Newsletter, February 2004

The year 2004 started quite well for IELRC. We were present at the first COP/MOP in Kuala Lumpur, were we hold two side-events on liability under the Cartagena Protocol. These conferences were organised with the support of the Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape (SAEFL), and gave us a chance to illustrate the position of Switzerland regarding liability for genetically modified organisms and its ground breaking law (GenLex).

The attendance has been very interested, and we have received a lot of feedback and requests for more information, from NGOs and governmental organisations alike. IELRC @ COP/MOP microsite can be accessed at here.

In Geneva, we are now actively preparing to move in our new office. We will have a large space in the second building of the International Environmental House, with access to a modern conference facility and close to other environmental organisations. That will give us the opportunity to hire more interns, and considering the number of requests we receive (and the very high profile of the candidates), this is no luxury.

Later this year, and in conjunction with the IELRC’s India office, we will launch a new journal: Law, Environment and Development (LEAD). It will be published by Butterworths India and will also be available electronically on the Lexis-Nexis database. The Journal will be edited by the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and the International Environmental Law Research Centre. It will be published biannually. We are currently seeking contributions for the first issue and we encourage you to participate in this exciting experience. For further information, please visit the journal's website at www.lead-journal.org

Finally, our website will progress to its fifth revision to cope with the ever increasing traffic we are receiving. Many of your suggestions have been taken into account and more content will be made accessible through a simpler interface. It will also reflect our new identity, with a new logo and a earthly colour palette...

We hope that these changes will enhance your experience with IELRC, and we look forward to hearing from you.