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Environmental Treaties and Resource Indicators (ENTRI) -- Full Text

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The 3rd Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties
Regina, Canada
27 May - 5 June 1987

Resolution III.3: Establishment of a Standing Committee

CONSIDERING the usefulness of a small permanent advisory committee for matters relating to the organization of meetings and for the continuous implementation of the Convention,

THE CONFERENCE OF THE CONTRACTING PARTIES

1. DECIDES to establish a Standing Committee of the Conference of the Contracting Parties, which, within the policy agreed by the Conference of the Contracting Parties, shall:

a) Carry out, between one ordinary meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties and the next, such interim activity on behalf of the Conference as may be necessary, such activity being limited to matters on which the Conference has previously recorded its approval;

b) Make recommendations for consideration at the next meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties;

c) Supervise, as a representative of the Conference of the Contracting Parties, the implementation of policy by the Bureau, the execution of the Bureau’s budget, and conduct of the Bureau's programmes;

d) Provide quidance and advice to the Bureau on the implementation of the Convention, on the preparation of meetings, and on any other matters relating to the exercise of its functions brought to it by the Bureau;

e) Act as Conference steering committee at meetings of the Conference of the Contracting Parties with the general duty of forwarding the business of the meeting;

f) Report to the Conference of the Contracting Parties on the activities it has carried out between ordinary meetings of the Conference;

g) Perform any other functions that may be entrusted to it by the Conference of the Contracting Parties.

2. DETERMINES the following principles for the composition of and procedures to be followed by the Standing Committee:

a) The Committee shall consist of not more than nine Contracting Parties, who shall be nominated by the Conference of the Contracting Parties. For at least seven of these members, nomination shall be based upon the principle of proper geographical distribution with due regard for a proper representation of developing countries.[*note] The remaining two members shall be comprised of the host country of the present meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties and the host country for the next meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties. The Contracting Parties which are host countries for the two sections of the Bureau shall be invited to participate as observers in the work of the Committee;

b) If an extraordinary meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties is held between two ordinary meetings, the host Party of that meeting shall participate as an observer in the work of the Committee on matters related to the organization of the meeting;

c) Contracting Parties which are not members of the Standing Committee may upon their request participate as observers in meetings of the Standing Committee. The Director General of IUCN or his or her representative and the Executive Director of IWRB or his or her representative shall be invited to participate in an advisory capacity in meetings of the Standing Committee. In addition, the Committee may invite observers to attend meetings or attend particular meetings or attend meetings for particular agenda items;

d) The Committee should at a minimum meet on an annual basis, normally at the Seat of the Convention Bureau;

e) The membership of the Committee shall be reviewed at each ordinary meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties, in accordance with the rules of procedure of the meeting. Members may serve on the Committee for a maximum of two consecutive terms;

f) The Committee shall, by consensus, establish its own rules of procedure;

g) The Secretary for the Committee shall be provided by the Convention Bureau.

* Footnote: "Geographical distribution" reflects the following seven regions listed at the 3rd Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties as Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Northern America, Oceania, Southern America and Western Europe. This listing is not to be regarded as rigid but to give an indication of a proper geographical distribution which could change at a future meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties as is deemed appropriate.  [At the 7th COP, 1999, Eastern Europe and Western Europe were merged into one region, making a total of six.]

For further information about the Regina COP or the Ramsar Convention, please contact the Ramsar Convention Bureau, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ramsar@ramsar.org). Posted 25 February 1997, updated 2 March 2000, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.