Dr. Nasrin Ghassemibarghi, a faculty member at the Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center and Director of International Development at Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), has been invited to represent Asia at the first International Conference of the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC IC1), to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from November 16 to 20, 2026.

The conference will bring together government representatives, international organizations, industry, non-governmental organizations, and the academic community to exchange expertise and strengthen international cooperation on the sound management of chemicals and the protection of human health and the environment.

Advancing the Global Framework on Chemicals

The Global Framework on Chemicals was adopted in September 2023 at the fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management. Its overarching vision is a world free of harm from chemicals and waste.

The framework establishes five strategic objectives and 28 targets, emphasizing the safe and sustainable management of chemicals throughout their life cycle—from production and use to waste management—and efforts to prevent their adverse effects on human health and the environment.

TUMS Expertise in International Chemicals Management

Dr. Ghassemibarghi was previously selected to represent TUMS on the steering committee for the international collaboration on highly hazardous pesticides led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

This experience has contributed to her expertise and engagement in international discussions on the safe management of chemicals and highly hazardous pesticides.

Three Priorities for the Conference

The first International Conference of the Global Framework on Chemicals will focus on three main themes:

• Taking stock of progress

• Accelerating action

• Mobilizing investment for impact

Discussions will address practical approaches to achieving the framework’s targets, strengthening progress assessment mechanisms, expanding cross-sectoral cooperation, and identifying opportunities for financing and innovation.

Strengthening International Cooperation in Health and Environmental Protection

Dr. Ghassemibarghi’s invitation provides an opportunity to bring regional perspectives and TUMS expertise to international discussions on the safe management of chemicals and highly hazardous pesticides. It will also facilitate the exchange of specialized knowledge and engagement in evidence-based policy dialogue.

Her participation reflects TUMS’s scientific and professional capacity to contribute to international forums and global policy processes at the intersection of health and environmental protection. Such engagement can help strengthen multilateral cooperation, advance health diplomacy, and expand the participation of Iranian experts in global discussions on the sound management of chemicals.