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ISO Secretary-General encourages International Environmental Children's Drawing Contest

2004-02-06

In addition to awareness, motivation and communication on the part of the private and public sector players, tackling the world's environmental challenges requires technology and good management practices, ISO Secretary-General Alan Bryden said at the opening of the 4th International Environmental Children's Drawing Contest Exhibition on 3 February 2004 at the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland.

ISO Secretary-General Alan Bryden (centre) at the opening of the 4th International Environmental Children's Drawing Contest Exhibition at the United Nations Office in Geneva. With him is (left), Mr. Philip O'Brien, Regional Director, UNICEF Geneva Regional Office, and (right) Dr. Fabio Roversi, IQNet President.
(Photo: Hans Buser, IQNet Secretary-General)

 

"ISO standards provide such tools, notably the ISO 14000 family of environmental management standards," he said. "This includes standards on the environmental labelling of products, which is obviously important for children and their families, and ISO 14001, which is implemented by at least 50 000 organizations in 118 countries as the model for their environmental management systems.

"The operating principle of ISO 14001 has been adopted in simplified form for the ISO-supported Kids' ISO 14000 Programme that, like the International Environmental Children's Drawing Contest, which we publicize, encourages children around the world to develop and express their environmental awareness."

The 4th edition of the drawing contest attracted nearly 12 500 entries from 60 countries by children aged 7-15. This year's exhibition of the 100 winning entries takes place for the first time in Geneva, under the joint patronage of the Director-General of the United Nations Office in Geneva, Mr. Sergei Ordzhonikidze, and the Regional Director, UNICEF Geneva Regional Office, Mr. Philip O'Brien. A message from the Director-General was read out on his behalf at the exhibition opening ceremony and Mr. O'Brien delivered a message of support in person.

ISO Secretary-General Alan Bryden (centre) at the opening of the 4th International Environmental Children's Drawing Contest Exhibition at the United Nations Office in Geneva. With him is (left), Mr. Philip O'Brien, Regional Director, UNICEF Geneva Regional Office, and (right) Dr. Fabio Roversi, IQNet President.
(Photo: Hans Buser, IQNet Secretary-General)

The contest is organized by IQNet - The International Certification Network and the Japan Quality Assurance Organization (JQA). The UNICEF Office for Japan supports it. IQNet President, Dr. Fabio Roversi, in his own address thanked ISO's magazine ISO Management Systems - The International Review of ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 - for having publicized the International Environmental Children's Drawing Contest in its columns over a period of several years.

The award winners' exhibition is open to the public at the UN Geneva from 3-27 February 2004, Monday to Friday, 09:30-17:00, Pregny entrance.