Minamata Convention: Monika Stankiewicz assumes duty as Executive Secretary
Monika Stankiewicz on Monday 13th January 2020 assumed duty as the Executive Secretary of the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
Ms. Stankiewicz was nominated for the post by the UN Environment Director, Inger Andersen, in November 2019.
“I am delighted to be joining the Minamata Convention team and I am looking forward to working with the Parties and partners to ensure continuous relevance of the Convention’s work, its visibility, and strengthen its implementation”, said Ms. Stankiewicz on her first day. “I come from the Baltic Sea region, where hazardous substances remain a major concern, but also where many effective measures have already been taken, demonstrating that policy and measures do have an impact. The Baltic Sea is also a region where environment has been affected by the legacy of mercury pollution, facing the challenge of long recovery times for the environment. These are some of lessons learnt I am bringing with me to the Minamata Convention.”
Ms. Stankiewicz has 20 years of experience working on environmental issues, including 13 years – of which 7 years as the Executive Secretary of the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM), an intergovernmental organization and the former Professional Secretary of HELCOM responsible for shipping and cooperation with International Maritime Organization (2006-2011). During her tenure, she cooperated with Multilateral Environment Agreements and UN agencies, such as UNEP and its Regional Seas Programme, the Convention on Biological Diversity, UNESCO, the International Maritime Organization, the Convention on Migratory Species and the Sargasso Sea Commission.
“Many environmental problems are of transboundary character, such as mercury pollution. I have witnessed willingness of the countries, both at regional and global level, to consider and agree on common solutions to address these transboundary problems, which I find very inspiring. I could see similar spirit at the Minamata Convention COP 3, where after five intense days, the parties made important decisions for the effective implementation of the Convention”, she added. “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs. Rossana Silva Repetto, my predecessor, for her warm welcome and smooth handover”.
Leading a team of 30 staff in the HELCOM Secretariat, Monika was successful in the coordination of activities to identify issues related to sea-based sources of pollution as well as to ensure a swift national and transnational response to marine incidents involving oil as well as hazardous and noxious substances. She advised on the formulation of new policies to address pollution sources at sea, on land and airborne, including in the prioritized areas of hazardous substances, as well as facilitated negotiating processes of the Contracting Parties to agree on common approaches and solutions. Monika is a member of the writing team of the chapter on hazardous substances of the 2nd World Ocean Assessment under the UN Regular Process.
Monika holds a Master of Science degree in Chemistry and the Certificate of Postgraduate Studies on European Integration from Gdansk University. She is married and has one child.
