Call for submissions in advance of visit - Visit by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights to Samoa 30 October – 8 November 2024
Issued by
Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights
Deadline
27 September 2024
Issued by
Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights
Deadline
27 September 2024
Pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 54/10, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights, Marcos Orellana, will undertake a visit to Samoa from 30 October to 8 November 2024 at the invitation of the Government. His visit will focus, in accordance with his mandate, on a wide range of issues related to the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes. A report on the visit including recommendations will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in September 2025.
The Special Rapporteur is part of the Special Procedures mechanism of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system made up of 47 Member States responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe. Special Procedures are independent experts who report and advise on human rights issues from a thematic or country-specific perspective. They are appointed by the Human Rights Council on the basis of their expertise and experience in the area of their mandate, personal integrity, independence, impartiality, and objectivity. They are not employed by the United Nations and do not receive remuneration for their work.
The mandate seeks to help States, businesses and other stakeholders to adopt solutions with regard to the impact of hazardous substances on human rights.
Mr. Marcos A. Orellana was appointed Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights in August 2020. He is an expert in international law and the law on human rights and the environment. His practice as legal advisor has included work with United Nations agencies, governments and non-governmental organisations.
The general objectives of such country visits are:
Preparations for country visits involve extensive study as well as meetings with civil society organizations, experts, and relevant stakeholders to inform the key focus areas of the visit and to identify most pertinent topics.
The Special Rapporteur would like to invite all interested individuals and organizations working on issues related to toxics and human rights in Samoa, and the Pacific Islands more broadly, including representatives of civil society organizations, journalists, experts, academics, and businesses to provide input for the preparation of his visit.
While all submissions are welcome, it would be greatly appreciated if the submissions can focus on one or more of the following thematic issues:
Reports, academic studies and other types of background materials can be attached as an annex to the submission.
All inputs will be treated to inform the preparation of the visit and the report to the Human Rights Council.
Your responses will be kept confidential. Neither you nor your organization will be identified,
and your submission will not be attributed to you or your organization.