Participation of observers in meetings of the Conference of the Parties

The Minamata Convention on Mercury provides, in its article 23, paragraph 6, that the United Nations, its specialized agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as any State not a Party to the Convention, may be represented at meetings of the Conference of the Parties as observers. Any body or agency, whether national or international, governmental or non-governmental, that is qualified in matters covered by the Convention and has informed the secretariat of its wish to be represented at a meeting of the Conference of the Parties as an observer may be admitted unless at least one third of the Parties present object. The admission and participation of observers is subject to the rules of procedure for the Conference of the Parties, in particular its rules 6 and 7.