Human Rights and Hazardous Substances - Key Messages

This document presents key messages jointly issued by OHCHR and UNEP on human rights obligations relating to hazardous substances, outlining state duties to prevent and minimize exposure, safeguard life, health, bodily integrity, and a healthy environment, and ensure a non-toxic environment for present and future generations. It calls for international cooperation through multilateral agreements (Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm, Minamata), and affirms business responsibilities under the UN Guiding Principles, including due diligence, disclosure, and polluter-pays remediation. It stresses non-discrimination, protection of environmental human rights defenders, and the rights to information, participation, justice, and effective remedies. The document promotes precaution across substances’ lifecycles, independent regulation, science-based decision-making, and access to the benefits of scientific progress, with special attention to people in vulnerable situations.