International Day for Biological Diversity Celebrated in Geneva

On 22 May, to mark the International Day for Biological Diversity, the Permanent Mission of Armenia in Geneva, in cooperation with the Geneva Environment Network, the Government of Switzerland and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, organized an event entitled "Leveraging Local and Global Action for Nature Towards the UN Biodiversity Conference COP17: From Geneva to Yerevan."

The event was held at the Geneva International Environment House and brought together representatives of leading international environmental organizations based in Switzerland, experts, Swiss state and local authorities, academia as well as members of the diplomatic community. Discussions centered on the upcoming COP17 to be held in Yerevan this October, its preparatory process and the perspectives of international stakeholders on the goals, priorities and expected outcomes of the Conference.

The opening and high-level segment featured statements by Arnold Kreilhuber, Regional Director for Europe of the UN Environment Programme, Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (via video message), H.E. Ambassador Gustavo Gallón, Permanent Representative of Colombia in Geneva, Astrid Puentes Riaño, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, Gabriela Blatter, Head of the Swiss Delegation to COP17, Ivonne Higuero,| Secretary-General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands as well as high level representatives from the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF International).

A highlight of the event was the intervention by Ambassador Mher Margaryan, Special Envoy of the Armenian COP17 Presidency, who presented the priorities, vision and ongoing preparatory steps for the Conference in Yerevan, followed by a Q&A session.

Experts from a number of international organizations also shared their experience and initiatives, including the World Health Organization, the International Labour Organization, the UN Economic Commission for Europe, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, others.

The event concluded with remarks by Ambassador Hasmik Tolmajian, Permanent Representative of Armenia in Geneva, who reaffirmed Armenia's commitment and readiness to ensure an inclusive, participatory and results-oriented process in the lead-up to and during the Conference.