Protection of the Rights of Workers Exposed to Hazardous Substances and Wastes

A/HRC/RES/42/21No PDF available

Who created this mandate?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 3Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, published in 2019.

What subjects does this mandate have?

8 topics

Corporate Social Responsibility Occupational Health Occupational Safety Principles Reproductive Health Toxic Substances Toxic Waste Management Workers' Rights

What does this mandate say?

10 operative paragraphs

Condemns the violations and abuses of the rights of workers in all parts of the world through unsafe exposure to toxic and hazardous substances, as reported each year and addressed in reports and discussions at the national, regional and global levels;

Acknowledges the need to bridge relevant discussions on the rights of workers within the labour, human rights and environmental health forums as part of efforts to inform States, United Nations agencies and other relevant stakeholders of the human rights impacts of exposure to toxic substances, including in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals 8 and 12 on decent work and sustainable consumption and production respectively;

Notes with concern that millions of workers globally die each year from unsafe or unhealthy conditions of work despite clear human rights obligations relating to the protection of their health;

Notes with concern also that although it has been recognized globally for more than 50 years, and despite specific efforts in certain countries and contexts, the right of everyone to the enjoyment of just and favourable conditions of work, as well as other interrelated and interdependent human rights of workers, continues to remain insufficiently implemented and realized, particularly with regard to unsafe occupational exposure to hazardous substances;

Takes note with appreciation of the reports of the Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes highlighting the global crisis confronting workers exposed to toxic substances, based on the work of several successive mandate holders, including the most recent report in which the Special Rapporteur outlined key challenges and proposed 15 principles to help States, businesses and other key actors to protect workers from unsafe toxic exposures and to provide remedies for violations and abuses of workers’ rights;

Encourages States, business enterprises and other actors to implement the above-mentioned principles through their respective legal and policy frameworks and through initiatives and programmes to strengthen the coherence between human rights and occupational health and safety standards with regard to the exposure of workers to toxic substances;

Urges States to safeguard reproductive health from unsafe exposure to hazardous substances at work as an obligation of States in the elimination of discrimination against women in employment;

Encourages the International Labour Organization and the World Health Organization to continue their efforts directed at reinforcing occupational health and safety standards;

Urges the strengthening of the global regime for chemicals management to prevent and minimize unsafe exposure to hazardous substances and to promote the right of everyone, including workers, to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and to just and favourable conditions of work;

Decides to continue its consideration of this matter.

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Who created this mandate?

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What does this mandate say?

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