When the United Nations Environment Programme convened delegates from nearly 100 nations in Montreal to begin this negotiation in late June 1997, IPEN was there. The network ' s public forum, held the day before negotiations began, attracted hundreds of participants as well as the attention of UNEP and a number of government delegates. Representatives of IPEN participating organizations took part in the meetings, made formal statements before plenary and working group sessions, and lobbied their country delegations. IPEN will be there again at INC2, and will use this opportunity to focus attention on Africa as a vitally import region in this negotiation.
African countries are still major users of a number of POPs.
The location of provides IPEN and its participating organizations with a one-time chance to recruit and interact with African NGOs around their specific POPs concerns. Plans are now being finalized for IPEN NGO events to coincide with INC2. African Perspectives on POPs Elimination , which will be held on Sunday, January 24. An itinerary for the week ' s other events, including special caucuses for health professionals, women, and indigenous peoples on Saturday, January 23, and the INC itself, which begins on Monday, January 25. A registration form for the INC meeting, a copy of which should be filled out returned by fax to UNEP for each NGO participant.