States and businesses must do more to realize the right to
information about hazardous substances – UN expert
GENEVA (17 September 2015) – “People have a right to know
whether they are being exposed to hazardous substances or may be harmed by
them,” United Nations human rights expert, Baskut Tuncak, said today, while
calling on States and business enterprises to do more to realize the right to
information about hazardous substances and wastes.
“Unfortunately, often, individuals do not realize that
hazardous substances are found in the course of their daily lives,” the UN
Special Rapporteur on hazardous substance and waste said during the
presentation of his latest report on right to information in the context of
hazardous substances and wastes at the 30th session of the UN Human Rights
Council.*
Hazardous substances from human activity can be found in the
food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink, the products we buy, and
the places we live, play and work. A myriad of adverse effects, including
cancer and other non-communicable diseases, are linked to the exposure to
hazardous substances.
“Securing adequate information about hazardous substances
remains an incessant global problem,” Mr. Tuncak noted. “Today, information is
neither available nor accessible about the safety of tens of thousands of
chemicals on the market, the potential sources of exposure to substances with
known and unknown hazards, the amount of human exposure to hazardous
substances, and the impacts of exposure to a large number of hazardous
substances starting from conception.”
During his presentation, the independent expert explained
that the right to information requires that facts be both available and
accessible about hazardous substances. “For instance, information should be
accessible at the time of purchase and when using a product containing
hazardous substances,” he said.
“Furthermore, information must work to prevent harm, to
enable democratic decision-making and to ensure accountability, access to
justice and an effective remedy to those affected in a manner consistent with
the principle of non-discrimination”, he stressed. In his report, the expert
explained that information should be collected, assessed and imparted in a
manner consistent with the principle of non-discrimination, illustrating
disproportionate impacts on children, workers, indigenous peoples and other
particularly at-risk groups.
To ensure that individuals can effectively understand and
exercise their right to information about hazardous substances and wastes, Mr.
Tuncak highlighted that “States must generate, collect, assess and update
information on hazardous substances and wastes, and to disseminate information
to those who may be adversely affected.”
“Businesses have a responsibility to conduct human rights
due diligence which includes assessments of actual and potential impacts, and
communicating information about potential risks and mitigation measures related
to hazardous substance,” he added.
(*) Check the Special Rapporteur’s full report
(A/HRC/30/40): http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Environment/ToxicWastes/Pages/Righttoinformation.aspx
Mr. Baskut Tuncak (Turkey) was appointed Special Rapporteur
on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management
and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes by the UN Human Rights Council
in 2014. Learn more, visit: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Environment/ToxicWastes/Pages/SRToxicWastesIndex.aspx
The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the
Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest
body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name
of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that
address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of
the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not
UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from
any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
For enquiries and media requests, please contact Ahreum Lee
(+41 22 917 9391/ ahreumlee@ohchr.org) or write to srtoxicwaste@ohchr.org
For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917
9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)
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