13th Meeting - 60th Session of Human Rights Council
Human Rights Council
Date: 16 September 2025
Language: English
Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/en/hrc/60/13
Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations.

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HRC · Vice-President [0:01]:

Your Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, I would like to call to order the 13th meeting of the 60th session of the Human Rights Council. We will at the current time continue the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the right to water and sanitation. I would like to pass the floor to the delegation of Nepal, please.


Nepal [0:27]:

Mr. Vice President, Nepal thanks the Special Rapporteur for presenting the report on the water-energy nexus. Water is life, and access to safe drinking water is a fundamental human right. Realization of human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation requires both the availability of water and reliability of energy for the distribution, storage, treatment, and sanitation. The constitution of Nepal guarantees every citizen's right to clean drinking water and sanitation. In Nepal, Ministry of Energy, Water Resource and Irrigation, Ministry of Water Supply and Water and Energy Commission work together to ensure access to safe drinking water and reliable supply of hydropower in the country. While the discourse around just energy transitions is gaining wider momentum, the water transition systems and the intersection with the energy systems merit equal attention. A just transition in both the energy and water sectors is vital to fostering a sustainable future for humanity. In this context, we would appreciate hearing from the Special Rapporteur on measures that could be adopted to align water and energy sector transitions with a human rights-based approach. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:37]:

Thank you very much. I recognize Azerbaijan.


Azerbaijan [1:45]:

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. We thank the Special Rapporteur for his report and for highlighting the crucial link between energy and human rights to safe drinking water, sanitation, and well-being. Azerbaijan has established a strong legal framework, including the Water Code and the Law on Water Supply and Wastewater to ensure the sustainable use and protection of water resources. Energy protection is regulated to safeguard water quality with hydropower projects subject to strict environmental standards, the national strategy for the. Efficient use of water resources adopted in 2024 aims to further increase water availability, improve safe water supply.

And modernize management.

Azerbaijan is also investing in green energy. Liberated Karabakh and East Zangezur regions, as well as the Nakhchivan region, have been declared green energy zones in Azerbaijan. Environmental protection and ecosystem restoration set as key priorities in the reconstruction of liberated territories. Recognizing the importance of water management, Azerbaijan recently hosted the second Baku Water Week, an international platform to attract innovative technologies and investment, strengthen international cooperation, and advance sustainable water resource management. Azerbaijan continues to support a balanced and sustainable approach to water and energy, mindful of their importance to both environmental resilience and the well-being of people.

I thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [3:10]:

Thank you very much. I now recognize El Salvador, please.


El Salvador [3:15]:

Thank you very much, Vice President. El Salvador is grateful for the presentation of the report, and we share the vision that an energy transition is inextricably connected to a transition to a just legal system. In our country, water is seen, along with sanitation, as an indivisible and inalienable right. alongside a raft of norms that enshrines the right to drinking water and explicitly prohibits its privatization. We agree with the concept of participatory governance underpinning this. In El Salvador, services of water, drinking water and sanitation are progressing towards universal access. The expansion of access in rural areas is key to this, recognizing that energy availability, which is reliable, is key to this. Finally, our country reiterates that the protection of ecosystems and sustainable management of water resources are key pillars to guarantee a future where the right to water and sanitation is fully enjoyed, in balance with a fair energy transition, as called for in your report. Thank you very much, Vice-President.


HRC · Vice-President [4:27]:

Thank you very much, Your Excellencies, distinguished colleagues. This was the last speaker that we were able to hear. Before moving on to the list of NHRI and NGO speakers, I want to tell you that I was informed that the delegation of Costa Rica has requested to take the floor after the list of speakers for this debate was closed. If there are no objections, I would ask you whether or not we can add Costa Rica to the list of speakers. Apparently, there are no objections, and so Costa Rica will be added to the list of speakers. We will now move on to the list of NHRIs and NGOs. And I'd like to pass the floor to the State of Palestine Independent Commission for Human Rights for a video message.


Palestine Independent Commission for Human Rights [5:29]:

Palestine Independent Commission for Human Rights is gravely concerned over Israel's systematic denial of water to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. In Gaza, over 97% of water is unsafe. The Israeli occupation forces have destroyed wells, pipelines, and desalination plants, leaving 91% of the population without safe water. Civilians have even been killed while seeking water. Starvation and dehydration are being used as weapons of war, amounting to collective punishment. In the West Bank, Israel and its settlers control most water resources, consuming three times more per capita than Palestinians, while sewage dumping further contaminates Palestinian land. We call on the mandate to highlight these violations, demand immediate and equitable access to safe water, hold the occupying power accountable, and urge the international community to urgently restore water infrastructure and end the use of water deprivation as a tool of collective punishment. And I thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [6:33]:

Thank you very much.

I would now like to pass the floor to the Moroccan Human Rights Council.


Moroccan Human Rights Council [6:42]:

Thank you very much, Vice Presidents. The Moroccan NHRI shares the thrust of the Special Rapporteur's report that it's necessary to pass from management centered in increased offer to new perspectives based on the management of demand and the preservation of water ecosystems. This same idea was advanced by our NHRI and the documents published on the right to water, which had 51 recommended outcomes. The NHRI would like to greet the considerable efforts being made in connection with renewable energy and the launching of a number of different projects aimed at rationalising the use of water resources in Morocco. We also emphasize the recommendations concerning the protection and promotion of the right to water, in particular the requirement to carry out a detailed inventory of water resources and ensure that they are protected from pollution, as well as to guarantee the equitable distribution between generations. We also call on them to generalize safe sanitation services in line with the Agenda 2030, and to review the agricultural model and policies concerning water distribution. Finally, we would like to invite the Special Rapporteur to recall the requirement to involve all stakeholders in fair, equitable governance around human rights, energy, and water. The NHRI's can also play a key role as a mechanism to ensure this resource is properly managed. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [8:35]:

Thank you very much. I would now like to pass the floor to ARC.


ARC [8:40]:

Thank you. Dear President, the situation of water and environment in Iran, especially the Azerbaijani provinces, reflects a deep crisis in Iranian governance and management that directly impacts human rights and ecological sustainability. Despite the UN recognition of water as a fundamental human right under Resolution 64292 and Article 11 of ICSCR, the populations of Azerbaijani cities, particularly those in the west bordering Turkey and Iraq, are facing growing shortages of of safe and accessible waters. The most visible example of this crisis is the current catastrophic situation of Lake Urmia. Since other similar lakes in the region are thriving, it is debatable if climate change has exacerbated the problem. The primary cause of the Lake Urmia's decline is excessive dam construction, and this is tantamount to malpractice and harmful state policies, including diversion of inflowing rivers for irrigation and over-exploitation of groundwaters. Framing this disaster primarily as a climate-driven obscures the accountability of state authorities whose decisions have violated the principles of non-discrimination, participation, and accountability in water governance. The right to clean water of the Azerbaijanis in Iran has been sacrificed by the Iranian authorities to achieve a delusional food security with an outdated agricultural system in Iran. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [10:10]:

Thank you very much. Miftdah now has the floor for a video statement.


Miftah [10:16]:

As we speak, nearly 2 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are deprived of consistent access to clean and safe water. Israel's destruction of Gaza's water supply systems and aquifers, combined with its ongoing blockade that prevents fuel and humanitarian aid from entering the Strip, has pushed Palestinians into catastrophic sanitary conditions, often forcing them to choose between water to drink and water to clean themselves with. In your reports, you have emphasized that water is not merely a technical resource, but a matter of governance and human rights. You have also stressed the water-energy nexus. Without electricity or fuel, people cannot pump, treat, or desalinate water. Today, in Gaza, energy restrictions imposed by Israel have collapsed water services and wastewater treatment, leaving families exposed to disease and hunger. In the occupied West Bank, the pattern is equally alarming. State-backed settlers regularly sabotage water pipes that supply Palestinian villages, such as Umm al-Khair in the South Hebron Hills. In July, Palestinian activist and father of three, Odeh Hatilin, was killed by a settler while defending his community's only water pipe. Such attacks illustrate what you have called the weaponization of water, a strategy that denies people their basic human rights and endangers entire communities. We therefore urge you, Special Rapporteur, to recommend to the Human Rights Council the establishment of an independent monitoring mechanism focused on water and sanitation in situations of armed conflict, including Gaza, press member states and humanitarian agencies to ensure fuel and spare parts for water pumping, desalination, and sewage treatment in Gaza are prioritized and monitored as lifesaving aid, and finally, recommend that such deliberate deprivation be explicitly documented as a potential war crime in your next thematic or country-specific report. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [11:48]:

Thank you very much.

I would now like to call on Pratik for a joint video statement.


Pratik [11:55]:

Pratik, Edmond Raz-International and Young Voices of 9/11. call urgent attention to India's water and sanitation crisis. Despite notable progress, 1 in 4 citizens still lack safe drinking water, and an alarming 3.4 billion people endure poor sanitation, with 354 million forced into open defecation. While government programs like Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and the National Rural Drinking Water Program have brought hope, expanding rural tap water coverage from 17% in 2019 to over 80% by March 2025, millions remain excluded. This transformation proves that bold policies work, but deep challenges persist: shrinking groundwater, polluted sources, inadequate sanitation, rapid urban growth, and climate change. To secure every child's right to clean water and dignity, urgent, sustained action is needed. The time to act is now, because safe water and sanitation are not privileges, they are fundamental human rights. We urge the Government of India to: Improve sanitation infrastructure by ensuring that toilets are functional, well-maintained, and accessible to all. Conduct national and worldwide awareness campaigns on handwashing, safe sanitation practices, and hygienic education, especially targeting children and schools. Ensure child-friendly public toilets, designed with safety, accessibility, and dignity in mind. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [13:15]:

The Association of Iranian short statured adult by video.


Association of Iranian short statured adult [13:21]:

Mr. President, water is life. Yet today, for millions in Gaza, it has been turned into a weapon of war. As the UN's official rapporteur on water has been warned, Israel attacks on water infrastructure amount to silent but deadly bombs. These words are tragically confirmed. In Gaza, per capita access has fallen just 5 liter a day, one third of the bare minimum for survival. Over 97% of groundwater is undrinkable. Families queue for hours for a few liter while children die from waterborne disease. This is not collateral damage, it is collective punishment and the assault is not confined to Gaza. About three months ago, Israel bombed water facilities in Tehran's Tajrish Square. This ruptured a main water pipeline, flooding the street, killing 12 civilians, including a pregnant woman and her child, and injuring more than 50. Thousands endure days without safe water. Mr. President, the deliberate targeting of water constitutes a war crime under international law. We urge Israel to demand immediate accountability to ensure unimpeded access to safe water in Gaza and to prevent further attack on civilian water infrastructure everywhere. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [14:47]:

Thank you very much.


Speaker 20 [14:52]:

Thank you, Chair.

With the onset of summer, the challenges of Iran's water crisis once again come into sharp focus. Iran today not only severe water scarcity, but also widespread land subsidence, A crisis that threatens the lives and livelihoods of millions and carries far-reaching consequences. Climate change is a global phenomenon, but in Iran, the problem has been dramatically worsened by poor governance, specifically uncontrolled and illegal extraction from groundwater reserves and overall mismanagement of water resources. These failures have placed the country's water security in grave danger. Research shows that Iran can sustainably use only about 53 billion cubic meters of water each year. In practice, however, the actual withdrawal is nearly double this figure. Such unregulated over-extraction has emptied aquifers, dried up rivers and wetlands, and turned land subsidence into one of the country's most pressing threats. In short, this is not merely a lack of rainfall that has brought Iran to this point. It is mismanagement and the failure of leadership that have left the country dry. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [16:21]:

Thank you. I give the floor to Vivat International for a joint statement.


VIVAT International [16:27]:

Mr. Vice President, Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in Ireland and the UK, is experiencing an ecological crisis due to severe blue-green algae pollution for the third consecutive summer. This pollution primarily caused by phosphorus and nitrogen, 62% from agriculture, 24% from wastewater treatment, and 12% from septic tanks, has turned the Lough Neagh into a dumping ground for pollutants. Toxic plumes are killing local wildlife, crippling fisheries, and threatening drinking water supplies. In 2025 alone, 139 instances of algae growth were recorded, triple last year's amount. Urgent action is needed. The 2024 to 2027 program for government has promised 37 actions, yet only 14 have been implemented. We must act now to reverse this destruction before it is too late. Vivat International and AdvanRise International calls for bold, united action from all levels of government to protect this irreplaceable water source. Lake Nays survival is not negotiable. Northern Ireland's environment, economy and people's health depend on it. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [17:57]:

Thank you. I give the floor to Institute of Systemal Development by video.


Institute of Systemal Development [18:04]:

Picture Maria, a 7-year-old girl, walking through the ruins of Gaza.

She carries a broken plastic bottle, searching for clean water.

Where homes, streets, and once olive groves full of life stood, now there is only rubble. She steps carefully, surrounded by dirty water and the constant sound of nearby explosions. For Maria and thousands of other children in Gaza, the right to safe water has almost disappeared. Since October 2023, the destruction of Gaza's water and sanitation system by Israel has cut access to drinking water by 96%. Every day, more than 108,000 cubic meters of sewage flood the ruins, polluting what little water remains and spreading disease. As a result, diarrhea, among children has doubled. Mr. President, restrictions on the entire vital materials have blocked efforts to rebuild. This denies Palestinians their basic human rights to water and sanitation, rights guaranteed under international law and the Geneva Convention. How can we stand by while Maria risk her life amid this deadly rain for a drop of killing water? Do Gaza children not deserve the safety and dignity we cherish? I thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [19:34]:

Thank you. I give the floor to Iranian Elite Research Center by video.


Iranian Elite Research Center [19:41]:

Mr. President, one of the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, reaffirmed by the global community and binding.

Treaties, is the prohibition of attacks against civilian infrastructure essential for survival, in particular water and sanitation systems.

Violations of these principles are recognized as war crimes.

Israel has repeatedly and systematically disregarded these rules.

In Palestine, and most acutely in Gaza, the destruction of water pipelines, wells, and sewage networks deprived millions of people of safe drinking water.

Every day, raw sewage flowed neighborhoods, contaminating scarce water supplies and spreading disease. The deliberate targeting of such life-sustaining infrastructure, alongside blockade and forced deprivation, clearly constitute genocide.

This same pattern of violence was also witnessed during the 12-day aggression against Iran. The explosion in the urban area of Tajrish, which destroyed part of the city's urban water facilities and left residents injured and without safe supply is a further illustration of these grave crimes.

Mr. President, the urgent questions are: How long will the international community remain silent as water is weaponized? What concrete measures will end attacks on water infrastructure and protect civilians?

I thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [21:07]:

Thank you. I give the floor to Juventum e.V. by video.


Juventum [21:12]:

Mr. President, Mr. Special Rapporteur, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Juventum is honored to participate. We congratulate the Special Rapporteur on Report 60/30, which addresses the management of the water and energy nexus. The recommendations, grounded in accurate observations and deep insights, should serve as a guideline for policy-making aimed at the balanced advancement of the rights to water and energy. Heat pollution from nuclear power plants and the data centers is an increasing concern, alongside the traditional chemical contamination. The negative impacts of nuclear contamination extend beyond our lifetimes. We must choose honest and sustainable energy sources. Uncontrolled industrial demand for water and energy threatens environmental integrity. A human rights-based approach is essential to protect the rights of vulnerable persons. Polluters of drinking water sources must be held accountable. Only participatory, transparent, and publicly accountable governance of water and energy can safeguard against industrial greed. Public awareness of water quality and management system is vital for sustainable development. The UPR process for each state should include the consideration of water-related rights. Thank you very much for your attention.


HRC · Vice-President [22:41]:

Thank you. I give the floor to Traditional Medicine and Health Development Society for Iranian.


Traditional Medicine and Health Development Society [22:49]:

Mr. President, we draw urgent attention to the catastrophic collapse of water and sanitation in Gaza. For nearly two years, civilians, especially children, have endured severe deprivation of safe water.

Communities survive on a fraction of the minimum required for life, while much of Gaza's infrastructure lies in ruins.

Families rely on unsafe water, causing widespread illnesses related to unsafe water. Less than 4% of fresh water is drinkable. UNRWA records over 10,000 cases of illness related to contaminated water weekly.

Children survive on only two or three liters per day, far below the WHO emergency minimum of 15 liters. UN expert wants that water is being weaponized.

This deliberate denial of life's most basic necessity, wireless IHL and IHRL, and this acts threaten to right to safe water and sanitation. respectfully call on the Special Rapporteur to examine Israel's restriction on safe water in Gaza and document civilian impacts, to report the HRC in Gaza's water infrastructure destruction, and to condemn water deprivation as a weapon and call for urgent humanitarian deliveries.

Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [24:18]:

Thank you, Excellencies, distinguished colleagues. That was the last statement that we could accommodate. And I will now give the floor to Mr. Pedro Arrojo Agudo for his concluding observations. You have seven minutes.


UN · Special Rapporteur [24:36]:

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. Before entering into the thematic discussion regarding my report, I would like to share that I.

Unconditionally, unconditionally denounce the US government's sanctions on the Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestine territory. I express my full solidarity with Francesca Albanese. Sanctioning a special rapporteur appointed by the Human Rights Council violates international law, and is in a direct attack on the integrity of the UN human rights system, including special procedures as a whole. I call on all states to act decisively to denounce these sanctions and refuse to carry them out. I also call on the United States to immediately withdraw these illegal sanctions.

If I may now speak French, I welcome this. list of statements over 80. The European Union spoke of a double energy transition. I'm going to Brussels tomorrow, invited by the European Union Economic and Social Council to talk about the water resilience strategy. I also welcome the African States for pointing to water as a common good that must be protected from the market. My priority in Africa in 2026, given that it's the year of water, will be in line with that. I welcome Germany and Spain's support, thank you, in pointing to the gender perspective in water and energy and the support regarding the 2026 water conference. On transboundary basins, I did a special study on that, and I emphasized my recommendation to strengthen and implement the United Nations Water Convention. I welcome the specific priority attention pointed to for rural areas, emphasizing the role of women and the need to give them adequate support. to ensure their participation on an equal footing in implementing this double transition. I thank Mexico for giving priority to the indigenous peoples and the attention to Palestine once more. I wish to express my solidarity, not only in the context of the ongoing genocide, which uses water, food and basic energy as weapons of war, but also the refusal of access to the Palestinian delegation seeking to enter the UN and the USA. How many men, women and children are going to be murdered In this context, Excellencies, if I may move now to Spanish, Excellencies, I would like to focus this part of my statement on the crux. Water is the soul of life. It's needed for communities to live together. For energy, it's vital as well, to ensure a decent life. Let us recall human settlements from the earliest times. They were based around water and fire. And now water and energy continue to be at the heart of social cohesion. Drinking water and basic clean, sustainable energy, these are crucial for a decent life, not for luxury. And as I mentioned yesterday, addressing climate change requires mitigation strategies preceded by a transition, but also adaptation preceded by a water transition to overcome the risks and impacts affecting those in the most vulnerable situations. So a double transition, water and energy, it must also be a fair transition. with a focus based on human rights, leaving nobody behind. Excellencies, I recommend considering access to basic quotas of sustainable energy for a decent life as a human right, with arguments similar to those that the General Assembly recognized for the human right to drinking water and sanitation in 2010. Excellencies, this is my last year as Special Rapporteur, and I wish warmly to thank you for the honour and privilege that was granted me in giving me the mandate. And may this mandate long continue with necessary resources. I will focus my efforts on the Water Summit of 2026, and I thank you for your support to the resolution last year, where you mandated me the work of a human rights-based approach and broad social participation as my participation in that summit. And I believe that with your support, we can overcome the mistakes and limitations of the previous conference in 2023. I thank the co-organizers of the conference Senegal and the United Arab Emirates for their cooperation and their support to the mandate. And finally, I welcome the fact that for the 2026 Summit, the first interactive dialogue will be human rights centric. And this is a cross-cutting focus in the interactive dialogues. This summit, unlike the previous one, will have representatives of the indigenous peoples and social movements, right holders, human rights defenders, water defenders. They will be taken into account in preparing the dialogues on both parts of the panels. Thank you very much.


Vice-President [31:49]:

Thank you, Excellencies, distinguished Colleagues, that brings us to the end of this interactive dialogue. And once more, I thank the Special Rapporteur for his participation. We will take a brief pause before moving to the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the impact on human rights of environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes. Excellence, distinguished colleagues, we shall now begin the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the human rights impact of environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes. The list of speakers will close in 15 minutes, and I now call on the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Marcos Orellana. to present his report. You have 19 minutes.


UN · Special Rapporteur [35:21]:

Thank you, Mr. Vice President, distinguished delegates, colleagues, excellencies. As this may be the last time that I am reporting to the Human Rights Council in my capacity as UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights, I wish to start by thanking the Council for entrusting me with this appointment. I wish to thank Member States that have welcomed me for official country visits and those that have contributed to and adopted recommendations in my thematic reports. I also wish to thank the numerous individuals and civil society organizations from around the world that have engaged with me and placed their trust and hopes in the toxics and human rights mandate. I also wish to thank my wife, who is with me here today and whose support has made it possible for me to serve as Special Rapporteur over the last five years. Mr. Vice President, this year, The toxics mandate marks 30 years of existence. In 30 years, we have learned that global toxic pollution is part of the triple planetary crisis, which threatens to make our planet uninhabitable for humans and accounts for widespread human rights infringements. Today we know about the proliferation of toxic sacrifice zones where disempowered communities are condemned to illness and death. We have also learned about grave injustices from the use of mercury in small-scale gold mining and the production for export of highly hazardous pesticides banned in their country of origin. Today we know of the global scourge of plastic pollution, ship breaking and electronic waste. We know about the enduring legacies of environmental discrimination and racism, and we know that impacts fall heaviest on indigenous peoples, children and workers, among other groups in vulnerable situations. The growing global threat to human rights that is posed by exposure to hazardous chemicals and wastes underscores the importance of the Council's special procedures mandate on toxics and human rights. Mr. Vice President, for millions of people around the world, exposure to toxics means fear, anxiety and anguish, illness, disabilities, or a premature and painful death. However, in their struggle for justice and remedies, victims and their families often encounter heavy obstacles that result in delays and denial of rights. These barriers include inadequate laws, lack of information, limited legal standing, lack of legal assistance, inadequate statutes of limitation, disproportionate evidentiary burdens, prohibitive litigation costs, and lack of enforcement of judicial decisions. The obstacles entrench impunity, exacerbate environmental injustices, and undermine the preventive, restorative, and compensatory functions of legal systems. Thus, these obstacles aggravate the human rights violations resulting from toxic exposure. To overcome these obstacles, renewed efforts at international cooperation for global environmental justice are essential. In this regard, my thematic report on access to justice and effective remedies examines international human rights standards, assesses the obstacles that victims face in accessing justice and remedies, identifies innovative strategies and good practices, and puts forward a set of 24 guidelines for overcoming these obstacles. Guaranteeing effective remedies requires governments to consider the specific characteristics and challenges of toxics. First, latency periods, that is, the time between exposure to hazardous substances and the onset of clinical manifestation of disease may be in the order of years, decades or generations. Second, proof of causation may be hard to establish with certainty. Third, scientific information on exposure to a chemical substance, including associated risks and hazards, may be nonexistent, preliminary, or hard to access. Guaranteeing effective remedies in cases of toxic contamination also requires consideration of the characteristics of human rights obligations. Human rights treaties have established legally binding obligations for the benefit not of contracting parties, but of all individuals subject to their jurisdiction. Accordingly, these international obligations have an erga omnes nature, which requires that remedies not only protect victims, but serve to deter violations and uphold the legal order that the treaties create. Thus, comprehensive remedies in cases involving toxic harm will often extend beyond compensation and include cessation of releases of pollutants, non-repetition, cleanup of contaminated sites, respect for the inalienable right to truth, and the implementation of transitional justice mechanisms. Mr. Vice President, international human rights instruments at the global and regional levels establish obligations and standards on access to justice and effective remedies. They establish that an effective remedy must be adequate, accessible, timely, and enforceable. However, these obligations and standards are too often honored in the breach. leaving countless individuals and communities impacted by toxic exposure without a remedy. Barriers in access to justice and effective remedies create conditions in which harmful practices are normalized and polluters evade accountability. For example, in many jurisdictions, legal frameworks are ill-equipped to prevent toxic exposures force polluters to pay or remedy toxic harm. Where national standards on environmental quality, emissions, and management of hazardous substances and waste are inadequate, the result is legalized poisoning of people and their inability to obtain remedies through legal avenues. Similarly, restrictive legal standing laws often allow access only to individual victims of toxic exposure. Such laws fail to recognize the collective and latent nature of harm in many toxic cases, where contamination may affect entire ecosystems and populations over very long periods of time. At the same time, governments are testing innovative strategies to overcome the barriers that impede access to justice in cases of toxic contamination. Broadened standing, dynamic burden of proof, collective actions, accessible legal and technical assistance, cross-border litigation, specialized courts, and comprehensive remedies demonstrate that tools do exist to improve access to justice in toxic cases. To conclude, Mr. Vice President, lack of accountability is aggravating the increasing toxification of our planet and the resulting infringements of human rights for countless individuals and groups around the globe. The 24 guidelines on access to justice and effective remedies that I present today articulate ways in which states can overcome the obstacles that entrench impunity in cases of toxic contamination and secure environmental justice for all. Mr. Vice President, now I wish to say a few words about my visits to the Dominican Republic and Samoa.

To start with the Dominican Republic, I wish to thank the government for its invitation and its cooperation. In the Dominican Republic, access to information, public participation, and access to justice are increasingly recognized as basic principles of human rights-based environmental management. I congratulate the government on its significant progress in strengthening the legislative and institutional frameworks for this, and encourage it once more to present the ESCSU agreement on environmental rights to the Constitutional Court with a view to ratifying it. However, I wish to express concern at air quality and water quality, considerable plastic pollution, the use of schools for dangerous chemical storage, serious risks related to the tailings dam El Naranjo proposed for the Pueblo Viejo gold mine, and allegations of corruption in the construction of the Punta Catalina thermic power station and its environmental impact. During my visit, I saw an increasing drive to address waste and contamination by hazardous substances, including the causes and the repercussions. For example, investment in transforming open-air tips to waste disposal sites and improve management would allow the country to address the current emergency facing it in the context of waste management. I encourage the Dominican Republic to take opportunities provided by this moment and apply its vision and commitment to environmental rights in order to strengthen safe management and disposal of hazardous substances and waste.

I would like to thank the state authorities for their support during this visit and their openness to dialogue. Samoa, like other small island developing states, faces disproportionate environmental challenges despite contributing minimally to global pollution. The arrival of low-quality plastic products leads to an ecological catastrophe in a place where plastic pollution cannot be processed and contained. While some actions can be taken at the national level, the importance of international cooperation and environmental agreements cannot be overstated for the protection of the people and the environment in Samoa. The country is also the receiving end of imports of pesticides that are banned in other countries and used cars and tires. The country faces a pressing need for effective waste recovery and recycling programs. While the introduction of a waste levy on items like pet bottles and aluminum cans is a positive step, broader implementation and enforcement are necessary. To improve the situation, I recommend that the government recognize the right to a healthy environment in its constitution. I believe Samoa's traditional practices, knowledge, and community resilience offer a solid foundation for sustainable solutions. I will finish by commending Samoa's leadership in international environmental issues, hosting the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, chairing the Alliance of Small Island States and its advocacy for a strong treaty on plastic pollution. I hope that these efforts will continue and amplify. Thank you very much, Mr Vice-President.


HRC · Vice-President [48:41]:

Thank you, Mr Special Rapporteur. Distinguished colleagues, Excellencies, in line with practice, we will now hear the delegations of concerned countries, and I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Dominican Republic for five minutes.


Dominican Republic [49:02]:

Thank you, Vice-President. The Dominican Republic warmly welcomes the visit of the Special Rapporteur and notes the comments made in the report regarding constructively addressing environmental challenges that we face as a small island developing state. To give a broader vision, it is crucial to note some significant progress made on environmental management, toxic substances and hazardous waste, showing our strong commitment to addressing these challenges. We emphasize the strengthening of our normative and institutional framework to provide comprehensive solid waste management and effective environmental governance based on a legal regime that guarantees the right of all to live in a healthy environment. General law on the environment and the law on comprehensive solid waste management provide extended responsibility of the producer with inclusion of basic recyclers in formal schemes and they promote the transition to a circular economy. There have been specific regulations issued and recycling projects carried out in alliance with international partners to modernize waste sites and recycle waste. As to international agreements, the fundamental principles of the Escazú Agreement have been contained within the design of mechanisms for information management, participation, transparency and environmental justice in our organic law on the environment and the law on free access to public information. The customs law of 2021 criminalises unlawful trafficking in hazardous waste in line with the Basel Convention. In 2024, we implemented the project, presentation of national reports and the framework of the Stockholm Convention, strengthening our institutional capacities. This made it possible for us to fulfill our obligations under the Convention. The National Plan to Clean Up Open Air Waste Sites. provides the closure of about 240 waste sites, controlling leaching, toxic gas emissions, and promoting social inclusion of recyclers who work in those facilities. As to the Punta Catalina plant, which provides a third of national electricity, we have consolidated information and environmental monitoring mechanisms and published periodic statistics on air quality emissions and other key indicators. We have also installed a system to control the quality of the air, which is highly efficient and monitored by international laboratories. To date, we have not detected mercury in the zone of the electrical plant. The levels of air pollution are below the legal limits and international norms. In the report, the rapporteur refers to the impact on agriculture, fishing and tourism. However, there are no technical or scientific studies officially recognized that give a direct relationship between those issues and the plant. On the Pueblo Viejo mine, its operation is managed by strict economic licensing and a monitoring program involving communities, universities and civil society. Recently, with the government and six communities, we've started... a resettlement programme, providing decent housing, basic services and restoral measures. On the so-called health issues in the communities near the mine, it would be useful to verify the information. The Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance has historic statistical registers, but does not find that these were consulted by the Special Rapporteur during the visit. Finally, we've moved towards a criminal law-based environmental management model, which prevents, investigates and punishes environmental crimes. The new criminal code criminalizes and forced disappearance of environmental rights defenders. My country is very aware of its environmental vulnerability, progress towards responsible management of solid waste and effective governance. are not a formality, but rather a vital need in order to ensure well-being and quality of life for our population. Although meteorological phenomena and our geographical characteristics mean that we have to make considerable investment of our limited resources for management of solid waste, the actions we have undertaken show clear progress towards environmentally sustainable management. We reaffirm our commitment to protecting the environment and human rights, and we reiterate our thanks to the Special Rapporteur for the report. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [54:15]:

Thank you very much. I would now like to pass the floor to the distinguished representative of Samoa. You also have 5 minutes.


Samoa [54:25]:

Thank you very much, Mr. Vice President. With Samoa's standing invitation to all UN thematic special procedures, the government of Samoa was pleased to welcome the visit by Dr. Marcos Orellana, the Special Rapporteur on the Implications for Human Rights of the Environmentally Sound Management and Disposal of Hazardous Substances and Wastes. This was an opportunity for the Special Rapporteur to consider the specific challenges of a small island developing state in the Pacific. On behalf of the government of Samoa, we extend our appreciation to Dr. Orellana for his thorough and constructive country visit and drawing attention to the growing hazardous posed by plastics, toxic substances, and gaps in hazardous waste management in small islands context like ours. We appreciate and value his report and findings. Our Samoan culture and identity are rooted to our land and oceans. Fa'asamoa, or the Samoan way of life, is part of our society's everyday living, which complements human rights and reinforced through our fa'asamoa common values and principles of respect, love, dignity, and equality. Regrettably, It is our very Samoa that is adversely affected by climate change, plastic pollution, and hazardous waste, as highlighted by the report. Nevertheless, Samoa is actively pursuing to address these crucial issues at community, national, regional, and international platforms in order to safeguard our environment and cultural heritage for present and future generations. Yet, we continue to face challenges because of financial, technical, and human resources constraints. Despite being one of the least responsible for the triple planetary crisis, we are the most affected. We welcome the report and recommendations presented by the report, by the Special Rapporteur to improve our situation. Samoa acknowledges the realities as out- as outlined in the report. namely the challenges that we face in centralized hazardous waste treatment and disposal facilities, the capacity constraints in monitoring and specialized enforcement, and the associated risks to our people's health, livelihood, and environment. We also acknowledge the report's focus on justice and remedies for affected communities. We appreciate the highlights of Samoa's national policy foundations already in place and our commitments to progress. We have in law and policy the Waste Management Act, the National Waste Management Strategy, and an active national implementation plan for persistent organic pollutants under the Stockholm Convention. These are frameworks that we are strengthening, resourcing, and implementing through the Samoa Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, as well as our partners. These provide the legal and policy basis to take action on the recommendations presented in the report. At the multilateral level, we continue to engage in the negotiations of a legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, as mandated by the United Nations Environment Assembly. Samoa views this process as an important mechanism for ensuring that the unique challenges and special circumstances of small island developing states are reflected and that global solutions are inclusive, fair, and equitable. Further, Samoa, with Vanuatu and Fiji, we have submitted a proposed amendment to the International Criminal Court to formally classify ecocide as an international crime. We underscore the priorities in our national development strategy, which emphasize the need to improve waste management systems and minimize the impacts of plastics, hazardous substances, and toxins on the environment and the human rights of all Samoans. These reflect Samoans' recognition that protecting public health and safeguarding the environment are integral to the full enjoyment of human rights, and that addressing pollution challenges is essential to ensuring the well-being, dignity, and sustainable livelihoods of present and future generations. We call on all members with the capacity to do so to carefully consider the findings and recommendations in the report to better understand the realities and technical needs of Samoa and other small island developing states. We remain committed to ensuring the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and waste as part of our broader efforts to safeguard the health of our people and our environment from the harmful impacts of toxic Mr. Vice President, this morning, Samoa ushered in a new administration following the general elections with the convening of the 18th Parliament sitting. The new government and the leadership of Prime Minister, the Honorable La'auili Alimaleitu Lewatea Schmitt, will pave the way for renewed national dialogue and a review of our policy priorities, which will consider the recommendations provided by the Special Rapporteur. Lastly, we wish to commend the efforts and dedication of Dr. Marcos Orellana as he concludes his tenure. May the Lord bless you and your family and the continued good work that you do. Vaff diel, Laver.


HRC · Vice-President [1:00:05]:

Thank you. Excellencies, dear colleagues, I'd like to tell you that the list of speakers is now closed. I'd like to invite interested delegations to put questions and share comments on the report. And I'd like, considering, to pass the floor to the European Union.


EU [1:00:29]:

Thank you, Mr Vice-President.

The EU thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report and reiterates its support to his mandate.

EU's Environmental Liability Directive establishes framework based on the polluter pays principle to prevent and remedy environmental damage. It primarily

focuses on ensuring the operators responsible for causing environmental damage are held accountable, but it also touches upon aspects related

to access to remedies. It also implicates toxic and hazardous waste in terms of environmental damage and liability.

Wider EU legislation targeting toxics establishes frameworks indirectly supporting access to remedies by ensuring public participation, transparency, and accountability. They can lead to legal actions when environmental laws are breached.

It is facilitated by legal standing provisions aligned with principles of the Aarhus Convention. The EU

supports initiatives to enhance public access to environmental information, empowering communities to engage in legal process and hold authorities accountable.

EU invests in research programs to better understand the impact of toxic substances and develop safer alternatives.

Horizon Europe, for example, funds research progress, research projects addressing environmental and health challenges. Mr. Special Rapporteur, we appreciate the list of specific guidelines you have outlined. They will serve to guide the work further, including on ESG framework, although also using

this… Thank you very much.


HRC · Vice-President [1:02:09]:

on behalf of the African group, please.


African Group [1:02:13]:

Mr. Vice President, the African group thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report. The group notes the worsening toxic pollution, depriving millions of people of their human rights. Many countries on the continent have suffered from the illegal dumping of imported waste and continue to bear the consequences, despite not being responsible for it. These substances cause chronic diseases, disabilities, and premature deaths. Too often, access to justice for victims remains hampered by multiple barriers, including inadequate legislation, excessive burden of proof, as well as financial, geographical, and language barriers. The group welcomes the efforts of African states to strengthen their legal frameworks and to promote through the African Union and subregional organizations cooperation aimed at harmonizing environmental policies and building capacity. It welcomes the Bamako Convention, which prohibits the import of toxic waste into Africa. However, despite the progress, significant challenges remain in preventing pollution, protecting victims and punishing polluters. The African Group fully supports the Special Rapporteur's recommendations, in particular the strengthening of legal frameworks, effective access to information and the protection of victims and environmental defenders from reprisals. In conclusion, the Africa Group work reaffirms the importance of the effective implementation of the polluter pays principle and calls for its rigorous application in the interest of justice, public health and environmental protection. Thank you, Mr. Vice President.


HRC · Vice-President [1:03:41]:

Thank you very much.


Türkiye [1:03:46]:

Vice President, we thank the Special Rapporteur Orellana for his presentation and his tireless efforts over the last five years. We're grateful for the contributions he has made to this important mandate. For Turkey, safe management of hazardous chemicals is not only sound environmental policy, it is also a key component of respect for human rights, especially the right to live in a healthy environment as mandated by our constitution. Turkey's zero waste project, led by Her Excellency the First Lady, serves as a model of our commitment to sustainability. We thank the worldwide support accorded to this initiative, which has been turning ideas into a global platform for action. We have been accumulating significant experience in managing hazardous

wastes and chemicals, building a strong legal framework aligned with global standards.

Turkey is party to the BRS, Minamata, and UNECE air conventions. Many of our regulations are in compliance.

also with the EU regulations.

A green industry transition project is initiated to mitigate industrial emissions. In the field of waste management, the national circular economic strategy and action plan are in force. A roadmap against single-use plastics and marine litter has been developed. The Turkish Penal Code outlines criminal penalties for environmental crimes related to human rights violations caused by hazardous waste. Special investigation units on environment are established by courts to assist in effective and specialized investigations.

Thank you very much.


HRC · Vice-President [1:05:20]:

Perry is recognized.


Peru [1:05:27]:

Thank you very much, President. Perry is grateful to the rapporteur for his report, which provides important inputs in relation to the reference to the Arroyo versus Peru inhabitants case, we have undertaken actions through the various concerned sectors to comply with the ruling of the Inter-American Human Rights Court. As has been recognized by the court itself, we have respected the mandate to provide legal assistance to victims, among other things. The Peruvian government has also strengthened its regulatory framework with a legislative decree, number 1570, which establishes the comprehensive management of toxic substances, and we are working on a national action plan for small-scale gold mining in Peru. In the context of the implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, The previous state also recognizes the challenges being confronted by environmental defenders, and we've implemented an intersectoral protection mechanisms, channeling measures of protection, recognition, and prevention for those defending environmental rights. In their majority, they are members of indigenous communities and farmers in a situation of particular risk. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:06:52]:

Thank you very much. Paraguay is recognized.


Paraguay [1:06:56]:

Thank you very much, Vice-President. The complete version of this text has been uploaded. We are grateful to the Special Rapporteur for his report, and we take note with particular interest of the mention to the Portillo Caceres case and other cases before the Human Rights Committee. We recognize that this precedent highlights the need to continue to strengthen our regulatory framework and judicial mechanisms to ensure that situations of this nature are not repeated. Having recognized the competence of the Human Rights Committee and shouldering fully the responsibility to guarantee to all persons in our territory and are subject to our jurisdiction, the rights recognized in the Covenant. always seeking to ensure effective reparation when a violation is discovered. The Paraguayan State reiterates its preparedness to continue to spare no effort to ensure the implementation of effective measures which allow the safeguarding and protection of human rights. Finally, we take note of the proposed guidelines, and we ask the rapporteur, bearing in mind the technical and scientific complexity of cases connected to dangerous substances, what measures does he recommend to strengthen the specialisation of national judges and courts to allow them to appropriately assess evidence and provide effective appeals to victims? Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:08:25]:

Thank you very much.


UNEP [1:08:29]:

Mr. President, the United Nations Environment Programme welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights.

The report's examination of human rights standards, especially access to justice and effective remedies in cases involving toxic substances, is important. Equally important is its proposal for guidelines to help address obstacle faced in this area. The exposure to toxic and chemicals result in violations of fundamental human rights, including the right to life, the right to health, and the right to clean health and sustainable environment. This exposure disproportionately affects individuals and groups living in vulnerable situations, such as indigenous people, women, children, youth, and persons with disabilities, who often face systematic legal, structural, economic barriers to accessing justice and effective remedies. Access to justice and effective remedies are essential components of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment and are vital for the environmental rule of law. Advancing the protection of this right is critical to finding lasting solutions that improve access to justice and remedies while addressing the three planetary environmental crises of climate change, nature, land, and biodiversity loss, pollution, and waste, while leaving no one behind. UNEP is dedicated to collaborating with states and other stakeholders to address barriers to access to justice and effective remedies and promote environmental justice in the context of toxics. Once again, UNEP reiterates its full support for the Special Rapporteur's mandate, and we look forward to future collaboration. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:09:57]:

Thank you very much.

I now recognize the Marshall Islands.


Marshall Islands [1:10:03]:

Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report after his visit to our Pacific friend Samoa and his insightful consideration of their unique leadership to address significant environmental challenges. We also welcome his thematic report on overcoming obstacles in accessing justice and remedies from the disposal of toxics and hazardous waste. This issue is of particular importance to the Marshall Islands, where the enduring legacy of the 67 known nuclear tests conducted between 1946 and 1958 continues to affect our population, which suffers from heightened rates of illness and intergenerational trauma. Additionally, the ruined dome, which stores radioactive waste from these tests, is now increasingly threatened by rising sea levels, raising the risk of radioactive leakage, thereby further endangering our ecosystems and the well-being of our people. We especially welcome the report's recognition of transitional justice and truth mechanism as vital tools for addressing the impacts of these legacies. For decades, Marshallese victims of nuclear testing have struggled with recognition and reparations, yet we remain committed to advancing justice and healing, including by pushing for transparency, accountability, and remedies. Mr. Vice President, it is essential that all affected communities are guaranteed fair and timely access to justice and reparations, and only through collective commitment can we uphold their right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. And I thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:11:34]:

Thank you very much. I now recognize Costa Rica.


Costa Rica [1:11:40]:

Thank you very much, President. Costa Rica is grateful to the special rapporteur of his report. exposure to dangerous waste and substances is a serious human rights issue where those affected confront endless obstacles in accessing justice and effective remedy. We have strengthened legal transparency around access to information and data with our framework and access law to public information. This requires proactive, prompt, and comprehensive publishing of all public information. Under our biodiversity law, the burden of proof is bolstered in order to ensure full responsibility falls on the shoulders of those requesting permits or any other licensing in terms of protection of biodiversity. In Costa Rica, jurisprudence recognizes ecological damage and prejudice to public goods. even take into account when it's difficult to quantify. We applaud the recent advisory opinion from the ICJ, which concluded that the access to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is an essential human right. We reiterate that access to justice is an essential part of this human right, and we call on all states to strengthen their legal framework concerning environmental damage to improve accountability. Thank you very much. for the fantastic work that you've been carrying out over these years as a Special Rapporteur. Thank you very much.


HRC · Vice-President [1:13:13]:

Vanuatu now, please.


Vanuatu [1:13:20]:

Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. The Republic of Vanuatu thanks the Special Rapporteur for presenting his report after his visit to our Pacific friend Samoa and his insightful consideration of the unique vulnerabilities of our Pacific region. As a small island developing state, Vanuatu faces deep, disproportionate risk and from hazardous substances and waste threatening our oceans, food, water, health, and human rights. These risks compounded the existential impacts of climate change and natural disasters. We echo the call for a strong plastic pollution treaty in line with human rights, including the rights to information, the rights to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, and the right to science, which are key to properly frame effective and legitimate solutions and remedies. For vulnerable nations like ours, capacity building, technology transfer, and strong corporate cooperation are vital. We support efforts towards a robust local framework to ensure prevention, responsibility, and remedies. Mr. Special Rapporteur, given the limited capacity of seats like Vanuatu and Samoa, what concrete steps do you recommend strengthening international cooperation and technical support to ensure our peoples are effectively protected from assessed substances and waste? I thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:14:33]:

Thank you very much. Ghana, please.


Ghana [1:14:37]:

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Ghana aligns with the statement by the African Group and thank the Special Rapporteur for his report. We share the concern that barriers like restrictive legal standing, unfair burdens of proof, and inadequate enforcement perpetuate impunity and environmental injustice. Ghana's proactive response is anchored on the Hazardous and Electronic Waste Control and Management Act, which establishes a comprehensive regime prohibiting importation and mandating sound e-waste management, and directly addresses the report's call for strong national standards. To overcome enforcement barriers, Ghana's Environmental Protection Act creates a dedicated fund for remediation cleanup and enforcement directly addressing the challenge of unmet remedies. Ghana upholds its international obligations through the Bamako, Basel, and Stockholm Conventions. We are a leading proponent for a global plastic pollution treaty and call for enhanced cooperation to stop transboundary hazardous waste movement and provide victims with effective cross-border remedies. Ghana is committed to implementing the report guidelines, particularly in reforming procedural hurdles and ensuring our legal system provides accessible, effective justice for all victims of toxic exposure.

I thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:16:06]:

Thank you very much.

I now recognize Cote d'Ivoire, please.


Côte d’Ivoire [1:16:11]:

President, Cote d'Ivoire aligns itself with the statement of the African group and is grateful to the Special Rapporteur of his report. relating to chronic obstacles to access by victims of hazardous substances to justice. My delegation deplores that exposure to these substances continues to lead to serious violations of human rights, in particular the right to life, health, a clean environment, along with serious diseases, disabilities, and premature deaths, often in impunity. Victims struggle with inappropriate laws, tail statutes of limitations, burdens of proof which are excessive, and financial, geographic, and linguistic barriers. Concerned to protect its population, Cote d'Ivoire has undertaken key reforms, in particular the update of the National Action Plan for Chronic Biological Pollutants in November 2023 and a new environmental code. These efforts are bolstered by awareness-raising campaigns aimed at local stakeholders in order to strengthen prevention and management of chemical incidents. Furthermore, the compensation process for victims of the toxic waste incident in 2006 relating to the Probo Kayala cargo continues. Special Rapporteur, what measures would you recommend to improve access and data sharing concerning pollutants and their health impact, in particular in developing countries? Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:17:34]:

Thank you very much. I now recognize Cameroon.


Cameroon [1:17:38]:

Thank you very much, President. My delegation aligns itself with the statement made by the African Group and is grateful to the Special Rapporteur for his report and the recommendations therein. The Cameroonian President, in its constant search to preserve the environment, is continuing its efforts in the sphere of the management and elimination of dangerous and hazardous substances and waste. These efforts have led to... a strengthened legal framework and the ratification of international instruments which are relevant, in particular the Basel and Bamako Conventions. My delegation is of the opinion that responsible management of waste contributes to sustainable development, and it's one of the key components of a green economy. It runs through the implementation of good practices and the use of the best available technologies to support the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples. by, among other things, creating jobs. My country takes note of the emphasis on access to justice and effective appeals for victims and other people affected by toxic and hazardous substances and dangerous waste. We share the conviction that the steps towards comprehensive reparation, including rehabilitation, de-pollution, and guarantees of non-repetition, are essential for the effective protection of human rights. In this connection, Special Rapporteur, what would you recommend to support developing countries such as ours, which are among those who pollute the least? Thank you very much.


HRC · Vice-President [1:19:11]:

Thank you very much. I now recognize Zambia.


Zambia [1:19:18]:

Mr. Vice President, Zambia reiterates its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the human rights of our people, particularly in the face of hazardous substances and waste. With ICE will come the special rapporteur's guidelines outlined in his report. Zambia has experienced the human rights impacts of hazardous substances, particularly in the extractive sector, on people and the environment. In the case of heavy metal pollution, experience has shown that when remedies are delayed or ineffective, lives and livelihoods are negatively impacted. Therefore, as a leading copper and cobalt producer, we are committed to stronger environmental safeguards, remediation, and access to justice for affected communities. The guidelines underscore the remedies in the context of toxins must be accessible, timely, enforceable, and comprehensive. This includes cessation of harmful pollution, cleanup of contaminated sites, rehabilitation for those affected, and measures to prevent harm from reoccurring. We call on companies and financial institutions to implement robust due diligence and ensure clean, right-respecting supply chains. We also call for stronger international cooperation and capacity building to help countries such as Zambia to integrate these principles and guidelines into our national frameworks. I thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:20:48]:

Thank you very much. Mauritius, please.


Mauritius [1:20:54]:

Mr. Vice President, the Special Rapporteur had the opportunity of carrying out a country visit to Mauritius in October 2021, with the report being presented to the 55th session in September 2022. The report highlighted many good practices that were carried out in the country. It also pointed out key challenges in respect of the sound management of hazardous substances and waste and provided pertinent recommendations. The recommendations were carefully analyzed and I wish to inform that most have already been implemented, such as the promulgation of new legislation, updating and implementing new standard operating procedures and accelerating action on the proper management and disposal of hazardous waste substances and waste. One of the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur was that he hoped that when he returns to Mauritius, our constitution will also protect the fundamental right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. Let me reassure the Special Rapporteur that one of the objectives of the government, which was given a strong mandate last November, is the amendment of our constitution to incorporate new generation rights, such as the environment and technology. I thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:22:06]:

Thank you very much. I now recognize the FAO.


FAO [1:22:10]:

Mr. President, FAO welcomes the Special Rapporteur's report, particularly its focus on the environmental and health consequences of the overuse and mismanagement of hazardous substances, which may include water contamination, air pollution, and biodiversity loss. FAO, committed to transparency in pesticides lifecycle management, supports its member states to comply with the International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management. In supporting the transition to sustainable crop production and protection systems, the organization supports its members to adopt integrated pesticide management as a safer alternative to highly hazardous pesticides. FAO, in collaboration with other United Nations agencies, is facilitating the establishment of the Global Alliance on Highly Hazardous Pesticides as a means to phase them out by 2035. The organization is also facilitating the development of the headline indicator 7.2 of the Global Biodiversity Framework on halving pesticide risk to biodiversity by 2030. FAO will continue to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders in advancing evidence-based approaches that reduce risk from hazardous substances.

Thank you, President.


Djibouti [1:23:43]:

Djibouti aligns with the statement by the African Group and thanks the Special Rapporteur for presenting his report, which reviews standards on access to justice, and remedies, examines innovative strategies and good practice and proposes 24 guidelines to overcome these obstacles. We welcome this review of the standards regarding access to justice in connection with toxic substances in the context of international standards and regional ones and your critical assessment of the limits and gaps. My delegation shares your analysis regarding the need to implement innovative strategies to overcome obstacles and strengthen existing tools in order to combat asymmetries between victims and polluters in order to guarantee access to justice and effective remedies. We believe it's crucial for the public, business and regulatory authorities to have direct information contextualized on emissions and waste in order to ensure good environmental governance, business responsibility and implementation of the right to a clean, healthy, sustainable environment. Mr. Special Rapporteur, the 113th International Labour Conference adopted last year Convention 192 on the biological risks in the working environment. In your view, how could the guidelines that you propose be linked with the provisions of that convention? Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:25:15]:

Thank you, Ecuador and Morocco.


Morocco [1:25:17]:

President, Morocco thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report, which highlights the systemic.

Barriers to access to justice in the context of hazardous substances and wastes.

We commend the rights-based and victim-centered approach that underpins the proposed guidelines grounded in accountability, provision, and effective remedy. In line with its constitution and international commitments, Morocco has undertaken.

A series of structural reforms aimed at ensuring the sustainable and rights-compliant management in environmental risk.

The National Human Rights Council, through its thematic mechanism, plays a key role in addressing complaints related to environmental rights violation and ensuring the integration into public policies. Morocco has consolidated its normative framework through the National Sustainable Development Strategy, the National Climate Plan 2030, and legislative measures that promote access to environmental information, risk prevention, and citizen participation. At the international level, Morocco is a state party to Basel Convention and diligently implements its provision through a robust.

National system for monitoring transboundary movement of hazardous wastes in close coordination with customs, environmental, and health authorities.

Given the magnitude of challenges at stake, Morocco calls an enhanced multilateral cooperation with particular emphasis of effective transfer of clean technologies, targeted institutional support, and reduction of global inequalities and access to environmental justice.

In full respect of principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.

We affirm our strong...


HRC · Vice-President [1:26:49]:

Thank you. I give the floor to the Democratic Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea.


Democratic People's Republic of Korea [1:26:56]:

Mr. President, the DPRK delegation expresses grave concern over Japan's ongoing discharge, the nuclear contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean. As highlighted in the joint communication of the special procedure, Japan is pressuring victims of the nuclear contaminated water, concealing unfavorable information, and causing serious harm to nearby fishermen and residents. International environmental organizations and experts have revealed that Japan advanced liquid processing system is unable to remove the deadly radioactive substances, these radioactive materials will destroy the marine ecosystem and cause irreversible harm to humanity. The international community condemns Japan's act of discharging nuclear-contaminated water as an extremely irresponsible and criminal act, and denounce it as a threat to all of humanity. We strongly urge Japan to immediately stop discharging nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean, which seriously threatens the survival, safety, and future of humanity. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:28:16]:

Thank you. I give the floor to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.


UNECE [1:28:23]:

Delegates, public access to justice is a crucial pillar for ensuring the right of everyone to live in an environment that sustains our health and well-being. The report presented by the Special Rapporteur highlights a number of challenges and offers several solutions on public access to justice and effective remedies in the context of toxics. The Aarhus Convention and its protocol on pollutant release and transfer registers are part of the solutions. The treaties which are open for accession by any UN member state provide public, including environmental NGOs, local communities, and people in vulnerable situations with the rights to access judicial and administrative review procedures. This enables them to challenge information refusals or legality of decisions acts and omissions related to hazardous chemicals and waste management, ensuring that their rights and legitimate interests are protected and that environmental law is effectively enforced. These treaties work also offer multi-stakeholder platforms to exchange experience in establishing effective review mechanisms. This work is particularly timely in the view of achieving the Sustainable Development Goal target 16.3 related to access to justice for all, and we stand ready to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur on promoting international standards in this area. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:29:49]:

Thank you. India, you have the floor.


India [1:29:54]:

Mr. Vice President, India welcomes the Special Rapporteur's report on access to justice and remedies for toxic exposures. We strongly support comprehensive remedies encompassing prevention, cleanup, and compensation to protect human rights. In that spirit, we participated wholeheartedly in the Plastics Treaty negotiations.

India's constitutional framework, reinforced by an active judiciary and the National Green Tribunal, provides robust mechanisms for environmental justice.

Our legal system has developed innovative jurisprudence that strengthens the rights of marginalized communities and provides remedies for victims of toxic exposure. We remain committed to enhancing access to information, public participation, and judicial capacity. India appreciates the recommendations on international cooperation and capacity building, while emphasizing respect for national sovereignty and development priorities. India supports strengthened dialogue on remedy mechanisms to ensure no community faces injustice from toxic exposures. We recognize that effective remedies require coordinated efforts between states, corporations, and international bodies. India stands ready to collaborate with the Special Rapporteur and member states to develop timely, comprehensive solutions that protect vulnerable populations while advancing sustainable development.


HRC · Vice-President [1:31:09]:

Thank you. Thank you. UNICEF, you have the floor.


UNICEF [1:31:17]:

Vice-President, UNICEF welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur and supports his recommendations. Toxic exposures gravely undermine the rights to life, health, and to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. Children's developing physiology and dependence on caregivers make them especially vulnerable to irreversible harm, including neurological damage, developmental disorders, and intergenerational impacts. We concur with the Special Rapporteur that children face disproportionate barriers in accessing justice. Too often, they lack legal standing, access to information and legal assistance, coupled with the absence of child-sensitive procedures. This often leaves them without effective mechanisms to ensure accountability and compensation from polluters, including in cases of extraterritorial abuses. Statutes of limitation and weak enforcement further entrench impunity and deny remedies. UNICEF is deeply concerned that many children continue to live in areas heavily polluted by hazardous substances and waste, where poverty and discrimination compound these injustices. We support the call to broaden legal standing, consistent with General Comment No. 26 of the Committee of the Rights of the Child, and to allow collective and class actions, including on behalf of children, now and future generations. We also support easing evidentiary burdens and ensuring comprehensive reparations that are effective, inclusive, and attentive to the specific vulnerabilities of children. UNICEF stands ready to support states in strengthening legal frameworks so that no child is left without access to justice and effective remedy for toxic arms. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:32:51]:

Thank you. I give the floor to Saudi Arabia.


Saudi Arabia [1:33:00]:

Thank you, Vice President. We have noted the report of the Special Rapporteur and the recommendations, as well as the link between sound waste management and human rights, including the right to health and a clean, sustainable environment. Vice-President, my country reiterates that protecting human beings and the environment from toxic wastes is a national priority, implemented through a national strategy in line with the 2030 vision. Our efforts for modernizing the legislation and environmental policy continue, as do those to improve recycling and waste management and our efforts to limit pollution in line with our international commitments. We welcome the focus on international cooperation and exchange of good practice as well as capacity building. There must be joint efforts and greater technical cooperation with developing countries. We must commit internationally to sound waste management to ensure human rights for all.


HRC · Vice-President [1:34:23]:

To the United Republic of Tanzania.


United Republic of Tanzania [1:34:30]:

The United Republic of Tanzania has taken several initiatives to control and ensure sound management of hazardous waste to protect environment and public health, including adoption of various policy, legal, and institutional frameworks. The government has adopted the Basel Convention on Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal of 1989, and the Bamako Convention on the Ban of the Import into Africa and Control of Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Waste within Africa of 1991. At the national level, there is a national environmental policy of 2021, which has set the government's commitment to address problems of hazardous waste in the country. This policy is enforced by framework laws, regulations, strategies, and action plans, including the Environmental Management Act, CAP 191, with a revised additional of 2023, the Environmental Management.

Control and Management of Hazardous Waste Legislation of 2021.

The environmental management, electric and electronic equipment waste operation of 2021, and healthy and pollution action plan of 2019-2030, which aims at addressing the challenges related to indoor and outdoor air pollution, contamination of water, soil pollution, and occupational exposure to pollution. To ensure prescribed legal requirement.

Agreed here too, the law creates offensive and prescribes several penalties of fines and imprisonment terms against violators.

The United Bank of Tanzania will continue to implement measures to ensure...

Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:36:21]:

Le Mali a la parole.

Mali, please. Malaysia is not present in the room. I call on Malaysia.


Malaysia [1:36:35]:

Mr. Vice President, Malaysia thanks the Sr. for his report. Malaysia recognizes the importance of access to justice and effective remedies in the protection of human rights and the environment. In cases involving risks and harm from toxics, we concur with the Sr. that access to justice requires judicial and administrative mechanisms that enforce rights, provide remedies for damage suffered, and prevent future violations. Last month, Malaysia launched a national action plan on business and human rights 2025 to 2030. This five-year roadmap aims to ensure that business activities respect, protect, and remedy human rights in line with the UN guiding principles on business and human rights. Among the thematic priorities outlined in the action plan is the environment, consistent with measures to enhance business action towards Malaysia's net zero and biodiversity targets. This priority comprehensively covers areas at the intersection of environmental and human rights, including governance and accountability, waste management and plastic circularity, and environmental justice. Specifically on environmental justice and access to remedies, Malaysia plans to enact the anti-SLAPP legislation to increase the state of equality between plaintiffs and defendants in cases of human rights and environmental rights abuses. This reflects Malaysia's increasing commitment to integrating human rights principles into environmental policies. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:37:59]:

Thank you.

I call on Indonesia.


Indonesia [1:38:07]:

Mr. Vice President, Indonesia attaches great importance to addressing pollution and hazardous waste issues to protect public health and the environment. Building on our previous efforts to enhance data transparency through the National Solid Waste Management Information System, Indonesia is advancing reforms to strengthen environmental enforcement and expand legal aid for affected communities. Indonesia has also implemented policy protections for environmental defenders via ministerial regulatory anti-SLAPP measures to curb retaliatory lawsuits and protect and protect defenders in order to support access to justice and public participation principles.

These measures reaffirm our commitment.

To uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, while aligning national practice with international human rights standards. Mr. Special Rapporteur, we take note of your proposed guideline No.

15 on the recognition of extraterritorial obligations as presented in your report.

In your view, what are the most effective measures that home states can take to ensure that multinational corporations and subsidiaries operating in other countries fully comply with the international standards and provide effective remedies for victims?

Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:39:22]:

Thank you.

I call on the Maldives.


Maldives [1:39:30]:

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The Maldives thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report and agrees with his assessment that the growing toxification of the planet undermines the effective enjoyment of the rights to life, health, and a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. It is imperative that states and businesses take urgent measures to safeguard our fragile ecosystems for present and future generations. Mr. Vice President, In 2024, the government of Maldives launched the National Waste and Resource Management Policy and Strategy 2024-2028. This framework consolidates existing projects under a unified approach to build a sustainable solid waste management system. It enhances efficiency and coherence with national policies to protect human health and the environment. At its core is the promotion of a circular economy, encouraging reuse and recycling to minimize waste generation. Mr. Vice President, effective waste management is a pressing challenge for small island developing states. Our geographic isolation, limited land, and climate vulnerability make the handling and transport of waste, particularly hazardous waste, costly and difficult. In this regard, could the Special Rapporteur share his views on the importance of access to technology and capacity building for strengthening waste management systems and how the international community can best support SEEDS in overcoming these unique challenges? I thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:40:55]:

Thank you, I come on El

Salvador.


El Salvador [1:40:59]:

Thank you, Vice-President. We thank the Special Rapporteur for the report and note the guidelines proposed to guarantee access to justice and effective remedies. We agree that accountability is crucial to protect human rights, including the right to life, health, and a clean, healthy, sustainable environment. Our country has made progress on strengthening the normative framework and institutions to address this. In line with the call for effective remedies, we have measures that go beyond compensation including ecosystem rehabilitation and community participation in monitoring. We reiterate our readiness to continue working with international human rights mechanisms and believe that access to environmental justice is a pillar in guaranteeing the dignity and well-being of present and future generations. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:42:09]:

Thank you.

I call on the State of Palestine.


State of Palestine [1:42:14]:

Mr. Vice President, we thank the Special Rapporteur for his important report. The reality of Palestinians in Gaza living under genocide confirms this report's warnings in the most tragic way. Communities are condemned to live in toxic sacrifice zones, denied remedies and justice. The relentless bombardment has turned Gaza into mountains of rubble contaminated with asbestos, heavy metals, explosives, and poisonous chemicals. At the same time, Israel has deliberately destroyed sewage plants, water systems, and solar infrastructure, releasing waste and toxins into the sea, the soil, and the air. This means that every drop of water, every breath of air, every piece of land is polluted. Palestinian families are already suffering cancers, miscarriages, lung diseases, and other serious health problems, while the environment that should sustain them is being poisoned. And yet, as the report shows, victims face impossible barriers to justice. How can Palestinians in Gaza prove that has made them sick when hospitals have collapsed? How can they demand cleanup or compensation when courts are close to them and international law is flagrantly violated with impunity? We therefore echo and urge the implementation of the SR's recommendations. Mr. Vice President, this genocide is not only killing Palestinians today, but also creating a toxic wasteland that will harm our people and environment for future generations. This environmental destruction must be treated as a crime, and states must act now to end this genocide, ensure cleanup, medical care, accountability, and an end to impunity.

I thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:43:50]:

Thank you, I come on Togo.


Togo [1:43:54]:

Thank you, Vice-President. Togo aligns with the statement by the African group and thanks the special rapporteur for presenting his report. This is a valuable framework for strengthening access to justice and remedies for victims of harm from toxic substances. This is essential for the enjoyment of the right to life, health and a clean, healthy, sustainable environment. Vice-President, my country, aware of the considerable obstacles pointed to by the Special Rapporteur, be they legal, procedural, economic or structural, has undertaken a set of reforms to build a more fair, accessible system. To do that, we've adopted a revised environment code and a framework law on waste and chemical management. They incorporate the precautionary principle and strengthen standards on waste disposal and management to prevent damage. To overcome the lack of information, which is a major obstacle, we've established a national environmental information system. We've also sought to strengthen our environmental justice capacities via specialization of judges. Aware of the impact of toxic substances and how they affect the most vulnerable populations, our national policy seeks to provide additional protection to rural communities and promotes participatory governance in managing industrial risks. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:45:26]:

Thank you, I come from Burkina Faso.


Burkina Faso [1:45:30]:

Thank you, Vice-President. My delegation congratulates the special rapporteur on this excellent report. We welcome the relevant recommendations on establishing an accessible legal framework to allow victims and their representatives to obtain justice for harm from toxic substances. My country, where it fails to meet environmental standards, places responsibility on the perpetrators under the Environment Code, Article 122 of that code. punishes environmental offenses. The court can order an end to activities or suspension for the necessary time, without excluding civil reparations. Victims of environmental offenses thus have access to justice. in order to bring their case to an independent, impartial court and possibly obtain reparations for the harm caused. The Criminal Proceedings Code of June 2025 speeds up the processing of cases, including sentencing by video conference and national language audiences. We congratulate the Special Rapporteur on his work under this mandate and wish him every success. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:47:02]:

Thank you. I call on Ukraine.


Ukraine [1:47:06]:

Mr. President, we welcome the Special Rapporteur and thank him for the report. Russia's brutal invasion has unleashed widespread ecological devastation by targeting hazardous chemical storages, industrial facilities, and energy infrastructure. Over two years of full-scale war, building on decades of prior aggression, Ukraine faces a toxic legacy, contaminated air, water, and soil, and the collapse of ecosystems. The environmental devastation is not temporary. The toxic consequences of aggression persist in poisoned air, polluted rivers, and contaminated soil, affecting generations to come. Every missile strike, drone attack, and explosion emit a range of hazardous chemicals into the environment, affecting not only Ukraine, but also neighboring regions. Destruction of power plants and industrial facilities has released persistent organic pollutants, including PCBs, while debris from shelling contains asbestos, heavy metals, and other hazardous waste. The risk of transboundary pollution demand urgent global attention. Access to justice and effective remedies for these toxic harms are not optional. They are essential for accountability, environmental recovery, and protection of human rights. Mr. Special Rapporteur, in light of the transboundary and long-term nature of these toxic impacts, what concrete measures can the international community take to ensure effective access to justice and remedies for affected? Thank you. Thank you, I call on Benin.


HRC · Vice-President [1:49:02]:

Benin, please.

Benin is not present in the room.

Armenia, please.


Armenia [1:49:17]:

Mr. Vice-President, Armenia thanks the Special Rapporteur for presenting the report.

The human rights dimensions of hazardous substances and wastes, particularly their disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations, deserve continued attention. Hazardous substances and wastes can seriously impact a number of human rights.

We are convinced that efforts are needed to assist states and other

stakeholders to develop policies and management practices based on scientific evidence and genuine human rights considerations. It is also important that individuals affected by hazardous substances are empowered to seek redress and participate

meaningfully in decision making processes.

The implications of toxics extend beyond human health. They threaten biodiversity, ecosystems, and the very foundations of sustainable development. In this regard, Armenia looks forward to hosting COP17 of the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2026, where the intersection of environmental protection and human rights will be a key focus.

I thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:50:17]:

Thank you. I call on Malawi.


Malawi [1:50:21]:

Mr. Vice President, Malawi aligns with the statement of the African group and thanks the Special Rapporteur for his significant assessment of the obstacles to accessing justice and remedies in the context of toxic substances and the comprehensive guidelines on addressing the challenges. Sustainable management of the environment includes management of waste, water resources, air, and water pollution remains an important goal of Malawi's long-term development agenda, Malawi Agenda 2063. Furthermore, the Malawi Environmental Protection Authority and the Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority continue to work tirelessly to regulate the management and disposal of hazardous waste in Malawi. In terms of effective legal remedies, steps have been taken to ensure that the poor have access to legal aid and where there are allegations of poor management of hazardous waste and toxic substances. This is achieved through institutions such as the Legal Aid Bureau and the Malawi Human Rights Commission. Malawi takes note of the recommendations in the report and will engage the Special Rapporteur for further insights towards implementation.

I thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:51:29]:

Thank you. I call on Nepal.


Nepal [1:51:33]:

Mr. Vice President, Nepal thanks the Special Rapporteur for presenting the report. Nepal's constitution recognizes the right to live in a clean and healthy environment as a fundamental right. The constitution provisions for the compensation to the victims for any injury caused by environmental pollution or degradation in line with the polluter pays principle. Nepal is a state party to various international environmental instruments, including the Basel Convention. The Solid Waste Management Act 2011 and Rules 2013 provides for the effective management of hazardous substances, including chemical and industrial wastes. The government of Nepal is striving to implement extended producer responsibility and reduce the production of hazardous wastes. Nepal is committed to further strengthening people's access to justice and effective remedies for violations of their environmental rights. In this regard, we would like to hear from the Special Rapporteur on what practical measures could be taken to enhance accountability and promote environmentally sound management of the hazardous substances and wastes. We wish the Special Rapporteur every success. I thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:52:41]:

Thank you. I call on Chile.


Chile [1:52:46]:

Thank you, Vice-President. Special Rapporteur for presenting the report, which is a valuable reference for progress in ensuring access to justice if there is exposure to toxic substances. We in particular welcome 24 guidelines, which are clear instructions to strengthen national frameworks, protect victims and ensure effective participation. We also wish to express thanks to the Special Rapporteur the work done during his mandate, an essential contribution in improving international standards, this legacy will be useful to this Council. Chile reiterates its commitment to implementing the ES-CAZU agreement, a regional instrument which provides rights, access to information, participation, and environmental justice, as the report points out. We recognize the importance of international cooperation and technical assistance to strengthen legal and administrative capacities in our states. The experience set out in the report is valuable. We would like to ask what tangible measures can be taken to improve international legal cooperation and ensure that victims of toxic pollution can be protected. can obtain justice in the context of international networks. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:54:14]:

Thank you very much.

And I recognize Bangladesh.


Bangladesh [1:54:20]:

Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. Mr. Vice-President, Bangladesh thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report and takes note of the guidelines on access to justice and effective remedies. We share deep concern that toxic pollution continues to undermine fundamental human rights, including rights to life, health, and a clean environment. Bangladesh, one of the most climate-vulnerable countries, faces a unique set of challenges from hazardous substances. Women, children, and vulnerable communities, especially in coastal regions, bear a disproportionate burden. Mr. Vice President, Bangladesh has strengthened its legal and institutional framework for environmentally sound waste management, prioritizing integrated management, stricter regulation of hazardous chemicals, extended producer responsibilities, and safer recycling. However, challenges remain, particularly in accessing data and technologies and capacity building for waste and hazardous substance management. Enhanced international cooperation, including technology transfer and financial support, is crucial for ensuring a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. States must prevent toxic substances from crossing the borders, and regional efforts should share information, knowledge, and best practices, and develop harmonized rules and regulations for managing hazardous substances and waste. Bangladesh reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding humans from hazardous substances and working collaboratively with international community for accountability and justice for victims.

I thank you, Mr. Vice President.


Georgia [1:55:57]:

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. At the outset, I would like to thank the Special Rapporteur for presenting comprehensive report and subsequent guidelines on human rights standards on access to justice and effective remedies related to toxics.

Among the

national level efforts in the field of waste and chemicals management, let me stress that Georgia has developed a national legislative framework for waste management, a national waste management strategy, and a national action plan. The government has also adopted several bylaws to implement extended producer responsibility. Moreover, to implement Georgia-EU Association Agreement as well as European Union candidate country recommendations, the law on chemicals and mixtures is being elaborated, which will bring the chemicals management legislation in line with the CLP and REACH regulations. In conclusion, let me underscore once again that Georgia, as a party to Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm, and Minamata Conventions, remains committed to the sound management of chemicals throughout their life cycle and sound management of hazardous waste to ensure protection of human health and environment on national, regional, and global levels. And to this end, the government periodically updates its respective national regulations to reflect the Convention and other international environmental requirements. I thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [1:57:11]:

Thank you. Gambia, please. Apparently, Gambia is not present in the room, so I move on to Sudan.


Sudan [1:57:31]:

Thank you. Sudan would like to thank the Special Rapporteur on his comprehensive report, especially in terms of access to justice and effective remedies related to toxics. The report highlighted the importance of enhancing the legislative frameworks for waste management and ensuring just remedies. It has also highlighted the need to deal with violations that have major impact on human rights. Mr. Vice President, in cases of conflicts and wars, Sudan has witnessed a lot of attacks on its capital, Khartoum, and other cities. The major infrastructure of Sudan have been attacked, and this has led to threatening the citizens and also their livelihoods. Sudan would like to say that these violations are not only and merely an attack against the environment; they are also. a clear violation of human rights. This is why we call upon the Human Rights Council to condemn these acts and consider them as environmental crimes, and we would like also to request international assistance in preventing them. Thank you very much.


HRC · Vice-President [1:58:50]:

Thank you very much. Ethiopia, please.


Ethiopia [1:58:55]:

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Ethiopia welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur on the Implication of Human Rights of the Environmentally Sound Management and Disposal of Hazardous Substances and Wastes, the global crisis of hazardous substances and wastes driven by Rapid industrialization, urbanization, and unsustainable consumption demands urgent and coordinated action. In this regard, Ethiopia reaffirms its unwavering commitment environmentally sustainable development through robust legal, policy, and institutional frameworks. Our ongoing initiative include corridor development project that integrate green infrastructure and waste management systems, enhancing connectivity whilst safeguarding communities and ecosystems. In urban areas, we are implementing comprehensive city cleaning and waste management strategies guided by newly updated regulation and strengthened institutional mandates. Ethiopia encourages international cooperation in building national capacities for pollution monitoring, safe landfill development, and sustainable industrial practices. We support the Special Rapporteur's emphasis on data transparency, community engagement, and international partnership. We believe that development must be environmentally sound and people-centered. In conclusion, Ethiopia remains committed to Thank you very much.


HRC · Vice-President [2:00:32]:

China.


China [2:00:36]:

Vice President, China noted the SRS report and appreciates the standards in the report. China also notes the report's reference to the U.S. government and courts, which have used various obstacles such as unjustified delays, the foreign non-convincing doctrine, and sovereign immunity to effectively deny justice to victims of environmental pollution, resulting in longstanding immunity. China urges the relevant countries to earnestly assume responsibilities and fulfill obligations, ensuring effective remedies for affected individuals and communities. A healthy and sustainable environment is a universal human right. My government takes targeted, scientific, and law-based approaches to pollution control, meeting the new demands of high-quality economic and social development and the people's growing expectation for environmental improvement. We will deepen reforms in environmental info disclosure in accordance with the law, build a regulatory system in environmental credit, and deepen institutional reforms that improve governance. While improving its own environmental quality, China contributes also actively to global environmental governance.

Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [2:02:06]:

Thank you. Your Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, that was the last. speaker that we were able to accommodate at the current time. We will now move on to the list of NHRIs and NGOs. And I'd like to pass the floor to Juventum for a video statement.


Juventum [2:02:25]:

Mr. President, Mr. Special Rapporteur, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Juventum is honored to participate. We commend the report 60/34 on justice and remedies. We hope all the recommendations and the guidelines will be implemented. We would appreciate the Special Rapporteur's country visit to investigate the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. It is a good time to learn lessons. Many are still suffering from the disaster in 2011. The court procedures take forever before providing any insufficient remedies. The ocean dumping of the contaminated water will last for another 60 years. The government will use the contaminated soil in public projects all over the country. The contamination will be spread instead of being contained. The public opinion is nudged toward the permissiveness of nuclear power by economic greed. A severe nuclear meltdown has happened every 9.2 years since 1979. The risk of nuclear power exceeds the advertised benefit. The reactors in the war zones and the deregulation of the reactor age limit are among many prominent risks. Honest and sustainable sources should feed the data centers with electricity. Thank you very much for your attention.


HRC · Vice-President [2:03:54]:

Thank you very much.

Earth Justice, please.


EarthJustice [2:03:59]:

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Earth Justice, thank you, Mr. Special Rapporteur, for your report, highlighting how the growing toxification of the planet.

Undermined the effective enjoyment of human rights for millions of people and how the lack of accountability aggravates it. Worse, impunity tends to be the norm rather than the exception for polluters and for governments that enable toxic pollution. Today, of the 84,000 chemical in circulation, only 1%, 1% has been tested for safety. And there is not a week now without science reporting worrying data on environmental health.

Your report indicates clearly specific characteristics and challenges created by toxics that must be considered to guarantee effective remedies, like.

Latency periods between exposure and the manifestation of disease, like proof of causation, linking release and exposure to its effects, like scientific information when it's preliminary or hard to access.

Therefore, the 24 guidelines you propose, should we call them the Orellana guidelines? provide a needed tool for states and businesses to prevent, reduce, and eliminate exposure.

Mr. Special Rapporteur, this might be your last presentation in front of this Council. We want to thank you for all what you have achieved as a mandate holder. Reversing the existential threat of the toxic tide still remains A crucial challenge for all, but this mandate provides the means we need to protect human rights against toxics.

Thank you for that.


HRC · Vice-President [2:05:31]:

Thank you. I give the floor to Center for Studies of Law, Justice, and Society.


Center for Studies of Law, Justice, and Society [2:05:41]:

Thank you very much for the floor. I'm making this statement on behalf of Dejusticia and Elementa, two organizations based in Colombia. We're grateful to the rapporteur for the continuing support in our work defending human rights in the country. In Colombia, we are experiencing what the rapporteur calls legalized toxification. elimination of illegal crops using aerial spraying of glyphosate, which is a pesticide which is declared as carcinogenic by the WHO. This policy, which is supported and funded by through international cooperation, has had serious ramifications. Impunity persists, and obviously Now the policy was suspended in view of the precautionary principle in 2015, but is returning in the context of the fight against illegal crops. The guidelines contained in the report are key to prevent impunity pursuant to the use of toxics and ensure non-repetition. Nonetheless, in the context of legalized toxifications, it's imperative to define what steps should be taken when those polluting are the states themselves. who also are in theory supporting international cooperation. All of this is being done without proper observation of human rights, and it's fundamental, therefore, that the Council adopts the resolution being proposed on this issue and maintains permanent debate in the Council concerning the wide-ranging impacts of anti-drug policies on human rights. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [2:07:07]:

I give the floor to FIAN International by video.


FIAN International [2:07:11]:

Mr. O'Gurich, Special Rapporteur, distinguished delegate. Local communities and CSOs in Serbia are facing severe restrictions on access to justice. CSOs are denied standing in almost all cases concerning major industrial, mining and energy projects. By demanding proof that their individual interests are at stake, and impossible conditions for organisations representing the public interest to fulfil, authorities ensure that the dangerous projects move forward with only one participant in the procedure: the investor. A striking example is Bor, Serbia's mining region, which has become a sacrifice zone where communities live with toxic levels of heavy metals in the air, water, and soil. Residents already facing elevated risks of cancer and premature deaths are further denied remedies in inspection procedures and told they lack sufficient legal interest, even as illegal excavations take place at their doorstep. They are also excluded from inspection procedures concerning a landfill above the city, dispersing toxic substances above their homes, while CSOs are bare from cases where mining waste has been dumped for years without the permits. This practice directly contradicts national and international legal framework, creating systematic denial of access to justice and shielding both authorities and investors from accountability. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [2:08:45]:

Thank you. I give the floor to Pratyek for a joint statement by video.


Pratik [2:08:50]:

Mr. President, Pratyek, Edmond Rice International and the Children of India draw urgent attention to the mismanagement of toxic waste in India, identifying it as a violation of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and, by extension, the right to a safe and healthy environment.

Current disposal practices of hazardous waste present a serious threat to both public.

Health and environmental sustainability, with vulnerable and marginalized communities bearing the greatest burden. Rapid urbanization in India has led to 377 million urban residents generating about 62 million tons of solid waste annually, of which only 43 million tons are collected. The untreated waste in open landfills pollutes air, soil, and water, causing disease, environmental damages, and human rights concerns. Despite regulation in 2011 and 2016, weak enforcement keeps much of India's e-waste sector informal and unregulated. Workers, particularly those from impoverished backgrounds, are routinely exposed to toxic chemicals when dismantling discarded electronics. Children are especially vulnerable. Driven by poverty, they are exploited for their ability to handle small small components, exposing them to lifelong health consequences and undermining their rights. The Children of India call upon the government to take immediate action. This includes preventing hazardous waste disposal near schools and residences, establishing safe collection and recycling facilities, integrating waste education into school curricula, conducting child-friendly awareness campaigns, and providing secure infrastructure and protective equipment for waste workers. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [2:10:23]:

And I give the floor to Center for Global Nonkilling.


Center for Global Nonkilling [2:10:26]:

Dear human beings, Mr. Vice President, Mr. Special Rapporteur, everyone, greetings of a happy and healthy substance of life. We congratulate you, Mr. Orellana, on the set of guidelines. May these be swiftly and universally implemented. Poisoning is worldwide one of the major causes of deaths, due to violence and injuries. Behind traffic, self-harm, falls, interpersonal and collective violence, poisoning statistically sides with drowning and fires. Add the use of toxics and suicides, and fatal drugs, or through radiation to see the weight of the problem. All such death and injuries are preventable. They call for more life awareness, greater care for life, universal care for quality of life in good health, short and long-term action. We note with concern and encouragement that the World Health Organization does not have a section on toxic or not even a fact sheet on the topic. Mr. Special Rapporteur, lauding your comprehensive work, the quality of your inquiries, and the high human rights standards of your reports, including for Samoa and the Dominican Republic, may we ask if you have cooperations and influence on the work of the World Health Organization? Every life counts. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [2:11:56]:

Thank you. I give the floor to Akaata.


Akaata [2:12:01]:

Thank you very much, Vice-President. Akaata is making this statement on behalf of the Initiative for Sexual Rights. We welcome the presentation of this report, particularly its focus on class, gender and racial issues. as well as its analysis of inequalities between the global North and South and the production, exportation, and provision of toxics. The criticism it has of corporate power and its capture of state apparatus, as well as the mention of the advisory opinion on the climate emergency from the Inter-American Human Rights Court, because it garnered huge participation from civil society from the region, calling for guaranteeing sustainable life. We particularly appreciate its reference to the impact of toxics on women and girls. health. Exposure to toxics isn't limited to the labor sphere. It also includes issues around food and plastics, environmental degradation, fumigation, and pesticides. The impact of toxics on women's reproductive health is a matter of reproductive justice. It includes the increase in care tasks, which disproportionately fall on women's shoulders. States must guarantee that effective reparation includes both access to assisted reproduction and access to safe abortion. We urge states to seriously implement recommendations made by the rapporteur. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [2:13:23]:

Thank you. I give the floor to Center for International Environment Law.


CIEL [2:13:31]:

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. We welcome Mr. Origina's report, which underscores the need for remedies that are adequate, effective, prompt, and proportionate to the harm suffered. A clear example of how access to justice is undermined is the case of plastic pellet spills, where victims face major legal and accountability barriers. Nearly 500,000 tons of pellets, equal to 29 billion plastic bottles, enter the environment each year. Acting as a Trojan horse for toxic substances, plastic pellets spread pollution globally. yet fall outside of the 2010 Hazardous and Noxious Substance Convention. As a result, chip owners won't be liable for pellet spill damage once the convention takes effect. Recently, the International Union of Marine Insurance called for pellets to be classified under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, highlighting even insurance see the urgency. Let's be honest. The global legal response to plastic pollution is fragmented. Weak or outdated laws block justice. This underscores the urgent need for a plastic treaty focuses on prevention, remediation, disaster response, and compensations grounded in human rights, including access to information, to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, and scientific progress. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [2:15:03]:

Thank you. I give the floor to Miftah by video.


Miftah [2:15:08]:

Special Rapporteur, we welcome your latest report on military activities and toxics, and particularly appreciate the dedicated section on Gaza, where you outlined the many factors threatening the rights of Palestinians to live in a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. However, the report falls short in naming this devastation for what it is, an ecocide. It is of utmost importance to recognize that the gravest threat to Palestine's environment is Israel's ongoing genocide and military occupation. Naming it is the first step towards accountability. We urge you to contextualize the environmental destruction occurring not only in Gaza, but also across the occupied West Bank within the broader framework of genocide and Israel's stated intent to destroy the Palestinian people as a group. We further note with concern the omission of Israel's use of chemical weapons, including white phosphorus in the Gaza Strip. These weapons not only maximize human suffering, but also inflict severe and lasting environmental damage. We therefore call on you, Special Rapporteur, to urge the international community to recognize ecocide as a crime under the Rome Statute, and to recommend that states take measures to end Israel's genocide in Gaza without delay, and to ensure Israel's full withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian territory, thereby safeguarding the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [2:16:26]:

Thank you. I give the floor to the Association of Orus for Youth and Development in Kenya by video.


Miftah [2:16:35]:

Thank you very much, Vice President. We're grateful to the Special Rapporteur for his efforts and the excellent report. We'd like to draw your attention to the dangers threatening the life of civilians and the environment. Thanks to current practices, Houthi leaders occupying the coast in the region concerned, and they have given authorization for the passage of certain products which have been outlawed since 2006. A number of products have been randomly and unreliably distributed for financial gain. This represents a threat to local communities and also represents pollution to local resources. Chair, the Houthi group has also placed a number of explosive devices in residential areas. This represents a violation of international humanitarian law and threatens the environment and public health. President, we invite your council to place particular attention on these violations and bring to bear the necessary pressure to prohibit the use of prohibited chemical products to protect civilians and the environment in Yemen. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [2:18:03]:

Thank you very much, Your Excellencies, distinguished colleagues. That was the last speaker that we are able to accommodate. And so I'd now like to pass the floor to Mr. Orellana for his closing comments. You have five minutes, 52 seconds. Mr.


UN · Special Rapporteur [2:18:20]:

Mr. President, and thanks so much for the kind expressions of appreciation, both of the guidelines and of my tenure in the mandate. The African group raises a very important point, and it allows me to highlight that while the African Convention on Human and People's Rights is silent on the issues of remedies, the African Court on Human People's Rights has interpreted this instrument as implying this right. And as Cameroon has also highlighted, the Bamako Convention reinforces the right. Paraguay and India raised the issues of specialized courts. I highlight that specialized courts on environment enhance knowledge The ability to handle evidence, the ability to process science, the good experience of India's green tribunals is a case in point. There's also green benches that have been introduced in many countries of the world. The work of the UN Environment Program on this is also to be highlighted. The question intervention of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. allows me to point out that toxics can lead to widespread and long-lasting harm that may affect whole countries, whole ecosystems, for very long periods. This is no short of gross violations of human rights law, and an implication of this is that statute of limitations should not apply in such cases. Vanuatu and Ghana and CL raised points about what steps can benefit small island states and developing countries. Well, here is where a robust agreement on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, is an expression of efforts by the international community towards global environmental justice. The collapse of INC 5.2 in this very room undermines the realization of the right to a healthy environment. Cote d'Ivoire and the UNECE speak about access to information. Often this is a barrier to effective remedies because victims do not have the information or the scientific ability to prove their claims. This is where, for example, the breakdown of the Rotterdam Convention science policy interface, this is a treaty based on information, uh, is of course worrying. And then the opportunities offered by the Kiev Protocol, uh, that is open to any UN state member, uh, I explore those in my last year's report on pollution information portals. Djibouti and the Justicia highlight what I encapsulate in guideline 20 of the 24 guidelines, that remedies should be based on best available evidence and local, traditional and indigenous knowledge. The intervention by Malaysia highlights the point about slaps and the need for an enabling environment that protects environmental and human rights defenders in access to justice and effective remedies. Indonesia and Chile both highlight issues of extraterritorial obligations. This raises points about courts being open without discrimination to foreign nationals that may address the merits of the cases. This concerns the undue or inadequate application of statute of limitations, once again, or the inadequate application of forum non conveniens that results in a denial of justice. The Maldives points and asks about potential good practices in treatment of hazardous wastes My country visit report on my visit to Samoa recognizes a very good practice in this regard, the Moana Taka Partnership applied in and by Samoa. There's several other comments and interventions made, Mr. Vice President. I do not have the time to engage them all, but in closing, I wish to echo a point made by Earth Justice. in which that the toxification of our planet means that the challenges that humanity is facing are grave, they are severe. The exposure to toxics around the world leads to human rights violations, leads to a denial of the right to life, the right to health, and the right to a healthy environment by countless individuals, groups, and communities. These violations are aggravated by impunity and the lack of accountability. And so in that regard, Mr. Vice President, it is my sincere hope that the 24 guidelines that I present to the Council today on access to justice and effective remedies in the context of toxics will help confront impunity, will help to strengthen judicial institutions, will help to strengthen applicable legal frameworks. Thank you very much.


HRC · Vice-President [2:23:53]:

Thank you very much, Your Excellencies, distinguished colleagues. This brings us to the end of this interactive dialogue. I'm very grateful to the Special Rapporteur for his participation, which, as he said in his introductory comments, is his last in his capacity as Special Rapporteur on the human rights impact of the management and elimination of hazardous and dangerous waste after five years at the service of humanity. We are very grateful to him for his dedication and the work he has conducted and wish him all the very best in his future activities. We will now take a short break before turning to our interactive dialogue with the working group on enforced or involuntary disappearances.

Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, we shall now start the interactive dialogue with the working group on forced or involuntary disappearances. The list of speakers will close in 15 minutes. I now give the floor to the chairperson of the working group, Ms. Gabriella Citrone, to present the reports. You have 19 minutes in total.


WGEID · Chairperson [2:26:48]:

Thank you. Mr. Vice President, excellencies, dear participants, I'm honored to address you in my capacity as chair of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances. It is with deep concern that I will brief this esteemed body. The facts and numbers that I'm presenting are harsh. Behind these numbers, which in some states starkly increased over the past year, there is suffering of thousands of families and entire communities, stuck between hope and despair, often facing threats and reprisals. The working group was created precisely to address the plight and respond to the anguish of relatives of disappeared persons across the world. Today, this is more necessary than ever. But we are facing unprecedented obstacles, and more needs to be done by all of us to live up to the legitimate expectations of victims of enforced disappearance and to put an end to this scourge. In our annual report, we highlight the transmission of 1,280 new cases of enforced disappearances to 38 states, including 927 transmitted under the urgent procedure to 17 states. We also documented and transmitted nine cases tantamount to enforced disappearance to de facto authorities in Libya, Myanmar, northeast of the Syrian Arab Republic, and Yemen. Many of the reported cases concern armed conflicts. In both Ukraine and Gaza, the figures, as well as the detected patterns, are suggestive of the existence of a widespread or systematic attack against civilian populations, which amounts to a crime against humanity. Similar concerns are raised with respect to Burundi, Venezuela, and Tanzania in the context of electoral violence. It is thus extremely troublesome that none of the states concerned in the situations I've just mentioned is responding to our requests for information on the whereabouts of more than 3,000 people. Mr. Vice President, I wish to unequivocally state that by not responding to the working group, these states are first and foremost failing the relatives of those disappeared, prolonging their anguish, which amounts to ill treatment. We therefore call on these states to respond to our requests and re-establish a dialogue with the aim to put an end to the suffering of thousands of people. The cases we transmitted concern also disappearances committed in the context of migration, including as a result of pushbacks, among others in Tunisia and Libya, in the context of deportations from the United States of America to third countries such as El Salvador and Venezuela. and in the context of transnational transfers, in particular involving China, Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. The Working Group also transmitted cases of enforced disappearances committed under the guise of counter-terrorism activities, including across Pakistan and in Egypt. We thank the States that are responding to our requests for information and engage with us. During the reporting period, the working group clarified 231 cases in 20 states. In 62 instances, this was thanks to information provided by governments. Ms. President, The figures that I refer to show the requests addressed from across the globe to the working group. We are painfully aware of the ongoing demands and the seriousness of the issues at stake. We are therefore especially troubled and dismayed at our inability to fully implement the mandate we were entrusted by this very Human Rights Council due to the ongoing and allegedly worsening UN liquidity crisis. We have endeavored to maximize our limited resources to ensure our sustained engagement with all relevant stakeholders. We are particularly thankful for the support, including through voluntary financial and in-kind contributions received from France and the Republic of Korea and partners such as the Human Rights Clinic at UC Berkeley School of Law and Universidad Iberoamericana. Unfortunately, this is not enough. And while circumstances show the existence of dire need, we are asked to do more with less. Frankly, this is a mockery in the face of those who turn to the working group, often as their last hope to establish the fate and whereabouts of those loved ones. Relatives of disappeared persons, organizations, human rights defenders, and the lawyers who support these victims undertake their work in increasingly hostile and dangerous environments. This is further compounded by cuts to humanitarian aid and funding, as well as restrictive legislation curtailing their activities. Yeah, instead of increasing our efforts, we The speaker is requested to slow down, please. For the first time in many years, the working group has now a backlog of around 8,000 cases to be examined and processed under the humanitarian procedure. This is not just a number. These are persons, families, and communities torn, struggling daily and grappling with the devastating effects of enforced disappearance. They deserve better. We owe them more. Due to the liquidity crisis in 2024, we could carry out only one country visit. We thank the government of Lithuania for extending an invitation to visit the country and for the exceptional cooperation offered. The working group commends Lithuania for having put in place a robust legal framework, among others by criminalizing enforced disappearance as a standalone crime in line with international standards. At the same time, the working group noted with concern the absence of official acknowledgment or public apology from Lithuanian authorities for their role in extraordinary renditions and the corresponding Central Intelligence Agency secret detention program. We also regretted that no substantial progress has been made in relation to criminal investigations and prosecutions, as well as victims' recognition related to these enforced disappearances. The working group addressed Lithuania's handling of increased migration, particularly from Belarus and Ukraine. While we acknowledge the difficult situation Lithuanian authorities have to deal with, especially in the current geopolitical context, we reiterate our concerns at the practice of pushbacks, which effectively removes the person subjected to it from the protection of the law and exposes them to either risk of disappearance. We offer our reserve support to Lithuania for the full implementation of the declaration. Mr. Vice President, the Working Group presents also the follow-up report on its 2022 country visit to the Republic of Cyprus. While welcoming progress in the implementation of some recommendations, it notes that many have only been partially addressed or remain unaddressed. Despite the existence of institutional procedures, investigations appear to be constrained to the identification stage and have not translated into accountability measures. The report also highlights concerns related to the continued practice of pushbacks and collective expulsions of migrants without an assessment of their protection needs. We are willing to assist the Republic of Cyprus in the implementation of the pending recommendations. The Working Group has received invitations to carry out a country visit to Bangladesh, Canada, Guatemala, Maldives, and the Republic of Korea. We express our gratitude to the governments that invited us. The visit to the Republic of Korea was scheduled to take place in June 2025, and due to the liquidity crisis, it had to be halted. We deeply regret this situation and are dismayed that in 2025, we will not be able to carry out any country visit, despite being mandated two per year. We had to make a choice between activities we are mandated to discharge. Given the large amount of cases received, we decided to exceptionally cancel one visit to preserve three annual sessions, and in particular, the one we conduct outside of Geneva. While this was a difficult decision, it was a good one. Sessions outside of Geneva allow us to be closer to people in the regions, and the volume of work experts can carry out in person could never be achieved remotely. The working group expresses its gratitude to the government of Thailand for hosting us in May 2025. We are pleased to announce that in 2026, we will hold a session in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. And we extend our deep appreciation to the government for its continued cooperation. The working group, as of for technical assistance and cooperation to governments and institutions, in particular, in the context of the cooperation with Bangladesh and its commission for inquiry on enforced disappearance, we conducted a technical visit in June 2025 and issued a technical advice. We present you also two thematic reports, studies. In its study on enforced disappearance in the context of the defense of land, natural resources and environment, the working groups delve into the patterns of these disappearances, which often occur in contexts marked by systematic discrimination, structural violence, colonial legacies and environmental racism, and frequently entail the responsibility of business enterprises and financial institutions besides states. These disappearances are used as a tool of repression to silence intersectionally marginalized population, mainly indigenous peoples, exclude them from decision-making, and undermine their efforts to shape sustainable futures. The forced disappearances of these defenders remain a global concern, particularly where economic development is prioritized over human rights, with transnational companies based in economically developed countries often refusing to cooperate with investigations in economically developing countries. In its study on the use of universal jurisdiction in cases of enforced disappearances, the working group illustrates how this tool is crucial to promote accountability and to provide a victim-centered response in the face of a growing number of cases and an enduring situation of impunity. The study underscores the use-cogent nature of the prohibition of enforced disappearance, requiring states to take all necessary measures to hold perpetrators accountable. Key recommendations include establishing specialized institutions, conducting structural investigations, enhancing international cooperation, amending domestic legislation, and securing safe and meaningful participation of victims, witnesses, and civil society in these legal processes. Mr. Vice President, there are a number of effective measures that can easily be adopted by states, including the ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and the recognition of the competence of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances to receive complaints. We acknowledge Bangladesh and Poland, who became state parties in the past year. In January 2025, the first ever World Congress on Enforced Disappearance took place here in Geneva. The level of participation was remarkable, and states expressed significant and much-needed pledges. However, more than eight months later, little progress can be registered, and no additional ratification or accession to the Convention was deposited. Once more, stark needs are met by unfulfilled promises. Victims of enforced disappearance deserve better. We owe them more, and this is our common responsibility. The working group stands ready to fulfill its mandate and calls on the Human Rights Council for renewed support and on member states for a genuine commitment through engagement in a frank, regular and constructive dialogue and the securing of the resources needed to discharge the mandate. Thank you very much for your attention.


HRC · Vice-President [2:37:35]:

Thank you.

Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, in line with our practice, we will hear the delegations of the concerned countries. I call on the distinguished representative of Lithuania. You have five minutes.


Lithuania [2:37:55]:

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Lithuania always has been committed to upholding the universality, indivisibility, interdependence, and interrelatedness of human rights. We strongly believe that any act of enforced disappearance is an offense to human dignity and a flagrant violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms. States are responsible for properly investigating such cases, holding perpetrators accountable, and ensuring justice for victims. Lithuania has consistently strongly supported the objective of the Human Rights Council and its special procedures to serve as an effective platform for the global protection and promotion of human rights. Therefore, in 2001, Lithuania issued a standing invitation to all UN special procedures. We value the important work carried out by the mandate holders and their effectiveness to improve the human rights situation on the ground. Lithuania remains open to further close cooperation with the UN human rights mechanisms and encourages all member states to do the same. However, we are concerned that in some states, enforced disappearances are used as a tool to silence any dissent and intimidate civil society by targeting opposition members, human right defenders, and other activists. Lithuania, therefore, thanks the working group for its tireless and important work in shedding light on this issue. Madam Chair of the Working Group, we would like to sincerely thank you for the opportunity to have welcomed you and Vice Chair, Ms. Grusina Baranowska, to Lithuania in November 2024. This was the third international visit by the UN Special Procedures mandate holders to Lithuania. We appreciate your report and thorough observations on Lithuania's strong commitment to prevent and terminate acts of enforced disappearances. Among other core international conventions, Lithuania has ratified the International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Courts. Lithuania has also recognized the competence of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances to receive and examine individual interstate complaints pursuant to Articles 31 and 32 of the convention. As highlighted in the report, Lithuania has established a robust legal framework to prevent the risk of enforced disappearance, fully aligned with international standards. We appreciate the working group's recognition of Lithuania's geopolitical context and the challenges it poses. In recent years, Lithuania has experienced a significant increase in the arrival of migrants, including irregular border crossings. and the instrumentalization of migration flows deliberately orchestrated by Belarus. Belarus has been enticing foreign nationals to its territory, issuing them tourist visas, transporting them to the EU border, and eventually employing pushing practices to force them to cross the border illegally. By encouraging migrants to travel to Belarus and facilitating their illegal crossing into neighboring countries, has exposed them to risk of serious abuses and increased their vulnerability, including a heightened risk of enforced disappearance. Lithuania takes its international obligations very seriously and remains firmly committed to protecting refugees, especially those fleeing conflict and persecution in their countries of origin. Madam Chair, we believe that recommendations provided by the Working Group following its visit to Lithuania will help us to improve further the protection of all persons from the risk of enforced or involuntary disappearances. We reiterate our willingness to continue close cooperation and constructive dialogue with the working group within UN human rights framework and beyond.

I thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [2:41:50]:

Thank you. Excellencies. Distinguished colleagues, the list of speakers is now closed. We should have moved to comments and questions by delegations, but I've been informed that certain delegations wish to exercise the right of reply on the interactive dialogues of today. And with that, I call on India.

India, for the right of reply. Are they in the room? No. Japan. Mic, please.


India [2:43:10]:

Mr. Vice President, we are compelled to express our deep concern over the persistent and deliberate attempts by a particular delegation to politicize the proceedings of this Council. Such actions not only undermine the integrity of this platform, but also seek to deflect attention from other core issues. The Indus Water Treaty, signed in 1960, was concluded in a spirit of goodwill and friendship, but the world of 1960 is not the world of today. The grim reality of relentless state-sponsored cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan fundamentally erodes the environment required for honoring treaty obligations, Mr. Vice President. The escalating impact of climate change, advancements in technology, and the growing imperative for sustainable clean energy compel a serious reevaluation of the treaty's relevance and applicability in today's context. Mr. Vice President, a party that consistently and willfully violates the core tenets of a treaty should not accuse others of noncompliance. The Council must not allow itself to be used as a platform for diversion and distortion. It must instead recognize that lasting cooperation is rooted in trust, not terror. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [2:44:24]:

Thank you. I give the floor to Japan.


Japan [2:44:29]:

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. My delegation would like to exercise the right of reply to the statement made by North Korea and the other speaker in the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Hazardous Substances and Waste. In the statement, there were some references to the discharge of Arpa's treated water into the sea. First of all, I must stress that the water being discharged is not contaminated water, it is Arpys-treated water. After through purification by Arpys and dilution with seawater, it poses no risk to people or the environment. Japan has sincerely explained Japan's efforts to ensure its safety at the international conferences and bilateral meetings. In this respect, Japan would like to emphasize that after two years of rigorous review, the IAEA concluded in its comprehensive report of July 2023 that the discharge of ultra-pure water into the sea is consistent with relevant international safety standards and that the discharge will have negligible radiological impact on people and the environment. Since August 2023, when the discharge of our treated water began, the discharge has been carried out safely as planned, in full compliance with international standards. Multi-layered monitoring activities by Japan with the involvement of the IAEA and collaboration of monitoring through the participation of the third-party laboratories worldwide have confirmed that the discharge is conducted safely. The level of radioactive nuclides, including tritium, in the discharged water have been far below the regulatory standards. The results of all these monitoring activities have been made available to the public. Mr. Vice President, the results ongoing reviews and much layered monitoring by international third-party laboratory participants who conducted collaboration will continue to be provided to the international community in a transparent manner. Japan will continue its efforts to gain further understanding from the international community and will continue to engage not only with interested party in Japan, but also with various stakeholder countries of Asia Pacific and beyond. I thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [2:46:47]:

Thank you. I give the floor to the DPQR.


Democratic People's Republic of Korea [2:46:53]:

Mr. President, the Japanese delegation justifies the discharge of nuclear contaminated water by claiming it is safe. However, this claim is far from the truth. First, the nuclear contaminated water, which Japan claims is clean, still contains radionuclides such as carbon-14 and strontium-90, in addition to tritium. This has been proved by international environmental organizations and scientists. Second, many special rapporteurs also pointed out that Japan has failed to inform local residents of the discharge of nuclear contaminated water, expressing serious concerns about compensation for victims. and the avoidance of responsibility. Japan's claim of safety is merely a unilateral assertion that ignores the opinions of the international community and scientific verification. We once again strongly urge Japan to accept the recommendations of the Special Rapporteurs and the international community and immediately cease the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [2:48:18]:

Thank you. I have been informed that the distinguished representative of Japan wishes a second right of reply. You have two minutes.


Japan [2:48:28]:

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. My delegation would like to exercise the second right of reply to the statement made by North Korea. I will not repeat all of my remarks and will not address every point that was raised. What I would like to reiterate here is that the Government of Japan will continue to explain its efforts to the international community in a transparent manner. I thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [2:48:56]:

Merci.

Thank you. Are there any other delegations wishing to take the floor?

DPK.


Democratic People's Republic of Korea [2:49:13]:

Japan claims that the discharge of nuclear contaminated water is safe, but there is no scientific or international verification. Even the International Atomic Energy Agency has not confirmed the complete absence of the nuclear substances. Japan must honestly explain to the international community its true intentions for discharging of nuclear contaminated water, which it claims to have purified into the ocean, not within its territory. Neighboring countries and the international community strongly condemn Japan's outrageous behavior, which contaminates humanity's shared wealth with nuclear substances. Japan must immediately cease the discharge and transparently hold accountable those involved in the discharge of contaminated water to the international community. Thank you.


HRC · Vice-President [2:50:17]:

Thank you.

I do not see any other requests for the floor. Excellencies, distinguished colleagues. This brings us to the end of this meeting. We will meet tomorrow at 10 a.m. to continue their interactive dialogue with the working group on enforced or involuntary disappearances, followed by two interactive dialogues, namely with the working group on arbitrary detention and with the independent expert on the rights of older persons. I hereby close the 13th meeting of the 60th session of the Human Rights Council.