Media advisories Special Procedures

UN expert on toxics and human rights to visit South Africa

27 July 2023

GENEVA (27 July 2023) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights, Marcos Orellana, will conduct an official country visit to South Africa from 31 July to 11 August.

During his visit, the expert will examine the human rights situation related to the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and waste in the country. He is particularly interested in identifying good practices in this regard.

The Special Rapporteur will meet with various Government ministries and provincial authorities, civil society organizations, human rights defenders, academics and industry.

The expert will hold a press conference on Friday 11 August at 13:00 (SA local time) at the United Nations Premises in Johannesburg (1 Eglin Road, Sunhill office Park, Sunninghill 2157). The entrance will be located on Naivasha Road, and access will be strictly limited to journalists.

The Special Rapporteur will present his report to the Human Rights Council in September 2024.

ENDS

Marcos A. Orellana is the Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes.

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

UN Human Rights country page: South Africa

For more information and media requests please contact: Ms. Noura Humoud A. AlZaid (noura.alzaid@un.org)

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts please contact Ms. Maya Derouaz (maya.derouaz@un.org) or Ms. Dharisha Indraguptha (dharisha.indraguptha@un.org).

Follow news related to the UN’s independent human rights experts on Twitter @UN_SPExperts.

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