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Lead paint is a major source of potential lead poisoning for young children. The International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week of Action, co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), was established to raise awareness of the widespread availability of lead paint. At the start of the week, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on toxic waste, Marc Pallemaerts, stated, "We simply cannot wait another century to eliminate the use of lead especially in paint and toys, as there is no known level of lead exposure that is considered safe."
A new report from IPEN and UNEP documents high lead levels in nine countries. In addition, IPEN Participating Organizations conducted lead awareness activities around the world.
See information about IPEN Participating Organization activities below, and relevant media coverage HERE.
Armenia
"Khazer" Ecological and Cultural NGO
- Published booklets and posters
- Organized meetings in Yerevan and Hrazdan with Public Environmental Information /Aarhus/ Centers involving civil society, Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Health, the business sector that produces or imports paints, and the consumers community.
- Held a press-conference with media for the dissemination of this information, especially among vulnerable groups of children and young people.
Argentina
Release of national data from UNEP - IPEN Global Report
Taller Ecologista Press Release
Azerbaijan
Ruzgar organized a round table workshop at the Aarhus Center in Baku. Representatives from NGOs, Ministries of Ecology and Natural Resources, Academies of Sciences and Universities participated. Ruzgar's Chairman, Prof Islam Mustafayev, reported on the influence of lead paints on the health of children and the results of paint testing in Azerbaijan.
Bangladesh
Environment and Social Development Organization-ESDO
ESDO conducted public awareness and policy advocacy activities through a media campaign and children’s participation:
- Rally;
- Children’s art competition;
- Mobile poster and photograph exhibition (highlighting the impact of leaded paint to human health & environment);
- Video clips released through YouTube and other social media; and
- Report launched through a press briefing.
Cameroon
Centre de Recherche et d'Education pour le Développement (CREPD)
- Workshop with officials from key government ministries, consumer associations and pediatricians to advance the recommendations made by stakeholders during the two national workshops carried out within the Quick Start Programme lead paint project in Cameroon.
- Lead poisoning outreach to vulnerable population groups.
Ethiopia
Pesticide Action Nexus Association (PAN)
Release of national data from UNEP - IPEN Global Report
Ghana
Ecological Restorations
Release of national data from UNEP - IPEN Global Report
India
The Just Environment Charitable Trust (Toxics Link)
Toxics Link carried out public awareness activities including:
- A workshop held in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO);
- Radio talk shows;
- School program; and
- Signature campaign.
Toxics Link, Maulana Azad Medical College, Lata Medical Research Foundation and WHO Regional Office for South East Asia held a regional conference to:
- Raise awareness of the issue of lead poisoning from paints containing lead;
- Provide an update on the status of lead poisoning in the South-East Asia Region, including the scientific evidence for health impacts;
- Review the status of actions in WHO South-East Asia Region aimed at eliminating lead from paint; and
- Discuss and identify cooperative actions that could be taken in the WHO South-East Asia Region with appropriate milestones for 2014-2015.
Participants included interested government ministries, academic institutions, medical associations, analytical laboratories, industry, non-governmental organizations working for a better environment, and media and consumer organizations from India and other countries in the region.
Indonesia
- "Fun Day" at Early Childhood Education Centers in Denpasar aimed at early childhood educators, parents, and students.
- Radio talk sessions to promote the danger of lead in paint
Ivory Coast
Jeunes Volontaires pour l'Environnement (JVE) Côte d'Ivoire
- Press conference to present the results of the determination of lead content in decorative paints sold on the domestic market;
- Panel discussion with all stakeholders to discuss the question of the future of lead paints sold in Côte d'Ivoire; and
- Film projection about the environmental effects of lead in paints as well as those inherent in other heavy metals. The film projection will be followed by consumer education on choosing paints.
Kazakhstan
Greenwomen, Analytical Environmental Agency
- A press release and other information was distributed to Greenwomen’s listserv to local and national mass media and via its web-site and Facebook Toxic Free Future page; and
- A statement was developed and given to the government of Kazakhstan urging it to stop the manufacture and sale of lead paint, and to minimize the risk of exposure to the public, as well as recommendations to improve legislation related to chemical safety.
Kyrgyzstan
NGO "Independent Ecological Expertise"
- Released a new study, "Lead in household paints"; and
- Distributed a new booklet on lead in paint (in Russian and Kyrgyz) among decision makers, educational institutions and retail outlets that sell paint.
Nepal
Center for Public Health and Environmental Development (CEPHED)
- Awareness-raising activities were held in the first week of October as part of National Festivals when people paint their homes;
- A 3rd report on Lead in Paint was released;
- A radio talk program and media campaign was undertaken;
- School programs were carried out; and
- A meeting with small and medium paint manufcturing enterprises was held.
LEADERS Nepal
Air, dust, and paint samples were collected for analysation and blood sampling is going on. A report of this research will be published and other advocacy programs organized with other NGOs directed to the general people.
Nigeria
Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria)
- Am advocacy seminar/meeting was held with the Paint Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) to urge for collaborative action to eliminate lead in Nigerian paints (known now to be have among the highest lead concentrations in the world) and replace them with alternatives;
- A NGO sensitisation workshop was held, highlighting the experiences of the Zamfara lead poisoning incident and NGO collective action; and
- A press conference was held, highlighting childhood lead poisoning and the release of a petition to the federal government on the absence of comprehensive legislation on lead control despite the Zamfara lessons.
Young Volunteers for the Environment (YVE), Nigeria
YVE carried out events in Lagos and Ibadan to create community awareness on lead poisoning
Paraguay
Release of report on lead in paint in Paraguay
Philippines
- A press conference was held to publicize the results of the 2013 Paint Sampling and Analysis Global Report; and
- Key government and civil society stakeholders, in partnership with Kamuning Elementary School, held a public assembly with the theme: “Lead Free Kids for a Healthy Future” to jump-start the celebration of the 1st International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week of Action.
Republic of Moldova
An Anti- Lead Paint Caravan was undertaken via the following routes: Vorniceni-Lozova-Micleuseni, Dolna, Galesti-Zubresti-Recea-Ghelauza
Republic of Serbia
Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development
An "open hour" with eco-schools in Serbia was held on the subject "Color pencils with and without lead: what is difference?".
Russia
Release of report on lead in paint in Russia
Sri Lanka
Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ)/ Friends of the Earth Sri Lanka
CEJ held several activities together with the relevant government authorities to educate the public on the importance of using lead-free paint, and other lead-free materials for saving children's lives.
Thailand
Ecological Alert and Recovery - Thailand (EARTH)
A day of action was held to raise awareness among parents and consumers about the danger of lead to children’s health, jointly organized by Thai NGOs, health professionals and government agencies.Events included free IQ testing and blood lead testing for children, free XRF screening of lead in consumer products, as well as seminars and exhibitions to showcase the latest research findings on leaded paint sold in the Thai market, past experiences by the government in removing lead from other consumer products, and the prevalent danger of lead in many occupational environments.
https://www.facebook.com/Burananives.EARTHailand
Tunisia
Association de l'Education Environnementale pour les Futures Générations (AEEFG)
Activities were held to raise the awareness of students about the harmful effects of lead in paint on health and the environment.
Uganda
Uganda Network on Toxic Free Malaria Control (UNETMAC)
UNETMAC carried out media advocacy on the elimination of lead paint in Uganda, including via two radio talk shows, one TV talk show and one article in one of the national newspapers.
Uruguay
Red de Acción en Plaguicidas y sus Alternativas para América Latina (RAP-AL Uruguay)
- Participated in a webinar organized by the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), World Health Organization (WHO), and the Ministry of Health, and introduced the Uruguay paint testing results;
- Released national data from the UNEP - IPEN Global Report; and
- Published a leaflet: Eliminar el plomo de la pintura: protejamos la salud de los niños.
RAP-AL bulletin: Contaminación por plomo, niños y mujeres embarazadas poblaciones más vulnerables
