A pilot training session aiming to extend the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) conventions’ corps of highly qualified chairpersons was held in Glion, Switzerland, from 3 to 5 March. The participants benefited from the experience of former chairs who led various BRS processes, including the conferences of the parties, meetings of subsidiary bodies, contact groups and informal consultations.

Through the combination of lectures, case studies, videos and simulation exercises, the participants learned firsthand how to chair intergovernmental meetings effectively and guide them towards consensual outcomes.

“The pilot training extends the conventions’ corps of highly qualified chairpersons, ensuring that we can call upon experienced chairs from all regions, while maintaining gender and regional diversity among them,” said Kerstin Stendahl, BRS Deputy Executive Secretary.

The training session brought together 17 participants from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, the Cook Islands, Ecuador, Egypt, Georgia, Indonesia, Japan, Malawi, Poland, the Russian Federation, Senegal, Sudan and Switzerland. It was conducted by the Institute of Advanced Studies of the United Nations University, in cooperation with the BRS secretariat, through the generous support of the Government of Switzerland.

More information: michael.jones@brsmeas.org