Human Rights and Hazardous Substances - Key Messages

United Nations Environment Programme; United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Human Rights and Hazardous Substances - Key Messages

dc.contributor.author	United Nations Environment Programme
dc.contributor.author	United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
dc.contributor.organization	Law Division
dc.date.accessioned	2021-03-23T07:53:56Z
dc.date.available	2021-03-23T07:53:56Z
dc.date.issued	2021
dc.description	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.	en
dc.format	pdf
dc.identifier.uri	https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/35409
dc.language	English
dc.page.number	6 pages
dc.rights.accessLevel	Public
dc.subject	human rights
dc.subject	environmentally hazardous substance
dc.subject	international cooperation
dc.subject	access to information
dc.subject	hazardous waste
dc.subject	popular participation
dc.subject	legal remedy
dc.subject	accountability
dc.subject	scientific research
dc.subject	precautionary principle
dc.subject.sdg	SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-Being
dc.subject.sdg	SDG 4 - Quality Education
dc.subject.theme	chemistry
dc.subject.theme	chemical pollution
dc.subject.theme	social aspects
dc.subject.theme	environmental education
dc.subject.theme	administration
dc.subject.theme	environmental governance
dc.title	Human Rights and Hazardous Substances - Key Messages	en
dc.title.alternative	حقوق الإنسان والمواد الخطرة: الرسائل الرئيسية	ar
dc.title.alternative	人权与有害物质：关键信息	zh
dc.title.alternative	Droits humains et substances dangereuses : messages clés	fr
dc.title.alternative	Права человека и опасные вещества: ключевые послания	ru
dc.type	Policy brief