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«Knowledge and Information» is one of the five Strategic Objectives of SAICM.SAICM’s Overarching Policy Strategy recognizes that knowledge, information and public awareness are the foundations of sound decision-making, on the management of chemicals and products containing chemicals. However, the Policy Strategy also under-lines that there is a lack of clear, timely and appro-priate information easily accessible to local popula-tions about the health and safety effects of chemi-cals.It is for this reason, that knowledge and information sharing are critical components of

OBJECTIVESThe objective of the evaluation is to provide an analysis of SAICM activities from 2006-2015 to support the intersessional process of the ICCM to develop recommendations and to enable ICCM5 to take an informed decision on future arrangements for the Strategic Approach and the sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020.The evaluation, where appropriate, draws on lessons learned with respect to the implementation of the Strategic Approach, including: • Impact of the Strategic Approach; • Strengths, weaknesses and gaps

1. The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management is a global policy framework to guide efforts to attain the goal set out in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development that, by 2020, chemicals will be produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse effects on human health and the environment. The involvement of all relevant sectors and stakeholders is central to achieving the objectives of the Overarching Policy Strategy of the Strategic Approach. 2

The present Overarching Policy Strategy flows from the commitments expressed in the Dubai Declaration on International Chemicals Management developed in the context of the Rio Declaration, Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.

The future we want for the sound management of chemicals1.In paragraph 23 of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002, Governments identified the goal of “achiev[ing] by 2020, that chemicals are used and produced in ways that lead to the minimization of significant adverse effects on human health and the environment” (see appendixA).That goal was further adopted as part of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management by the International Conference on