Movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes.

1989/42. Movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes

The Commission on Human Rights, Taking into consideration General Assembly resolution 42/183 of 11 December 1987, Bearing in mind the right of all peoples to life and of future generations to enjoy their heritage, Noting that the movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products endangers basic human rights such as the right to life, the right to live in a sound and healthy environment and consequently the right to health, Convinced that States which produce toxic and dangerous products and wastes cannot be exonerated from their responsibility to take proper measures to ensure that they do not imperil human health and the ecosystem, Recognizing the extreme danger of destruction, damage and injury to human health and the ecosystem posed by transboundary movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes, Concerned about the growing threat to human health and the ecosystem posed by the increased rate of transboundary movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes, Concerned also about the clandestine nature of the movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous wastes, especially to, and in, States which do not have the technical capability for their sound environmental disposal, Determined to protect the right of all human beings to life and good health,

1. Requests the Governments of countries that produce toxic and dangerous wastes to ban their export to States which do not have the technical capability for their environmentally sound disposal, and to take proper measures to ensure that those wastes do not imperil human health and the ecosystem in their countries, or in other countries;

2. Requests that any existing agreements for the disposal of toxic and other dangerous products and wastes with States which do not have the technical capability for their environmentally sound disposal should be abrogated;

3. Requests the United Nations Environment Programme to expedite action on the elaboration of the global convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and to maintain its leading role within the United Nations system for dealing with this serious problem;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report concerning the above-mentioned convention to the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities at its forty-first session.

51st meeting
6 March 1989
[Adopted without a vote. See chap. XIX.]