When the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) came into force, it marked a new milestone of successful collaboration between stakeholders to address POPs contamination of the environment, food and human bodies. This serious problem, which had previously been hidden, misunderstood or ignored, became well recognized in the region. Many Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA) civil society groups were inspired by the work of IPEN and started an unprecedented level of advocacy work on POPs, with a priority focus on stockpiles of banned and obsolete pesticides and pesticides that are POPs. Different citizens’ groups began operating in countries, regions and cities of the EECCA in order to influence the development of governmental policies on POPs waste management, including stockpiles of banned and obsolete pesticides, and to strengthen public-private partnerships on issues within the environmental agenda.