will be paperless and printed documents will not be provided. Pre-session documents will be available on the meeting’s website and in-session documents (such as conference room papers) will be available electronically via the
COP-6 webpage
. Participants are encouraged to bring laptops or tablets.
Suggested actions for participants to support greening COP-6
Participants who organize their own travel to and from Geneva are encouraged to take the following actions:
Calculate the CO2 emissions related to their travels, using the
ICAO flight emissions calculator
Offset their emissions, using the
United Nations carbon offset platform
and sending a copy of the attestation to the Secretariat at
mea-minamatameetings
[at]
un.org
to help track progress in offsetting COP-6 emissions;
Replace short flights with rail trips, where possible;
Opt for direct routes that avoid additional emissions associated with multiple take-offs and landings;
Voluntarily lower the flight class to avoid the higher footprint of business class trips;
Use sustainable transportation, including buses, biking, walking, or carpooling for local trips where possible;
Shift meals to plant-based, locally produced, in-season, or eco-certified alternatives where possible;
Seek out accommodations that have a green guest program or have earned an eco-certification;
Stay at accommodations that are within walking distance of the meeting venue;
Reduce food waste and other waste;
Bring refillable drinking containers (cups, mugs, bottles) to be used at the Café/Restaurant and hydration stations;
Download any electronic documents for use onsite. Printed copies will not be provided, but participants will be able to recharge their devices;
Participate in the venue's recycling program.
The following items will be available at the COP venue. Please consider suggested actions to reduce waste and make COP-6 greener.
Items
Composition
Disposal
Suggested Actions to #greeningCOP6
Water cups
Paper
Recycling
PREVENT:
bring your reusable cup/mug/bottle
REUSE:
reuse them as many times as possible
RECYCLE:
dispose of the paper cup in the paper recycling bin
Hot drink cups
Paper
Incineration
PREVENT:
opt for reusable cups of the cafeteria or bring your own reusable mug/cup
RECOVERY:
dispose of the bamboo cup in the waste bin for incineration
Sandwich wrap
Polylactic Acid and paper
Incineration
RECOVERY:
dispose of the sandwich wrap in the waste bin for incineration
Paper napkin
Paper
Incineration
PREVENT:
only use if needed
RECOVERY:
dispose of the paper napkin in the waste bin for incineration
Packaging for snacks
Plastic (type)
Incineration
PREVENT:
opt for healthier and unpacked snacks such as seasonal and local fruits
RECOVERY:
dispose of the plastic packaging in the waste bins for incineration
Drink bottles
Glass
RETURN:
to the café/restaurant, as glass bottles are reusable
Drink cans
Aluminum
Recycling
RECYCLING:
dispose of aluminum cans in the aluminum recycling bin
Glass containers
Glass
RETURN:
to the café/restaurant, as glass containers are reusable
Porcelain plates
Porcelain
RETURN:
to the café/restaurant, as porcelain plates are reusable
Stainless steel cutlery
Stainless steel
RETURN:
to the café/restaurant, as stainless-steel cutlery is reusable
Disposable cutlery
Polylactic Acid
Incineration
PREVENT:
opt for reusable stainless-steel cutlery, where possible
RECOVERY:
dispose of the cutlery in the waste bins for incineration
Cocktail verrines
Polylactic Acid
Incineration
PREVENT:
opt for reusable alternatives if available
RETURN:
to the café/restaurant, as verrines can be washed and reused if not broken or damaged
RECOVERY:
if broken or damaged, dispose of the verrines in the waste bins for incineration
Food waste
Incineration
PREVENT:
any food waste
RECOVERY:
dispose of any food waste in the waste bins for incineration
Thank you for your effort to #greeningCOP6!
For more information, please contact Maria Irene Rizzo, Associate Expert, at
irene.rizzo
[at]
un.org
*Some of these actions are drawn from the document “United Nations Ozone Secretariat Event EMS Green Travel and Event Tips”.
Health
First-aid and emergency medical services are available at the CICG. Delegates with a chronic illness should carry all necessary medication and medical items for the entire duration of the journey, in their original containers, clearly labeled.
Delegates are advised to seek medical insurance with appropriate cover abroad, i.e. accident, sickness, medical repatriation and death. The United Nations does not cover life or medical insurance for participants. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the participants or of their Governments to obtain adequate insurance prior to travel to Switzerland.
Participants with mobility issues requiring special arrangements are invited to contact the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention in advance of the meeting at:
mea-minamatameetings
[at]
un.org
Further information
Currency and rate of exchange
Swiss Franc (CHF). Average exchange rates, as of 8 April 2025: 1 CHF ~1.17 USD. Major credit cards are accepted in most hotels and restaurants in Switzerland.
Electricity
Participants are kindly requested to bring their own power adaptors.
Voltage: 220 volts.
Frequency: 50 Hz.
Plug/socket: C (CEE 7/16), J.
Time zone
Switzerland is in CET time zone (UTC+1).
For further information on the meeting, please do not hesitate to contact the Secretariat, by e-mail at
MEA-MinamataMeetings
[at]
un.org
, or consult our website.
Online Events
Online Events
Introduction and calendar
COP-6 events provide an informal platform for Parties and observers to share information and highlight advances in technology, research and policy for the attention of Parties and the global community that the Convention serves. Two types of COP-6 events are offered:
online events
and
Knowledge Lab sessions
Online events run for one hour and are held virtually via the WebEx platform. The online events are scheduled for the
week of 13-17 October.
Check the full calendar here
and register now.
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed by speakers, moderators, and participants during the pre-COP-6 online events are those of the individuals concerned and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Presentations delivered by representatives of the Secretariat reflect the official positions or perspectives of the Secretariat, unless otherwise stated.
Monday 13 October
Save the date and register now:
13h00-14h00 CEST:
The Hidden Threat in the Mirror: Ending Mercury in Skin-Lightening Products (SLPs) Now!
(Environment and Social Development Organization - ESDO, Asian Center for Environmental Health), check the
presentations
here.
Join the Pre-COP-6 Online Event on 13 Oct 2025, 13:00–14:00 CEST: “The Hidden Threat in the Mirror: Ending Mercury in Skin-Lightening Products Now!”. Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO), in partnership with The Asian Center for Environmental Health (ACEH), presents this webinar to highlight urgent action, share new research, and inspire global collaboration. Don’t miss this vital dialogue!
14h45-15h45 CEST:
Integrating Chemicals and Waste Management into Biodiversity Conservation
(UNEP, Convention on Biological Diversity), check the
presentations
and
video recording
here.
This is an official online side event at the 2025 sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-6) that aims to strengthen implementation of global environmental commitments through coherent and synergistic implementation of MEAs, the KMGBF and the Global Framework on Chemicals.
16h30-17h30 CEST:
Advancing Mercury Waste Management: Solutions and Actions
(Global Mercury Partnership Waste Management Area - Japan), check the
presentations
and
video recording
here.
Join the Global Mercury Partnership Waste Management Area (GMP-WMA) for an interactive event on mercury waste management. Explore practical tools, best practices, and real examples, with updates on GMP-WMA activities and perspectives from key sectors. Open to governments, industry, NGOs, experts & organizations - especially those facing challenges in mercury waste management. Let's connect, share, and learn together!
18h00-19h00 CEST:
Indigenous and Scientific Voices from the Amazon on Cross-Border Mercury Protection
(Fundación Gaia Amazonas), check the
presentations
and
video recording
here.
Amazonian indigenous leaders and scientists describe how mercury pollution from gold mining endangers vital ecosystems, indigenous territories, and human health. They will present firsthand evidence from the field, rigorous research, and possible solutions to protect the Amazon basin, focusing on border regions. Both traditional knowledge and Western science combine insights to tackle this serious crisis. This online event is conducted in Spanish.
Tuesday 14 October
Save the date and register now:
11h00-12h00 CEST:
Managing mercury wastes in the healthcare sector: from existing tools to inclusive applications
(UNEP Global Mercury Partnership), check the
presentations
and
video recording
here.
The management of wastes from mercury containing products has been raising increasing concerns. This event will present latest tools and case studies highlighting collaborative efforts to support the safe and sound handling of wastes resulting from dental amalgam and mercury containing medical devices, with an emphasis on actions to reduce mercury exposure to protect human health and the environment.
13h00-14h00 CEST:
Multi-country initiatives addressing air emissions of mercury
(Minamata Convention Secretariat), check the
presentations
and
video recording
here.
"Article 8 and Annex D of the Minamata Convention on Mercury address the emissions of mercury and mercury compounds to the atmosphere from specific point sources. The event will highlight initiatives supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), focusing on emissions from two major point source categories: 1. Coal-fired power plants in high-potential countries in Asia and Africa, and 2. Non-ferrous metals production facilities in six countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
14h45-15h45 CEST:
Dental Amalgam phase down: alternatives, access, and implementation realities
(FDI World Dental Federation, IADR), check the
presentations
and
video recording
here.
Dental amalgam, valued for durability and affordability, is increasingly replaced by alternative restorative materials. This session unites global experts to review the clinical performance of these alternatives, address accessibility and affordability, and discuss the importance of collaboration for the successful implementation of dental amalgam phase-down or phase-out policies. Hear from leaders in government, research, and clinical practice to know the latest on dental amalgam and alternative restorative materials.
16h30-17h30 CEST:
Strengthening the Minamata Convention: A new approach to the global mercury trade and use in ASGM
(International Pollutants Elimination Network), more
information and video recording
here.
This webinar addresses the important need to strengthen the convention by accelerating the end of the legal trade of mercury and primary mercury mining while establishing a phase-out date for mercury use in the ASGM sector. New biomonitoring data from indigenous communities impacted by ASGM and mercury pollution in Peru and Nicaragua will also be presented to highlight the human rights implications of allowing mercury use in ASGM to continue indefinitely.
Wednesday 15 October
Save the date and register now:
11h00-12h00 CEST:
Overview of the Specific International Programme and sharing of lessons learned from completed projects
(Minamata Convention Secretariat), check the
presentations
and
video recording
here.
Article 13 of the Minamata Convention establishes a financial mechanism to support eligible parties to implement their Convention obligations. It includes the Specific International Programme (SIP) to support capacity-building and technical assistance which has to date supported 34 projects around the world. The side event will include remarks from a Co-Chair of the SIP Governing Board and presentations from project managers of Ecuador, North Macedonia, Senegal and Sri Lanka on the results and impacts of their SIP projects.
13h00-14h00 CEST:
Effectiveness Evaluation: Draft report of the Open-ended Scientific Group
(Minamata Convention Secretariat), check the
presentations
and
video recording
here.
The Open-Ended Scientific Group (OESG) was established by COP-4 in 2022 to put together the mercury monitoring data and develop a scientific report for evaluating the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention. At this event, lead scientists working on air, biota, human and other monitoring, as well as mercury emission and modelling will present the work of OESG.
14h45-15h45 CEST:
Actions and Measures to Phase Out Dental Amalgam by 2030 in the Arab Region
(World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry).
Join us! In collaboration with the Arab Centre for Environmental Health and with the approval of the Minamata Secretariat, the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry is hosting a pivotal event ahead of COP 6: "Actions and Measures to Phase Out Dental Amalgam by 2030 in the Arab Region". This event aims to support and learn from the African Proposal, promoting strategies to eliminate dental amalgam for a healthier, mercury-free future. Be a part of the movement!
16h30-17h30 CEST:
Bridging Generations to #MakeMercuryHistory: New Tools and Partnerships for a Child- and Youth-Responsive Minamata Convention
(Chemicals and Waste Youth Platform), check the
presentations
here.
What will it take – technically, politically, and financially – to achieve a mercury-free future for all children and youth? Join this first-of-its-kind event spotlighting children & youth’s health, rights, and solutions to mercury pollution under the Minamata Convention. Youth leaders, UN partners and researchers will share the latest science and new resources, including the work to develop the Minamata Convention for Youth Toolkit and first Global Youth Declaration on Mercury.
18h00-19h00 CEST:
An Integrated Approach for the Amazon: International Synergies in Combating Mercury Pollution and Defending Human Rights
(Foundation for Conservation and Sustainable Development Perú), check the
presentations
and
video recording
here.
Join us for the online event “An Integrated Approach for the Amazon” on the road to COP-6! We will explore the proposal for an Amazon Chapter in the Minamata Convention and how it connects with other key international treaties, such as the Escazú Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The event is conducted in Spanish.
Thursday 16 October
Save the date and register now:
11h00-12h00 CEST:
From Science to Action: Insights from the Minamata Convention and Emerging Priorities
(Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution), more
information and video recording
here.
How can science better inform global action on chemicals, waste & pollution? Join our event exploring examples from the Minamata Convention and opportunities for the new Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP). Policymakers, scientists, and stakeholders will share experience, discuss emerging priorities, especially around metals, metalloids & minerals, and share actionable ideas for the Panel’s early work.
13h00-14h00 CEST:
The impacts of mercury exposure on the rights of Indigenous Peoples and ways to address them
(Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights), more
information and video recording
here.
This event will explore how mercury exposure, particularly from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), threatens the health, rights, and cultures of Indigenous Peoples, including those in voluntary isolation. Building on voices of the UN Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights, Indigenous Peoples, and other experts, the discussion will highlight human rights impacts and pathways to strengthen Indigenous Peoples’ participation at the COP and in implementing the Minamata Convention.
14h45-15h45 CEST:
Review of the Implementation of the Article 7 on ASGM: from guidance to implementation
(UNEP Global Mercury Partnership), check the
presentations
and
video recording
here.
After establishing ASGM mercury baselines in 35+ countries, UNEP and the GEF, with the Minamata Convention Secretariat are now supporting Parties to review their National Action Plans. This side-event will present UNEP’s new guidance on the Review of the Implementation of the Article 7 (RIA) and the first GEF funded project supporting 23 countries to conduct their RIA, hearing from all the teams involved in their development as well as from countries participating in the first round of RIA.
16h30-17h30 CEST:
Measuring the Effectiveness of the Minamata Convention through Legal Indicators
(International Center for Comparative Environmental Law).
The Minamata Convention protects health and the environment from mercury. How to measure its effectivity? With innovative legal indicators, developed by experts and coordinated by CIDCE. Stay tuned — we will present them to you!
18h00-19h00 CEST:
Engaging Online Platforms in Enforcing Restricted Product Policies for Mercury-added Cosmetics
(Sri Lanka Consumer Affairs Authority, Zero Mercury Working Group), check the
presentations
here.
Despite health risks, mercury is frequently added to skin lightening products (Hg/SLPs). While the Convention bans manufacture and trade of Hg/SLPs, their production and distribution continue based on testing by ZMWG, Sri Lanka and others. To curtail online trade, actions may be necessary that go beyond the reach of national legislation. This event will showcase complementary regulatory and voluntary approaches and case law example (e.g. Amazon settlement) to prevent online sale of Hg/SLPs.
Read the agenda here
Friday 17 October
Save the date and register now:
11h00-12h00 CEST:
Managing Mercury in Offshore Oil and Gas: Risks, Challenges, and Opportunities
(Global Mercury Partnership Oil & Gas Working Group), check the
presentations
and
video recording
here.
Mercury is a significant issue for the offshore oil and gas industry, potentially released through emissions and discharges across the activity life cycle. This event will examine pathways to the marine environment from operations through to decommissioning, discuss challenges and opportunities for managing mercury, and conclude with envisaged opportunities, including the establishment an Oil & Gas working group under the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership.
13h00-14h00 CEST:
An evidence-based pathway to mercury-free materials for the prevention and management of dental caries
(World Health Organization), check the
presentations
and
video recording
here.
Join us to explore the latest evidence on mercury-free materials and techniques to prevent, arrest and restore carious teeth. Learn about the forthcoming WHO Guideline on Environmentally Friendly and Less Invasive Oral Health Care, and hear country success stories in transitioning away from dental amalgam. These efforts support the implementation of the Minamata Convention and are aligned with the Global Oral Health Action Plan 2023–2030, and the Bangkok Declaration—No Health without Oral Health.
14h45-15h45 CEST:
Pollution of Lufupa river by Mercury in Kasempa district
(Save Environment and People Agency Zambia), check the
presentations
here.
Mercury pollution from artisanal gold mining threatens communities along the Lufupa River in Zambia’s Kasempa district. With limited resources, Save Environment and People Agency (SEPA) has raised awareness and promoted safer practices, but expanding gold discoveries demand greater support to safeguard people and the environment. Join Mailes Zulu Muke (SEPA), Tukiya Muke (SEPA) and Vincent Kyamasengo (Vincent Green Environmental Foundation) to learn more.
16h30-17h30 CEST:
Evaluating Mercury’s Impact on the Food Chain Across Six Mining Regions in Ghana
(Pure Earth), check the
presentations
and
video recording
here.
Join this Minamata Convention Online Event: Evaluating Mercury’s Impact on the Food Chain Across Six Mining Regions in Ghana. Hosted by Pure Earth with the Environmental Protection Agency of Ghana and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, this virtual workshop will present findings from a new study on mercury contamination in artisanal and small-scale gold mining communities in Ghana.
Organizers’ tasks and responsibilities
It should be noted that organizers of the
online events
are fully responsible for the following tasks and responsibilities:
Organizing and promoting the event,
Mainstreaming the event beyond the Minamata Convention website so that it secures as broad an audience as possible,
Inviting panelists and speakers,
Ensuring that relevant team members (e.g. moderator and technical assistants) attend the training session arranged by the Secretariat,
Covering any expenses related to the participation of the panelists and speakers, e.g., communications allowance, etc. (if and as relevant),
Preparing a short final report with a summary of the outcomes of the event for the purpose of being published on the Minamata Convention website (if consent is not given to record and livestream), and
Giving due consideration to any media / social media activities relating to events, in cooperation with the Secretariat media team.
NOTE:
Online events are limited to 60 minutes in duration, conducted using the WebEx platform and will be broadcasted on the Convention’s YouTube channel.
Organizers must make sure that all the panelists join at least 15 minutes before their respective events and test their Audio-Video settings.
Online Events seek to take account of global time zones. Organizers are expected to strictly keep to the schedule.
Special Events
Special Events
Introduction
Special events will be primarily
in-person
and held in
Geneva
alongside COP-6 (3–7 November), starting on the
preceding day
and continuing throughout the week. The programme will feature high-level discussions, thematic panels, movie screenings, and a photo exhibition displayed on the lakeshore of Geneva.
Sunday 2 November
Secretariat briefing on financial resources and mechanism
This in-person briefing will provide detailed information in accordance with Article 13 of the Convention. It will be held
from 13h00 to 14h30 CET
at the International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG), Switzerland, level 0, Plenary C.
This briefing will focus on Party obligations and deadlines under the Convention as well as related progress and identified challenges; status of the Global Environment Facility financing on mercury and the Specific International Programme; update on the GEF-9 replenishment process; and elements related to the third review of the financial mechanism. The session will include an interactive question and answer session.
More information coming soon
From Science to Action: Protecting the Amazon from Mercury Pollution
This in-person event, organized in coordination with the Geneva Environment Network, will take place
from 17h30 to 20h00 CET
at the CICG, level 0, Room A.
The event will highlight the work of
Fernando Trujillo
, conservation scientist and National Geographic Rolex Explorer of the Year, who will share insights from decades of research and his advocacy against mercury pollution.
Aileen Mioko Smith
, Executive Director of Green Action in Japan and co-author of Minamata with photographer W. Eugene Smith, will connect the legacy of Minamata disease to current challenges in the Amazon and introduce the COP-6 photo exhibit Minamata: Photographer’s Eye Project.
The dialogue will be followed by a screening of the documentary
Amazon, the New Minamata?
, which portrays the impacts of mercury on Indigenous Peoples of Brazil’s Tapajós River.
Monday 3 November
Driving Effective and Inclusive Implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury
This special event with high-level participation will facilitate the exchange of experiences and feature actions to implement the Minamata Convention that also bring other socio-economic, human and environmental benefits. It will take place in-person
from 13h15 to 14h30 CET
at the CICG, level 0, Room A.
The event will feature diverse voices, including high-level representatives from Parties, IGOs and MEA secretariats, NGOs, Indigenous Peoples, youth and scientists engaged in environmental causes.
Tuesday 4 November
The planetGOLD Programme – Learnings and Looking Ahead
This in-person special event will share observations and lessons learned from an analysis of the first phase of the planetGOLD programme,
from 13h15 to 14h45 CET
at the CICG, level 0, Room A.
The event will focus on best practices and challenges for formalization, technology transfer, and improving miner access to finance and markets, and will look ahead to the next phase of the programme. Lunch will be served. Information on speakers and additional details will be shared shortly.
Wednesday 5 November
Launch of the Women Caucus of the Minamata Convention on Mercury
For the first time, the Women's Caucus will participate to the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention, which will be held from 3 to 7 November 2025 in Geneva. The launch will take place
from 13h00 to 14h00 CET
at the CICG, level 2, Room 14.
The Women’s Caucus is a space for advancing the equality and empowerment of women within the implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. It provides a self-organized framework for collective action guided by shared experiences and perspectives on preventing women’s exposure to mercury and driving positive change for women in mercury-related decision-making processes.
Thursday 6 November
Detoxifying Cosmetics​ and Beauty Ideals: Movie screening and panel discussion
The Global Mercury Partnership together with the Graduate Institute, World Health Organization, and Biodiversity Research Institute will organize an in-person event
from 18h15 to 20h15 CET
at the Graduate Institute, Geneva, Switzerland.
The panel will feature representatives of the Minamata Convention, influential artists, voices, and changemakers who will share stories, solutions, and a vision for a safer, more equitable future. The discussion will be followed by the screening of
Timpi Tampa
, a Senegalese film that uses humor and emotion to challenge toxic beauty standards and celebrates the power of diversity.
In the margins of COP-6
Humanæ of Angelica Dass: photo exhibition
A photographic exhibition will be on display on the lakeshore of Geneva (Quai Gustave-Ador) by the Global Mercury Partnership
from 27 October to 16 November
Humanæ of Angelica Dass is a reflection on the color of the skin, attempting to document humanity’s true colors rather than the untrue labels “white”, “red”, “black” and “yellow” associated with race. Challenging stereotypes and narrow beauty ideals, the exhibition reinforces that mercury has no place in cosmetics and calls for beauty standards that embrace uniqueness and diversity, not toxic chemicals.
Learn more about the exhibiton
© Shiota Takeshi
Minamata Photographers' Eye Project
A photographic exhibition will be on display at the International Conference Centre Geneva, Switzerland, throughout COP-6
from 3 to 7 November
At COP-6, the Secretariat is proud to showcase the powerful photographic legacy of Minamata, the tragedy that sparked a global movement and the treaty to address mercury pollution. The images in the exhibit, captured over 65 years, reveal both the devastating impact of methylmercury poisoning and the resilience of affected communities. Through this exhibit, the organizer,
Minamata Eye Project
, aims to preserve these visual testimonies and engage participants in meaningful dialogue on how we can raise global awareness and prevent future environmental disasters. Join us in honoring Minamata’s story and shaping a safer, mercury-free future.
Knowledge Labs
Knowledge Labs
Introduction
Knowledge Lab sessions
take place during the COP at the International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG) and are designed to provide an opportunity for organizers to engage with COP-6 participants and showcase their work in an open space set-up through a 45-minute knowledge-sharing session. You can check the
calendar of knowledge labs
here.
Tuesday 4 November
Save the date:
14:00–14:45:
From Science to Policy – Integrating Data for the First Effectiveness Evaluation
(Open-Ended Scientific Group, Minamata Convention Secretariat).
Location: Room 3, Level -1
Watch the recording here
and
full presentations here
The first effectiveness evaluation of the Minamata Convention integrates science and policy. Our Knowledge Lab will provide an overview of the evaluation process and share findings from the scientific modelling community (MCHgMAP) on mercury trends in air, oceans & land to support long-term decision-making.
18:00–18:45:
Health, Human Rights and Mercury Impacts of ASGM: Prioritising health interventions
(Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights).
Location: Room 3, Level -1
This meeting, co-organized by IPEN, OHCHR, the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights, and Mexico, will address the lack of implementation of Article 16 of the Minamata Convention on health. With a focus on the human rights of groups in vulnerable situations, especially women, children, and Indigenous Peoples, the event will highlight urgent health impacts of mercury, explore strategies for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, and share guidance to strengthen health systems and professional capacity.
18:00–18:45:
InforMEA in Action: Supporting Minamata Convention Implementation through Digital Tools and Legal Transparency
(UN Environment Programme Law Division).
Location: Space A, Level 0
At #MinamataCOP6, step into our Knowledge Lab. Discover how digital tools & legal transparency support the Minamata Convention; from aligning laws to tracking COP decisions and national reporting. With live demos, expert insights from other Conventions, and real-world cases, see how #InforMEA drives mercury reduction, justice & #SDG16.
18:00–18:45:
Learning from the Past Experience and into the Future: from Minamata High School
(Minamata High School, Japan; Ministry of Environment, Japan).
Location: Space B, Level 0
Minamata High School students are turning their local history into global action! Hear from Norimi Motoyama on their intensive Mercury Studies curriculum, which includes expert lectures, visits to the JNC factory, and research into the science behind Minamata Disease. Additionally, Mio Iwasaka will share results from her critical survey on High School students' awareness and understanding of mercury in the affected community. Don't miss this presentation that connects education, local legacy, and global health.
18:00–18:45:
Mining Impacts Calculator: A Tool for Mercury Impact Assessment in ASGM
(Brazil Ministry of Environment, Conservation Strategy Fund Brazil).
Location: Room 4, Level -1
Discover the Mining Impacts Calculator at #COP6! This innovative tool quantifies the social & environmental costs of artisanal gold mining, focusing on #mercury pollution. Learn how it helps calculate financial compensation, plan mitigation, including investigations and legal proceedings. Join our #KnowledgeLab to see a live demo and explore its application in the Amazon.
Wednesday 5 November
Save the date:
14:00–14:45:
Detoxifying Cosmetics and Beauty Ideals: Global voices and solutions to reduce demand for mercury and skin lightening
(UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch).
Location: Room 3, Level -1
Mercury in skin lightening products threatens health, the environment, and human rights, yet harmful beauty norms drive their use. This panel unites governments, advocates, and the private sector to share solutions – from public education and policy change to ethical consumer engagement. Join us to spotlight the risks, challenge discriminatory beauty standards, and elevate global voices working to end mercury and colorism-fueled cosmetics.
14:00–14:45:
Minamata Disease: Bearing Witness through Photography - Lessons from Minamata for Tomorrow’s Challenges
(Minamata Photographers' Eye Project).
Location: Space A, Level 0
2026 marks the 70th anniversary of the official discovery of Minamata Disease. For over half a century, photographers have documented this devastating case of industrial pollution in Japan. Aileen Mioko Smith co-authored the landmark book Minamata, which inspired the 2020 Hollywood film. At the event, she will share images from her three years photographing the tragedy, reflect on its lessons, and introduce the other photographers of the Minamata Photographers’ Eye Project.
14:00–14:45:
How Partnerships and Research Infrastructures Enhance Implementation of the Minamata Convention
(Czech Republic / RECETOX, Masaryk University).
Location: Space B, Level 0
This Knowledge Lab brings together three organizations to showcase innovative tools supporting the national implementation of Minamata Convention. GEO showcases GOS4M, a platform for real-time mercury data; PARC presents tools for population exposure and risk mitigation; and EIRENE offers open-access research infrastructure for labs and monitoring networks. Join this session to discover how science–policy partnerships are strengthening the global response to mercury challenges.
18:00–18:45:
Building the Evidence: Linking Human and Biota Mercury Monitoring under the Minamata Convention
(Open-Ended Scientific Group, Jožef Stefan Institute, Biodiversity Research Institute, Dartmouth College).
Location: Space A, Level 0
This Knowledge Lab highlights how harmonized human biomonitoring and biota mercury monitoring provide complementary evidence to evaluate the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention. Presentations will show new data and tools developed through the OESG and UNEP collaborations, demonstrating how coordinated global measurements strengthen policy and community protection.
18:00–18:45:
Shaping Action: Confronting the Illegal Mercury Trade
(Environmental Investigation Agency - US).
Location: Room 3, Level -1
Join our Knowledge Lab inspired by the Environmental Investigation Agency-US report, Traffickers Leave No Stone Unturned. We’ll discuss the role of illegal mercury flows--especially tied to illicit gold mining--in reducing the effectiveness of the Minamata  Convention  on  Mercury. Panelists will explore the scale of illicit trade, how to strengthen cooperation across Parties and stakeholders, and identify actionable steps for addressing criminal supply chains and supporting impacted communities.
18:00–18:45:
Technical Manual for the Care of Indigenous Peoples Exposed to Mercury: A Health-Based Approach Rooted in Rights and Territory
(Secretariat of Indigenous Health - Brazilian Ministry of Health).
Location: Space B, Level 0
Brazil presents a new Technical Manual to guide health services in caring for Indigenous peoples exposed to mercury. Rooted in rights, territory and equity, the Manual translates evidence into clinical pathways, screening and follow-up within the SUS. Join us at COP-6 to discuss implementation and cooperation to protect communities and strengthen health responses.
Thursday 6 November
Save the date:
14:00–14:45:
Parties Perú and Bangladesh Present Prototypes for Mercury-Free Dentistry in the Americas and Asia
(World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry).
Location: Space A, Level 0
With the unanimous statement of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment and amalgam bans across Europe, attention shifts to Asia and the Americas. Perú and Bangladesh have model plans! Perú adopted legislation, strictest in the mercury-laden Amazon. Bangladesh went step-by-step: military, dental schools, civil society MOU. Co-sponsored by the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry and with dentist speakers, this Knowledge Lab will show the world that amalgam can be phased out on a rapid timetable. Now is the time to end the amalgam era in dentistry.
14:00–14:45:
Fostering the integration of chemicals pollution into National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs): latest tools and countries’ perspectives
(UNEP).
Location: Room 2, Level -1
The world faces a triple planetary crisis, with biodiversity loss fueled by pollution and waste mismanagement. Mercury from artisanal and small-scale gold mining and other processes and uses contaminates ecosystems and species such as fish and seafood. This session will share guidance, country experiences, and feedback on integrating and mainstreaming pollution into National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans under the CBD and Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
14:00–14:45:
Informing Integrated Chemicals Management: Data Needs and Experience from Mercury
(UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch, Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution).
Location: Space B, Level 0
How can data drive better chemicals management? Join UNEP’s Knowledge Lab on 6 Nov to explore the power of data to support integrated chemicals management, learn from mercury success stories, and discover ideas in science-policy collaboration.
14:00–14:45:
Advancing Gender-Inclusive Solutions in ASGM
(Natural Resources Defense Council - planetGOLD programme).
Location: Room 3, Level -1
Join the planetGOLD Programme and the World Bank’s Africa Environmental Health and Pollution Management Programme (AEHPMP) on Thursday, November 6 at 14:00 in the exhibition area for a Knowledge Lab on empowering women in artisanal and small-scale gold mining. Hear from planetGOLD Bolivia and AEHPMP projects in Ghana and Tanzania as they share tools, strategies, and stories of partnering with women miners to improve opportunities and working conditions through training and technical support.
18:00–18:45:
Indigenous Peoples and Mercury Monitoring: Experiences in Promoting Human Rights and Co-production of Knowledge Approaches in the Arctic and the Amazon
(Inuit Circumpolar Council, Federación Nativa del Río Madre de Dios y Afluentes).
Location: Plenary C, Level 0
This Knowledge Lab will showcase community-led mercury monitoring initiatives in Indigenous territories of the Arctic and the Amazon. It will highlight how these efforts contribute to safeguarding human rights, advancing environmental justice, and co-producing knowledge that strengthens global mercury governance.
18:00–18:45:
GEF-UNDP Experiences on the Elimination of Mercury from Consumer and Healthcare Products
(United Nations Development Programme).
Location: Room 3, Level -1
Join us at #COP6Minamata! Discover GEF-UNDP experiences in eliminating mercury from consumer and healthcare products. Learn from China, Ecuador, and Ghana on their journey of phasing out mercury devices, promoting mercury-free alternatives, and managing wastes.
Friday 7 November
Save the date:
14:00–14:45:
Mercury Wastes Management in countries: latest advances and experience in protecting human health and the Environment
(UNEP Global Mercury Partnership, BRS Conventions Secretariat).
Location: Space A, Level 0
Learn more about recent tools and projects on the environmentally sound disposal of mercury containing waste under both the Minamata and the Basel Conventions. The session will highlight progress made by sharing recent knowledge from countries involved in the phase out/down of mercury containing products, including on training tools developed by the Minamata Secretariat, the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Secretariat in cooperation with the Global Mercury Partnership and its area of work on Mercury Waste Management.
14:00–14:45:
Mercury reduction in artisanal gold mining using local knowledge and practical strategies - from data to action
(Alliance for Responsible Mining).
Location: Space B, Level 0
This presentation explores strategies to eliminate mercury use in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining through stakeholder engagement. It shows that effective mercury mitigation depends not only on data transparency and reliability, but also on technologies that incorporate local knowledge. Using real-life examples of community-led practices, it highlights why effective stakeholder engagement is critical for practitioners and decision-makers in mercury mitigation.
Schedule
Schedule
Tentative schedule
, additional details forthcoming. All times are in the Geneva time zone.
Full Programme (2-7 November)
Sunday
2nd November 2025
Monday
3rd November 2025
Tuesday
4th November 2025
Wednesday
5th November 2025
Thursday
6th November 2025
Friday
7th November 2025
Meeting type
All events
Official Meeting
Special Event
Knowledge Lab
2 November 2025
Official Meeting
10:00 - 13:00
Geneva time
Bureau meeting
Room 9
14:30 - 17:30
Geneva time
Regional meetings
JUSCANNZ - Room 4
African Regional meeting - Room A
Asian and Pacific Group Regional meeting - Room B
Eastern European Group Regional meeting - Room 3
GRULAC Regional meeting - Room C
European Union meeting - Room E+F
Special Event
13:00 - 14:30
Geneva time
COP-6 Secretariat briefing on financial resources and mechanism
Room C
The purpose of this in-person briefing is to provide detailed information related to the financial resources and mechanism, in accordance with Article 13 of the Convention. This briefing will highlight the following:
Reflections on Party obligations and deadlines under the Convention as well as related progress and identified challenges; status of the Global Environment Facility financing on mercury and the Specific International Programme to Support Capacity-Building and Technical Assistance, as the two components of the financial mechanism; update on the GEF-9 replenishment process; and elements related to the third review of the financial mechanism.
The session will include an interactive question and answer session
More information
17:30 - 20:00
Geneva time
From Science to Action: Protecting the Amazon from Mercury Pollution
Room A
The event will highlight the work of
Fernando Trujillo
, conservation scientist and National Geographic Rolex Explorer of the Year, who will share insights from decades of research and his advocacy against mercury pollution.
Aileen Mioko Smith
, Executive Director of Green Action in Japan and co-author of Minamata with photographer W. Eugene Smith, will connect the legacy of Minamata disease to current challenges in the Amazon and introduce the COP-6 photo exhibit Minamata: Photographer’s Eye Project.
The dialogue will be followed by a screening of the documentary
Amazon, the New Minamata?
, which portrays the impacts of mercury on Indigenous Peoples of Brazil’s Tapajós River.
More information
3 November 2025
Official Meeting
09:00 - 09:45
Geneva time
Regional meetings
JUSCANNZ - Room 4
African Regional meeting - Room A
Asian and Pacific Group Regional meeting - Room B
Eastern European Group Regional meeting - Room 3
GRULAC Regional meeting - Room C
European Union meeting - Room E+F
10:00 - 13:00
Geneva time
COP-6 Plenary
Room D
Item 1: Opening of the meeting
Item 2: Organizational matters
(a) Adoption of the agenda
(b) Organization of work
(c) Election of officers
(d) Report on the credentials of representatives
Item 3: Rules of procedure and financial rules for the Conference of the Parties
Item 4: Matters for consideration or action by the Conference of the Parties
(e) Financial resources and mechanism
(i) Global Environment Facility
(ii) Specific International Programme to Support Capacity-Building and Technical Assistance
(iii) Review of the financial mechanism
15:00 - 18:00
Geneva time
COP-6 Plenary
Room D
Item 4: Matters for consideration or action by the Conference of the Parties
(b) Mercury-added products and manufacturing processes in which mercury or mercury compounds are used:
(i) Amendments to annex A
(iii) Consideration of the feasibility of mercury-free alternatives for manufacturing vinyl chloride monomer
(ii) Cosmetics listed in part I of annex A
(iv) Extensions for exemptions
(a) Mercury supply sources and trade
19:00 - 22:00
Geneva time
Contact Group on Technical Matters
Room A
Special Event
13:15 - 14:30
Geneva time
Driving Effective and Inclusive Implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury
Room A
This special event with high-level participation will facilitate the exchange of experiences and feature actions to implement the Minamata Convention that also bring other socio-economic, human and environmental benefits.
The event will feature diverse voices, including high-level representatives from Parties, IGOs and MEA secretariats, NGOs, Indigenous Peoples, youth and scientists engaged in environmental causes.
More information
18:00 - 20:00
Geneva time
Reception hosted by the Swiss government
CICG Restaurant (Level 1)
Streaming
Streaming
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