MEDIA STATEMENT – also available here
GENEVA (13 March 2019) – The United Nations must take immediate action to provide justice and remedies for displaced minority communities who were housed in UN camps constructed on toxic wasteland in Kosovo*, says a UN human rights expert.
Around 600 members of the Roma,...Read More »
GENEVA (27 August 2018) – The UN expert on toxics and human rights has welcomed a decision by the electronics giant Samsung to accept unconditionally an arbitration proposal on compensation for South Korean workers who have suffered serious illnesses while working for the company and on measures to...Read More »
Link to official UN press release here
GENEVA (16 August 2018) – Japan must act urgently to protect tens of thousands of workers who are reportedly being exploited and exposed to toxic nuclear radiation in efforts to clean up the damaged Fukushima Daichi Nuclear Power Station, say three UN...Read More »
GENEVA (10 March 2017) – A United Nations human rights expert is warning against the threat of catastrophic chemical disaster due to the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine.
“Large chemical and industrial facilities are in areas where fighting is ongoing”, said Baskut Tuncak, the Special Rapporteur on human rights and...Read More »
GENEVA (7 March 2017) – Two United Nations experts are calling for a comprehensive new global treaty to regulate and phase out the use of dangerous pesticides in farming, and move towards sustainable agricultural practices. They say: “excessive use of pesticides are very dangerous to human health, to the environment...Read More »
GENEVA (24 February 2017) – United Nations human rights experts are calling for strong, urgent action by States, including legislation and enforcement of corporate accountability, to try to ensure that people around the world can enjoy the human rights to life and health in environments free from contamination.
“Air pollution is...Read More »
GENEVA (16 January 2017) – United Nations expert Baskut Tuncak will visit the United Kingdom from 17 to 31 January to assess the country’s human rights record in relation to the life cycle of hazardous substances and waste, from their manufacturing to their final disposal.
“During my first visit to the...Read More »
GENEVA (17 August 2016) – Speaking ahead of the 10th anniversary of the illegal dumping of toxic waste in Côte d’Ivoire, a group of United Nations experts* urge the Ivorian Government, all responsible...Read More »
GENEVA (5 July 2016) – A group of United Nations human rights experts today commended the decision of the Brazilian Superior Court of Justice to suspend the settlement reached between the Government of Brazil and Samarco Mining S.A., and its parent companies Vale S.A. and BHP Billiton Brazil Ltda in...Read More »
GENEVA (11 April 2016) – More than a month after Berta Cáceres’ murder, United Nations experts* have reiterated their appeal to the Government of Honduras to provide justice and reveal the truth in the killing of the woman human rights defender, and to ensure the security and protection of all...Read More »
GENEVA (3 March 2016) – Today, a group of United Nations human rights experts called on the United States to increase its efforts to address environmental threats to human rights.
Recent outrage over lead-contaminated water in the town of Flint, Michigan, has drawn international scrutiny to the toxic threats faced by...Read More »
“As the Covenants turn 50, it is time to turn norms into action” – UN experts
Human Rights Day – 10 December 2015
GENEVA (9 December 2015) – Speaking ahead of Human Rights Day 2015, the largest body of independent experts of the United Nations Human Rights system renews its commitment with...Read More »
Berlin (7 December 2015) – “Germany is well placed to take the global lead in preventing harm from the use of hazardous substances and ending double standards in the use of such chemicals outside the European Union,” the UN expert on human rights and hazardous substances and waste, Baskut Tuncak,...Read More »
Geneva (30 November 2015) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on hazardous substance and waste, Baskut Tuncak, today started his first official visit to Germany (30 November-7 December) to assess how the country is protecting human rights from the life cycle of hazardous substances and wastes from their manufacturing to their...Read More »
GENEVA (25 November 2015) – Two United Nations independent experts on environment and toxic waste today called on the Government of Brazil and relevant businesses to take immediate action to protect the environment and health of communities at risk of exposure to toxic chemicals in the wake of the catastrophic...Read More »
SEOUL (23 October 2015) – United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and hazardous substances and wastes, Baskut Tuncak, today called on the Republic of Korea to step up efforts in protecting those who live in environmentally high-risk areas. “I am far from convinced that sufficient information systems and governance...Read More »
SEOUL (23 October 2015) – United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and hazardous substances and wastes, Baskut Tuncak, today called on the Republic of Korea to step up efforts in protecting those who live in environmentally high-risk areas. “I am far from convinced that sufficient information systems and governance...Read More »
(22 October 2015) On the eve of a precedent-setting negotiation, we express our strong support for the efforts by governments in Latin America and the Caribbean to agree on a regional instrument on rights of access to information, participation, and justice in environmental matters.
This negotiation is one of the most...Read More »
Geneva (22 October 2015) – In an open statement* published today, a group of United Nations human rights experts have expressed their strong support for the efforts by governments in Latin America and the Caribbean to agree on a regional legal instrument on rights of access to information, participation, and...Read More »
GENEVA (8 October 2015) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on hazardous substance and waste, Baskut Tuncak, will visit the Republic of Korea from 12 to 23 October 2015 to assess the country’s human rights record in relation to the life cycle of hazardous substances and wastes from their manufacturing...Read More »
GENEVA (28 September 2015) – Two United Nations experts on hazardous substance and waste and right to food have called today for an worldwide phase-out on use of highly hazardous pesticides that are inflicting significant damage on human health and the environment.
The experts’ appeal comes as States, businesses and other...Read More »
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...Read More »
GENEVA (19 August 2015) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and hazardous substances and wastes, Baskut Tuncak, today called on the Government of China and relevant businesses to ensure complete transparency in the investigation of the chemical disaster in Tianjin, including both causes and effects of the...Read More »
GENEVA (20 May 2015) – “Far more effort and resources should be devoted worldwide to protect people from the negative health impacts of toxic pollution,” the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and hazardous substances and wastes, Baskut Tuncak, said today.
Mr. Tuncak’s call comes as the governing body of...Read More »
“Every minute, a person dies from exposure to toxic substances” – UN rights expert calls for urgent action
GENEVA (24 April 2015) – Ahead of World Day for Safety and Health at Work, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and hazardous substances and wastes, Baskut Tuncak, urged the global community...Read More »
ASTANA (8 April 2015) – United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and hazardous substances and wastes, Baskut Tuncak, today called on the Government of Kazakhstan to step up efforts in protecting those who live in environmentally high-risk areas.
Mr. Tuncak, speaking at the end of an official visit to the...Read More »
GENEVA / ASTANA (23 March 2015) – United Nations Special Rapporteur Baskut Tuncak will visit Kazakhstan from 26 March to 8 April 2015 to assess the country’s human rights record regarding the management of hazardous substances and wastes.
“The realisation of several human rights, including the right to life, the right...Read More »
GENEVA / LIMA (15 December 2014) – The proposed re-licensing of heavily polluted land in the Department of Loreto region of Peru would perpetuate and exacerbate serious violations of human rights of indigenous peoples, including their right to health, food and water, two United Nations experts on indigenous peoples and...Read More »
International Decade for People of African Descent
GENEVA (10 December 2014) – A group of independent experts of the largest fact-finding and monitoring mechanism of the United Nations human rights system today called upon UN Member States and all stakeholders to increase their efforts to address the challenge of racism and...Read More »
GENEVA (24 November 2014) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and toxic waste, Baskut Tuncak, welcomed the announcement of the Indian Government to reconsider the official figures of people affected by the catastrophic leak of toxic gas in Bhopal in 1984, and provide additional compensation.
“However, financial compensation...Read More »
GENEVA (31 October 2014) – The new United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and toxics, Baskut Tuncak, urged Governments around the world to expedite the ratification process of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from its adverse effects.
Mr. Tuncak’s appeal...Read More »
