A/HRC/35/33 to assist in the investigation, which included a civil society organization to provide support for the victims.44 41. States have effectively investigated cases of trafficking in persons and prosecuted perpetrators by adopting a strong legal framework for the prohibition of trafficking in persons and cross-border cooperation, creating and working with specialized networks to coordinate activities, by collaborating with civil society organizations and by utilizing traditional cross-border cooperation mechanisms. As trafficking in persons is a crime involving transnational human rights abuse and economic actors, the tools used to combat it should be transferable to the business and human rights framework. B. Environmental crimes 42. The investigation and prosecution of cross-border environmental crimes is another area where States have established well-defined mechanisms for cooperation that may be instructive in the area of business and human rights. Cooperation in cases involving the unlawful movement and disposal of hazardous waste and wildlife and forestry crime shows that when States have the will to prosecute economic actors, they are successful in doing so. 1. Unlawful movement and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes 43. Broadly speaking, the unlawful transport, trade and disposal of hazardous wastes covers the illicit transfer of harmful substances, and the purposeful or accidental dumping of these substances in the environment. 44. The reckless disposal of harmful substances contaminates our air, water and land, putting human health and food security at risk. Improper waste disposal has led to physical injury and death, poisoning and increased rates of cancers, birth defects and neurological disorders. Thus, a range of human rights are implicated when violations take place, most clearly the rights to health and the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment. 45. As with most environmental crimes, the unlawful transfer and disposal of wastes often involves multiple States, typically with waste being sent from more developed countries to less developed countries. Even if waste is disposed of in the State where it was generated, it can still produce negative effects in bordering States if disposed of improperly. Thus, to effectively investigate and prosecute violations, an international response is needed. 46. Several international conventions regulate waste management and call upon States to cooperate with each other to prevent violations. For instance, the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal obliges States to prevent and punish the illegal traffic of waste and requires a range of cooperative measures, including the free sharing of information related to the transboundary movement of wastes. The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade provide additional regulations for the production, use and movement of numerous harmful substances. Furthermore, a range of instruments prohibit pollution of the marine environment and, in some cases, contain provisions on how States should cooperate to enforce that prohibition.45 47. Various regional measures add more protections against the unlawful movement and disposal of hazardous wastes. For instance, the Bamako Convention on the Ban of the Import into Africa and the Control of Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within Africa supplements the Basel Convention and prohibits the import of all hazardous wastes, for any reason, into Africa from non-contracting parties. 44 45 See “Thailand’s Progress Report on Anti-Human Trafficking Efforts” (2015), p. 6. Available from www.mfa.go.th/main/contents/files/media-center-20150430-161606-980768.pdf. For example, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982) and the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (1972). 11