Conference of the Parties

The Parties to CITES are collectively referred to as the Conference of the Parties. Every two to three years, the Conference of the Parties meets to review the implementation of the Convention. These meetings last for about two weeks and are usually hosted by one of the Parties. The meetings are often referred to as ‘CoPs’. They provide the occasion for the Parties to:

• review progress in the conservation of species included in the Appendices;
• consider (and where appropriate adopt) proposals to amend the lists of species in Appendices I and II;
• consider discussion documents and reports from the Parties, the permanent committees, the Secretariat and working groups;
• recommend measures to improve the effectiveness of the Convention; and
• make provisions (including the adoption of a budget) necessary to allow the Secretariat to function effectively.

On a more informal level, the meetings provide an opportunity for participants to make or renew relationships and to discuss problems and successes. Meetings of the Conference of the Parties are attended not only by delegations representing CITES Parties but also by observers. These include representatives of States that are not party to CITES, of United Nations agencies and of other international Conventions. Observers from non-governmental organizations involved in conservation or trade are also allowed to participate at the discretion of the Parties. Although they may participate in the meeting, they have no vote (see Article XI). Members of the public may also attend as visitors, although they are not able to participate in the discussions.

Click here to find out more about the meetings of the Conference of the Parties. Resolutions and Decisions adopted by the Conference of the Parties are available on this site.

Dates and venues of meetings of the Conference of the Parties