Awareness raising

Raising awareness about the following is essential to gain public and political support for the development and implementation of a framework:

• Problems, hazards and risks with industrial chemicals in the country under review.
• Gaps and overlaps in the existing sector management systems.
• How a framework can address the problems gaps and overlaps.
• The resources required and the benefits expected from effective risk management measures.

It is important to communicate adequate understandable information at an appropriate level of detail to the targeted audience. Coordination of the communications from different groups (industry, NGOs, public authorities) should be sought as far as possible in order to avoid the target group being faced with contradictory information.

Awareness Raising contains two sub elements:

• Public Awareness Raising
• Raising Awareness of Decision Makers

Public Awareness Raising can be achieved through NGOs, public awareness campaigns through the media, and making information publicly available by organising the following: information workshops for the public; information sessions in schools; site visits of industries and laboratories; and other events. Tools for information could include websites, guidelines and other types of information material such as brochures, leaflets or presentations. Public participation is important in two critical parts of the process: to be part of the decision making process itself and, once a decision has been made, to raise awareness of actions the public can take to protect themselves from the risks identified.

Raising Awareness of Decision Makers includes raising awareness of the regulated industry as the same type of tools can be used. It can be done through NGOs, public awareness campaigns through the media, involving industry and decision makers in the policy making process, and organising information workshops and site visits of industries and laboratories. Tools for information could include websites, guidelines and other types of information material like brochures, leaflets or presentations.

The activities required for the two sub-elements are closely linked and so the implementation steps are combined under each of the resource levels.