Background
This regional meeting of National Authorities in Asia from 23-25 June 2020, will serve as a forum in which States Parties in the region can address various national implementation issues, share practices and challenges, and discuss and identify priorities in the region. The regional meeting also serves as a forum for networking among the National Authorities and the establishment of bilateral and other forms of State-to-State cooperation to further implementation of the Convention. The approaches to the capacity-building programmes of the Technical Secretariat and the benefits and results achieved through the participation in such programmes will also be discussed.
Objectives
- Review and discuss the status of the national implementation of the Convention, and regional priorities and needs for capacity-building support
- Share and discuss practices and challenges facing States Parties in the national implementation of the Convention, and explore potential mutual cooperation and support among States Parties in Asia
- Discuss approaches and means to further improve capacity-building programmes of the Secretariat that meet the specific needs of the States Parties in Asia
- Discuss the ways and means to enhance collaboration between the National Authorities and other stakeholders for the purpose of full and effective national implementation of the Convention
- Hold bilateral meetings between the representatives of National Authorities and with the Secretariat staff on specific issues pertaining to national implementation, including progress on the adoption and enforcement of national legislation
Expected Results
- Increased awareness of the status of Convention implementation, the challenges being faced, and an enhanced sense of ownership by the National Authorities of national implementation responsibilities
- A shared understanding of the regional priorities and needs of capacity-building support as well as an agreement to move forward to work on these priorities
- An enhanced level of coordination and collaboration among the national stakeholders that are expected to play a key role in national implementation of the Convention
- The collection of feedback, both on the ways and means to further improve capacity-building activities for the region and on the tools to improve national implementation, including the National Implementation Framework