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…
Samsung decision to compensate sick electronics workers welcomed by UN expert, urging action by all firms
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 prevent any…
Japan: Fukushima clean-up workers, including homeless, at grave risk of exploitation, say UN experts
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 human…
Chemical disaster fear in Eastern Ukraine prompts UN expert to raise alarm
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…
Pesticides are “global human rights concern”, say UN experts urging new treaty
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…
Toxic air pollution: UN rights experts urge tighter rules to combat “invisible threat”
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…
UN rights expert launches first official visit to the UK
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…
10th anniversary of the ‘Probo Koala incident’ — Friday 19 August 2016
Ten years on, the survivors of illegal toxic waste dumping in Côte d’Ivoire remain in the dark 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…
Brazilian mine disaster – UN experts welcome settlement suspension and call for a timely resolution
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…
Berta Cáceres’ murder: UN experts renew call to Honduras to end impunity
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…