Syria is taking part in the Sixth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-6) to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, hosted in Geneva, Switzerland, from November 3 to 7, 2025, with participation from more than a thousand delegates representing governments, international organizations, and civil society.
The conference is addressing priority issues on the global agenda, including combating illegal mercury trade, reducing emissions from artisanal and small-scale gold mining, enforcing the ban on mercury-based skin-lightening products, and phasing down the use of dental amalgam. Delegates are also reviewing alternatives to mercury use in chemical industries and evaluating mechanisms for sustainable chemicals and waste management.
The Syrian delegation’s participation reflects the country’s continued commitment to multilateral environmental agreements and to cooperation within the United Nations system to limit the harmful effects of toxic substances on health and ecosystems.
The Minamata Convention, adopted in 2013 and entered into force in 2017, is the primary international treaty designed to protect human health and the environment from mercury emissions and releases.
Syria’s presence at COP-6 aligns with its efforts to enhance national frameworks for environmental protection and to contribute to collective international action against hazardous pollutants.
