Home

REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT EXPERT ON THE ISSUE OF HUMAN RIGHTS OBLIGATIONS RELATING TO THE ENJOYMENT OF A SAFE, CLEAN, HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT, JOHN H. KNOX : ADDENDUM

REPORT OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE ISSUE OF HUMAN RIGHTS OBLIGATIONS RELATING TO THE ENJOYMENT OF A SAFE, CLEAN, HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT, ON HIS VISIT TO MADAGASCAR : NOTE / BY THE SECRETARIAT

VISIT TO NORWAY : REPORT OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE ISSUE OF HUMAN RIGHTS OBLIGATIONS RELATING TO THE ENJOYMENT OF A SAFE, CLEAN, HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT

Special attention was paid to the Dakota Access Pipeline and its impact on indigenous peoples, including the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and other tribes indirectly affected by the pipeline. 3. (...) The Special Rapporteur found that the situation faced by the Standing Rock Sioux tribe was shared by many indigenous communities in the United States, as tribal communities nationwide wrestle with the realities of living in ground zero of energy 16 United States of America, 54 U.S.C., sect. 306108. 17 United States of America, 36 C.F.R., sect. 800 (2) (c) (2) (ii). (...) A portion of the pipeline route passes approximately 100 feet beneath the bottom of Lake Oahe, which is a major source of drinking water for residents of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. They claim that they and other affected tribes were not properly consulted about the environmental impacts of a potential spill. 23 United States Environmental Protection Agency, “Health and environmental impacts of uranium contamination in the Navajo Nation”, Five-year plan, 2008. 24 See http://naturalsociety.com/proximity-natural-gas-wells-ups-risk-birth-defects-says- study/#ixzz43O4VYskH. 25 United States Environmental Protection Agency, Technical Report on Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials from Uranium Mining, Vol. 1: Mining and reclamation background, 2008.

REPORT OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE ISSUE OF HUMAN RIGHTS OBLIGATIONS RELATING TO THE ENJOYMENT OF A SAFE, CLEAN, HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT ON HIS MISSION TO URUGUAY

As an active member of the Human Rights Council, Italy issued a standing invitation to all special procedures in 2001 and, since then, it has facilitated several visits of special rapporteurs. (...) These settlements occupy large portions of land, frequently remain standing for months (if not years) and continue to exist long after the harvest season is over. (...) Italy should avoid intensifying conventional farming or considering the possibility of genetically modified crops.30 There is a need for a major shift from industrial agriculture to transformative systems such as agroecology that support the local food movement, protect smallholders, respect human rights, food democracy and cultural traditions, and at the same time maintain environmental sustainability and facilitate a healthy diet (A/70/287, para. 87). 65. When Xylella fastidiosa affected olive trees in the region of Apulia, farmers and researchers in the region claimed, unlike the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policies, pesticides had been employed in the south to deal with the disease.

XX), as well as the right of every person to a healthy environment (art. XXI). With regard to the right to a healthy environment, the Constitution states that any person who causes damage to the environment is required to restore it or to bear all costs of restoration incurred as defined by law, and that the importation of pollutant waste to Hungary for the purpose of disposal is prohibited (art. (...) The Commissioner found a violation of the right to a healthy environment and to health and called for air tests and disclosure of the testing data. (...) The Ajka incident also had an impact on the right of people to a healthy environment, a right recognized by the Constitution.

A/HRC/31/39 GE.16-08244 19 Annex III Overview of standing invitations A standing invitation is an open invitation extended by a Government to all thematic special procedures. By extending a standing invitation States announce that they will always accept requests for visits from all special procedures. (...) The State of Palestine, accorded non-Member Observer status on 29 November 2012 by General Assembly resolution 67/19, extended a standing invitation to the special procedures on 4 July 2014.

A/HRC/28/41 26 GE.15-01241 Country visits by region (%) A/HRC/28/41 GE.15-01241 27 Annex III Standing invitations As at 31 December 2014, 109 Member States and 1 non-Member observer State had extended a standing invitation to thematic special procedures. Member States and non-Member observer A – L Date Member States and non-Member observer M - Z Date Albania 2 December 2009 Luxembourg March 2001 Andorra 3 November 2010 Madagascar 26 August 2011 Argentina 3 December 2002 Maldives 2 May 2006 Armenia 1 May 2006 Malta March 2001 Australia 7 August 2008 Marshall Islands 4 March 2011 Austria March 2001 Mexico March 2001 Azerbaijan 15 April 2013 Bahamas 6 June 2013 Monaco 22 October 2008 Belgium March 2001 Mongolia 9 April 2004 Benin 31 October 2012 Montenegro 11 October 2005 Bolivia (Plurinational State of) 10 February 2010 Nauru 30 May 2011 Bosnia and Herzegovina 7 May 2010 Netherlands March 2001 Brazil 10 December 2001 New Zealand 3 February 2004 Bulgaria March 2001 Nicaragua 26 April 2006 Burundi 6 June 2013 Niger 21 August 2012 Cameroon 15 September 2014 Nigeria 25 October 2013 Canada April 1999 Norway 26 March 1999 Cabo Verde 26 April 2013 Palau 3 May 2011 Central African Republic 3 September 2013 Chad 1 June 2012 Panama 14 March 2011 Chile 12 May 2009 Papua New Guinea 11 May 2011 Colombia 17 March 2003 Paraguay 28 March 2003 Costa Rica 2002 Peru 3 April 2002 Croatia 13 March 2003 Poland March 2001 Cyprus March 2001 Portugal March 2001 Czech Republic September 2000 Qatar 1 June 2010 Denmark March 2001 Republic of Korea 3 March 2008 Dominica 9 December 2009 Republic of Moldova 2 June 2010 Ecuador 9 January 2003 Rwanda 27 June 2011 El Salvador 9 February 2010 Samoa 14 February 2011 Estonia March 2001 San Marino 3 April 2003 Finland March 2001 Sao Tome and Principe 2 February 2011 France March 2001 Serbia 11 October 2005 Gabon 29 October 2012 Seychelles 5 November 2012 Georgia 30 March 2010 Sierra Leone 7 April 2003 Germany March 2001 Slovakia March 2001 A/HRC/28/41 28 GE.15-01241 Ghana 21 April 2006 Slovenia March 2001 Greece March 2001 Solomon islands 6 May 2011 Guatemala April 2001 South Africa 17 July 2003 Guinea-Bissau 7 May 2010 Spain March 2001 Honduras 12 May 2010 Sweden March 2001 Hungary March 2001 Switzerland April 2002 Iceland September 2000 Thailand 4 November 2011 India 14 September 2011 The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 13 October 2004 Iraq 16 February 2010 Tonga 25 January 2013 Ireland March 2001 Turkey March 2001 Islamic Republic of Iran 24 July 2002 Tunisia 28 February 2011 Italy March 2001 Tuvalu 26 April 2013 Japan 1 March 2011 Ukraine 23 June 2006 Jordan 20 April 2006 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland March 2001 Kazakhstan 28 July 2009 Uruguay 18 March 2005 Kuwait 13 September 2010 Vanuatu 12 May 2009 Latvia March 2001 Zambia 16 July 2008 Lebanon 17 March 2011 State of Palestine 30 July 2014 Libya 15 March 2012 Liechtenstein 21 January 2003 Lithuania March 2001 Percentages on regional representation relating to standing invitations (as at December 2014) United Nations Regional Groups of Member States Number of standing invitations extended per region (total number of States within that region) Percentage of standing invitations extended per regional group out of the total of 109 Percentage of standing invitations extended compared to the total number of States within that region African Group 20 (out of 54 States) 18 per cent 37 per cent Asia-Pacific Group 22 (out of 53 States*) 20 per cent 41 per cent Eastern European Group 21 (out of 23 States) 19 per cent 91 per cent Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC) 18 (out of 33 States) 17 per cent 55 per cent Western European and Others Group (WEOG) 28 (out of 30 States) 26 per cent 93 per cent Total 109 (of 193 States * ) 100 per cent * Kiribati, even though not a member of any regional group, has for statistical purposes been added to the Asia-Pacific Group. (...) The State of Palestine, accorded non-Member Observer status by General Assembly resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, extended a standing invitation to all special procedures on 4 July 2014.

The Special Rapporteur was pleased to note that Irish development policy has a long-standing history of mainstreaming human rights through its development cooperation and aid programmes, including by fostering civil society action and supporting the protection of human rights defenders. 63. (...) Since its inception, the Corrib Gas project has faced opposition from various groups of local community residents, who claim that their rights to life and the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment are being seriously compromised by the project. During her visit, the Special Rapporteur met with various groups of local residents and was able to confirm the frustration that exists among those who are standing up for their rights, who feel powerless, isolated and have lost their confidence in public institutions.