Summary

In this report, the Special Rapporteur examines the impacts of toxics and pollution on children's rights, and the obligations of States and responsibilities of businesses in preventing exposure by children to such substances.

Emissions from manufacturing and extractive industries, and the use of hazardous pesticides and industrial chemicals in consumer products and food, expose children to hundreds of chemicals that are known to be hazardous, and to countless others with unknown risks. These exposures can drastically affect the health and quality of life of children. This affects their rights to life, health and physical integrity.

Children are too often left without access to an effective remedy or justice for harms related to toxics and pollution. The deadly, lifelong impacts of this assault on children's bodies frequently remain invisible until later in their lives, making it difficult to prove how and when the damage was done, and enabling impunity for perpetrators.

Recommendations

The report provides a number of recommendations to States, business, international entities and civil society. It calls on States to prevent childhood exposure to pollution and toxic chemicals. States need to prioritize the best interests of the child when designing environmental and public health norms, and ensure access to information and effective remedies. The report also calls for businesses to identify, prevent and mitigate exposure of children to toxics and to ensure greater transparency.

Read all recommendations and conclusions in the report on the rights of the child and hazardous substances and wastes, available in all 6 UN official languages.

Methodology

The Special Rapporteur held a broad consultative process with States, international organizations, civil society, national human rights institutions and other stakeholders. He is grateful for all the responses to a questionnaire on the subject.

He shared a questionnaire with States as well as a call for inputs with international organizations and civil society.

Questionnaire to Governments - English | Français | Español

Open call for information - English | Français | Español