Media invitation

Ministers from 53 European countries will meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic, to shape Europe’s environment and health agenda in new sustainable development era

When
Tuesday, 13 June to Thursday, 15 June 2017

Where
Gong Multifunctional Auditorium, Ruská 2993 703 00 Ostrava-Vítkovice, Czech Republic.

Why
A substantial part of deaths and diseases in Europe is still due to environmental risks and they contribute largely to noncommunicable diseases. However, these deaths could be avoided. Data will be released by WHO/Europe on the occasion of the Sixth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health.

What
At the conference, ministers of health and ministers of environment from 53 countries in the WHO European Region are expected to adopt a Ministerial Declaration through which they commit to action.

Who      
The conference is organized by the WHO Regional Office for Europe in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the United Nations Environment Programme, and is hosted by the Government of the Czech Republic, the Moravian-Silesian Region and the City of Ostrava.

Media activities

Journalists are invited to an opening press conference organized by WHO/Europe on Tuesday, 13 June from 12:00 pm to 12:40 pm at the GONG Auditorium on the 1st floor gallery.

The press conference will feature the following speakers:

• Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe
• Miloslav Ludvík, Minister of Health of the Czech Republic
• Richard Brabec, Minister of Environment of the Czech Republic
• Ivo Vondrák, Governor of the Moravian-Silesian Region
• Tomáš Macura, Lord Mayor of the City of Ostrava
• Ibrahim Thiaw, Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme
• Marco Keiner, Director, Environment, Housing and Land Management at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

Moderator: Cristiana Salvi, Communications Officer, WHO/Europe

A press conference on the city’s green projects hosted by the City of Ostrava will take place on Wednesday, 14 June 2017 at 10:30 am in the green space outside the GONG.

A press work space will be available at the conference venue. Communication officers will assist with organizing briefings and interviews.

Evening receptions

• 13 June 2017: Hosted by the Czech Republic, at Silesian Ostrava Castle, 8:00 pm
• 14 June 2017: Hosted by WHO Regional Office for Europe, at  Trojhalí Karolina, 8:00 pm

A closing day photo opportunity is planned on Thursday, 15 June from 1:20 pm to 1:30 pm during Plenary session 9 of the Sixth Ministerial Conference.

The City of Ostrava is organizing a Health Week. For more information about these events, please contact Nina Urbankova at +420 605 292 268, nurbankova@ostrava.cz.

Accreditation

Correspondents wishing to cover the conference and/or to attend the press events will need to be accredited. This can be done by sending an email to euceh@who.int providing name, email address, press affiliation and a copy of your press ID. On-site registration for accredited journalists will take place from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Tuesday, 13 June, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on Wednesday, 14 June and from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon on Thursday, 15 June at the GONG.