OKECHUKWU IBEANU APPOINTED SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON ADVERSE EFFECTS OF DUMPING OF TOXIC WASTE ON HUMAN RIGHTS

13 August 2004


United Nations Commission on Human Rights Chairman Mike Smith has appointed Okechukwu Ibeanu (Nigeria) as Special Rapporteur on the adverse effects of the illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights. The appointment was made on 13 July 2004 in consultation with representatives of the different regional groups in the Commission.

Mr. Ibeanu has a Ph.D. in political science and is a Professor of political science at the University of Nigeria. He is currently on leave from his university post and serves at a Program Officer in the Nigerian office of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Mr. Ibeanu has published widely on environment issues, including on the link between environment and security, and on issues relating to the impact of the petrochemical industry in Nigeria.

Special Rapporteurs and other "mandate-holders" of the Commission are independent from any government and serve in their individual capacity. The Special Rapporteur on the adverse effects of the illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights is mandated by the Commission to undertake a global, multidisciplinary study of existing problems and new trends of and solutions to illicit traffic and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes, particularly in developing countries. The Special Rapporteur is mandated to make concrete recommendations and proposals on adequate measures to control, reduce and eradicate these phenomena, and to present his conclusions and recommendations to the Commission on an annual basis. The mandate of the Special Rapporteur expires in 2007.

Mr. Obeanu’s predecessor as Special Rapporteur, Fatma-Zohra Ouhachi-Vesely, served as Special Rapporteur from the creation of the mandate in 1995 to July 2004. Prior to 1995, the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights had prepared a ground-breaking study on the relationship between human rights and the environment.