A/HRC/7/21 page 7 greater regulation and the emergence of global norms. Unfortunately, regulation then led many companies to increasingly resort to illegal or illicit movement and dumping of wastes and dangerous products, with far-reaching consequences for human rights. 17. The Special Rapporteur notes that, apart from direct transfers of waste and dangerous products, there appears to have been an increase in indirect transfers through the relocation of polluting industries, industrial activities and/or technologies which generate hazardous wastes from OECD to non-OECD countries. High environmental and health standards coupled with strong opposition from local authorities or community and labour organizations in OECD countries have also fuelled such relocation. 18. Although the Special Rapporteur acknowledges that developing countries trade in hazardous products and toxic wastes owing to the poverty and the dire developmental situation of the countries concerned, the overall risks to life, health and the environment always outweigh short-term monetary benefits. The disposal of hazardous products and wastes requires technical knowledge for safe handling, technology which is often not available in destination countries. Advanced technology is needed for the safe disposal of waste, such as that generated by industrial chemicals, pesticides, poison, drugs, “e-wastes” (such as computers, refrigerators and cell phones) and for ship-breaking. Ironically, developed countries that have such technology are increasingly less likely to dispose of such wastes, but instead send them to developing countries that lack the necessary know-how. 19. Given the current scenario, the human rights of local populations in countries that are net receivers of toxic products and wastes are threatened by the dumping of hazardous wastes for disposal or storage and by the trade in hazardous waste for recycling or further use. Such risks are also involved in the selling of wastes to poor countries under the waste-to-energy plants that are often promoted to produce free energy.3 Other forms of exposure for the local population are generated by lead recycling factories, the export of plastic residues, the export of ships for recycling operations, and the export of waste-intensive industries such as asbestos-related industries, cyanide heap-leaching and chlorine-related facilities in the chlor-alkali industry and tanneries. 20. The Special Rapporteur notes that, because of structural conditions in many developing countries, women and the young are particularly at risk from transfers of toxic and dangerous products and wastes. Women, children and the young are often among the poorest and therefore likely to work in polluting industries and scavenge dumps of waste for reusable materials. They are also most likely to have limited access to information on waste products and to health facilities in the event of contamination. The Special Rapporteur calls for greater global attention to the gender and age dimensions of the illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights. 3 See the report on the adverse effects of the illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights (E/CN.4/2001/55), para. 26.