Mandate of Special Rapporteur on the Implications for Human Rights of the Environmentally Sound Management and Disposal of Hazardous Substances and Wastes

A/HRC/RES/54/10View PDF

Who created this mandate?

A Resolution of the Human Rights Council, under agenda item 3Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, published in 2023.

What subjects does this mandate have?

4 topics

Environmentally Hazardous Substances Human Rights Special Rapporteurs Toxic Waste Management

What does this mandate say?

17 operative paragraphs

Takes note of the report submitted by the Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes to the Human Rights Council at the present session, and requests the Special Rapporteur, in accordance with his mandate, to continue to provide detailed, up-to-date information on the adverse consequences for the full enjoyment of human rights of managing and disposing of hazardous substances and wastes in an unlawful manner, which may include information on:

The adverse consequences for persons in vulnerable situations;

The science-policy interface with regard to transparency about the risks associated with the life cycle of hazardous substances and wastes, including threats to the right to freedom of expression, which includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information, and the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress;

The developments, gaps and shortcomings in the effectiveness of international regulatory mechanisms concerning hazardous substances and wastes and their impact on the enjoyment of human rights, including with respect to emerging chemicals and waste management and disposal issues;

Human rights issues relating to all business enterprises, both transnational and other, regarding the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes;

Decides to extend the mandate of Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes for a period of three years, and invites the mandate holder to report to the Human Rights Council in accordance with its programme of work and annually to the General Assembly;

Encourages the Special Rapporteur to continue his close cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Environment Assembly, relevant specialized agencies of the United Nations system, such as the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization, and the secretariats of the international environmental conventions, with a view to mainstreaming human rights into their work and to avoiding duplication;

Requests the Special Rapporteur to participate in relevant United Nations and other international forums on issues relevant to the mandate, as appropriate, including in sessions of the United Nations Environment Assembly, the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, and the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, and in the sessions of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment and in the diplomatic conference that may adopt it, in order to mainstream human rights into these discussions;

Urges the Special Rapporteur to continue his consultations with the competent United Nations agencies and bodies and with the secretariats of the relevant international conventions as part of a multidisciplinary, in-depth approach to addressing existing problems with a view to finding lasting solutions for the management of such substances and wastes so that he may present to the Human Rights Council, in accordance with its programme of work, an annual report on the implementation of the resolutions that it has adopted, as well as specific recommendations and proposals concerning the steps that should be taken immediately in order to address the adverse implications for human rights of hazardous substances and wastes;

Encourages all States, United Nations agencies and other relevant international organizations, civil society actors, including non-governmental organizations, as well as the public and the private sectors and all other stakeholders to engage in a process of consultation, dialogue and cooperation with the Special Rapporteur to enable him to provide guidance in accordance with his mandate;

Encourages the Special Rapporteur, in accordance with his mandate and with support and assistance from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to continue to provide Governments with appropriate opportunities to respond to allegations that are transmitted to him and are referred to in his report and to have their observations reflected in his report to the Human Rights Council;

Reiterates its appeal to States and other stakeholders to facilitate the work of the Special Rapporteur by providing him with information and inviting him to undertake country visits;

Requests the Special Rapporteur to inform States, United Nations agencies and other relevant international organizations, civil society and other stakeholders of the impact on human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, including in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, to seek views and contributions from Governments, United Nations agencies and other relevant international organizations, civil society and other stakeholders in accordance with his mandate, to investigate national, regional and international efforts in respect of the Sustainable Development Goals and to undertake thematic research on the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda;

Requests the Special Rapporteur to provide, upon request, technical assistance and advice to States and other actors on the implementation of the Special Rapporteur’s recommendations, and also on the legal and policy framework for compliance with international human rights law and international environmental law;

Requests the Special Rapporteur, in fulfilling the mandate, to mainstream a gender and age perspective by paying special attention to the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls and by mainstreaming the human rights of children and other persons in vulnerable situations;

Reiterates its appeal to the Secretary-General and to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide the Special Rapporteur with all assistance necessary for the successful fulfilment of his mandate;

Decides to continue its consideration of this matter under the same agenda item in accordance with its programme of work.

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What does this mandate say?

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