Global Toxics & Human Rights Project

#Mercury #MinamataCOP6 #ASGM: On Oct 14, the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics & #HumanRights will discuss his recommendations on mercury trade and its #HumanRights implications at an online event hosted by IPEN & the Geneva Environment Network (GEN).

Learn more & register here ➡️ tiny.cc/GEN14Oct25

#EU: On 1 Oct 2025, a letter by the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics & Human Rights to the European Union was published, raising concerns on chemical regulations’ compatibility with int’l human rights, especially regarding #cosmetics, #fertilizers & labeling of #chemicals. Read more: bit.ly/42nJdgt

#Geneva: On 17 Sept, the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics & Human Rights attended the Geneva #ToxicFreeTalks on the sidelines of #HRC60 to highlight the challenges posed by the production, use and dissemination of toxics.

Learn more: www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/resources/up...

In opening, @srtoxics.bsky.social Marcos Orellana underscores the right to be free from toxics is not a new or autonomous right. Rather it engages a number of already existing rights and builds on already existing obligations in force, as reinforced by the landmark #ICJAO.

Geneva Toxic Free Talks The Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights reports every Fall to the Council and to the UN General Assembly on issues related to his mandate. The Geneva Toxic Free Talks aim to harness this opp...

This wraps up the 2025 #GENeva #ToxicFreeTalks!

In the last session of @srtoxics.bsky.social Marcos Orellana at Human Rights Council, we highlighted next steps of advancing a #ToxicFreeFuture ensuring justice & meaningful impact on toxics & #humanrights on the ground.

▶️ tiny.cc/GENToxicFree...

#Samoa: On 10 July, the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics & Human Rights on his country visit to Samoa became public. The report warns of risks from #ewaste, #asbestos & #pesticides, and offers recommendations to improve the situation.

Read here: docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/60/...

#Chile: On 5 Sept, the OHCHR with Sweden will host a consultation on #Mining & #MercuryContamination in Latin America. Small-scale gold mining is the world’s largest emitter of #mercury, contaminating lands and harming human #health. Read more here: docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/51/35

#Nigeria: On 31 Aug, UN special mandate holders' letters to oil companies with assets in Nigeria were published. The companies’ divestment threatens to hinder proper remediation of the damages caused by their operations and limit access to effective remedy for these abuses. Read more: bit.ly/3HX70Nb

#PlasticsPollution: INC5.2 negotiations for a global plastic pollution treaty are underway, aiming to address the full plastic life cycle. Talks are set to conclude by August 14, 2025. Human rights language is being proposed by several delegations. lnkd.in/g5He7ZKG

#AccesstoJustice: UN Special Rapporteur Dr. Orellana’s report on remedies for victims of toxics and barriers to accessing justice will be presented at HRC’s 60th session (Sept 8–Oct 3, 2025), identifying strategies and good practices. lnkd.in/eUKtmzY3

#ClimateJustice: On July 11, 2025, a historic Inter-American Court opinion declared climate change an existential threat and called for global climate action to protect human rights & ecosystems for future generations. lnkd.in/eyJ87yj3

#JusticiaClimática: El 11 de julio de 2025, una opinión histórica de la Corte Interamericana declaró el cambio climático como una amenaza existencial y llamó a la acción global para proteger los derechos humanos & ecosistemas para las generaciones futuras. lnkd.in/eyJ87yj3

On July 29, 2025, UN Special Rapporteur on global toxics and human rights, Dr. Marcos Orellana, will join a virtual panel discussion on Advancing Human Rights through the Global Plastics Treaty” organized within the framework of the Geneva Beat Plastic Pollution Dialogues. lnkd.in/eHb-b2rN

#SilenceIsNotAnOption: UN experts condemn US sanctions on Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, denouncing it as an attack on UN values, justice, and human rights. tinyurl.com/3c3yhzbc

#PlasticPollution: On July 4, 2025, Dr. Orellana will speak about plastics & HRs at “The impact of Plastic Pollution on Human Rights in ASEAN: A Workshop for Parliamentarians and Civil Society” organized by the Break Free from Plastic Asia-Pacific and the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights.

#Pesticides #Ecuador: On July 2, 2025, the UN Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights, Marcos Orellana, will discuss FIAN Ecuador’s publication, "Sustaining Life in Toxic Territories: Rural Women Facing the Expansion of Pesticide Use." Register: lnkd.in/eEFCc4ME

#Plaguicidas #Ecuador: El 2 de julio de 2025, Marcos Orellana participará en la presentación virtual del libro de FIAN Ecuador, “Sostener la vida en territorios tóxicos: mujeres rurales frente a la expansión de los plaguicidas.” Registro: lnkd.in/eEFCc4ME

#Ecocide: On June 26, 2025, the UN Special Rapporteur Marcos Orellana joined the Combatting Ecocide Workshop organized by the University of Essex’s Combatting Ecocide Project.

#FAO #IndigenousRights: The FAO has released a global questionnaire specifically for Indigenous Peoples on the reform of the International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management. Deadline for contributions is 16 July 2025: lnkd.in/eAXaVRMh

#Brazil: On June 23, 2025, UN Special Rapporteur Marcos Orellana spoke on the #MinamataConvention & the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment at the Third Congress on the Socio-Environmental Impacts of Mining in the Amazon. #ASGM lnkd.in/edaB_PFy

#DominicanRepublic: On May 22, 2025, the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics & Human Rights published a statement acknowledging the DR government’s measures to improve waste management and urged the international community to combat global plastic pollution. lnkd.in/e4grb3dj

#RepúblicaDominicana: El 22 de mayo de 2025, el Relator Especial de las UN sobre Tóxicos y Derechos Humanos reconoció las mejoras del gobierno de RD en gestión de residuos e instó a la comunidad internacional a combatir la contaminación plástica. lnkd.in/e4grb3dj

#DominicanRepublic: UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics & Human Rights is visiting the DR until May 22, 2025, and will be working on the environmentally sound management of hazardous substances & wastes. His report will be presented to the UNHRC in September. lnkd.in/e-mAp93B

#RepúblicaDominicana: El Relator Especial de las UN sobre sustancias tóxicas y derechos humanos visitará la DR hasta el 22 de mayo de 2025 y presentará su informe sobre la gestión ambientalmente racional de sustancias peligrosas al CDHNU en septiembre. lnkd.in/e-mAp93B

Break Free From Plastic Reacts to UN Special Rapporteur’s Concerns Over Coca-Cola’s Packaging Practices in Samoa | Break Free From Plastic May 12, 2025 — Today, the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights, Marcos Orellana, published a letter sent to Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, a UK

UN Special Rapporteur Marcos Orellana exposes how Coca-Cola's switch to single-use packaging has been contributing one-third of the plastic bottle waste in Samoa. Read more:

Council of Europe must recognise the right to a healthy environment, UN experts urge GENEVA  – UN experts* today urged the Ministers at the Council of Europe to demonstrate leadership by starting negotiations on an additional binding Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights...

#RightToAHealthyEnvironment: On May 5, 2025, UN experts urged the Council of Europe to establish a Protocol recognize the Right to a Healthy Environment and providing more comprehensive legal tools to address disputes defending that right. www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

#InternationalEnvironmentalLaw: On May 7, 2025, the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics & Human Rights, Marcos Orellana, will deliver Closing Plenary remarks at the 4th International Environmental Law Congress of IUCN’s World Commission on Environmental Law. iucncongress2025.org

#BRS #EnvironmentalJustice: On May 3, 2025, the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights, Marcos Orellana, will discuss “Ending Toxic Impunity: Making Environmental Justice Effective” at the Geneva Toxic Free Talks. lnkd.in/eDEyAi-b

#BRS #IllicitTrade: On May 2, 2025, the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights, Marcos Orellana, will discuss “Bridging Commitments: Ending the Illicit Trade of End-Of-Life Ships: What Role for the Basel and Hong Kong Conventions?” at the Geneva Toxic Free Talks. lnkd.in/ec-Nb_8d

#BRS #Children&Toxics: On May 1, 2025, the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics & Human Rights will discuss “Spotlighting Approaches for a More Protective Stockholm Convention, With a Focus on Increasing Visibility of the Threats to Children & Health” at the Geneva Toxic Free Talks. lnkd.in/eZqDxA64