 |
 |
 |
||||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||||
|
THE FIRST ROUND TABLE OF THE NEHAP FORUM
AT THE NATIONAL HEALTH
MANAGEMENT CENTRE
51 Iv. Javakhishvili
St., Tbilisi.
03:00
pm - 05:30 pm Friday,
7 September 2001
‘PARTICIPATING IN THE NEHAP PROCESS’ PRESS BRIEFING The
practice of protecting the environment and health is changing.
It is commonly accepted that health, environmental and social
issues are complex subjects to address and are often
interrelated to one another, as well as to other development and
economic issues. Partly as a consequence of this, the Member
States and WHO launched a movement to draw up national
environment and health action plans (NEHAPs) at the Second
European Conference on Environment and Health (Helsinki, June
1994). A
GEORGIAN NEHAP FORUM Earlier
this year WomenAid contacted the Georgian national co-ordinator
of the NEHAP and offered its assistance in the first phase of
the project. This
was accepted and the NEHAP Forum has been set up to facilitate
the development process and help define the priority themes. The
Forum will support the development and implementation of the
National Environmental Health Action Plan [NEHAP] process by
facilitating comprehensive public input through public
discussion and debate at the drafting stage.
Public participation and access to information are increasingly recognized as essential elements in making the necessary transition towards environmentally sound, health-enhancing and sustainable forms of development. Effective communications with the public and active dissemination of information are essential elements in the development and implementation of environment and health [EH] policies. The creation of a NEHAP is crucial to the development of a democratic society that has a voice in the important issues that affect everyday life. The public and NGOs can be an important driving force for NEHAP implementation. They should help identify priority concerns and press for solutions, promote integrated solutions to problems and play a role in monitoring progress towards the goals set. THE ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH NETWORK PLATFORM The Environment & Health Network Platform, (EHNP) aims to Increase public participation in environmental decision-making, promote public awareness of environmental issues and encourage the public to contribute actively towards a better environment. The EHNP is gathering a broad coalition of key players and stakeholders who will work together to develop strategies that increase public awareness of environmental issues and health linkages, thereby fostering more enlightened attitudes and encouraging the public to contribute actively towards a better environment. Platform members define effective response strategies to environmental threats and stimulate informed pressure for effective and early implementation of policies based on sustainable development. The adjustment and up-dating of environment and health legislation is also encouraged. Members
of the Environmental and Health Network Platform work
together to:
Effective policy-making pre-supposes the existence of decision-makers responsive to the views of a public well-informed about environment and development issues and their complex inter-relationships. By developing broad multi-sectoral discussion between government and local authorities officials, NGOs, scientists, community groups, trade unions, business leaders, and members of the general public, WomenAid is promoting a method of consensus-building, an important part of democratic decision-making processes. The aim is to engage a cross-section of Georgian society in debates on environmental risks and lobby national government and local authorities for action. For
more information please contact:The
Environment & Health
team Health
& Gender Equity Center WomenAid
International-Caucasus 17
Khvichia Street, Tbilisi, Georgia Tel/Fax: (995 32) 37 92 70 E-mail: waigeo@access.sanet.ge |
|||||||||||