A/HRC/9/22 page 7 26. He explored the links between his mandate and the Basel Convention, in particular, the transboundary movement of hazardous products and wastes. He noted the paradox inherent in the use of chemicals in food production, and argued that while fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides have been useful in increasing food production and improving preservation, their long-term effects on health and the environment continue to generate concern. 27. The stockpile of obsolete pesticides is another issue to which the Special Rapporteur drew the attention of the meeting. He argued that the majority of such pesticides that have reached developing countries have done so within the context of providing development aid to the agricultural sector. However, they pose a great threat to life and health, and their improper disposal has led to the contamination of farmland and rivers. The Special Rapporteur argued that more often than not, developing countries do not have the technical and financial capacity to dispose of these chemicals safely. 28. The Special Rapporteur also suggested to the meeting that poverty encourages desperate measures and practices among developing countries, including the indiscriminate acceptance of hazardous products and wastes and unregulated use of hazardous chemicals in various activities, which in turn threatens agriculture and food production. 29. The Special Rapporteur appealed to COP9 not to forget the human rights dimension of the waste trade. He regretted the insufficient attention paid to the issue of waste management at the national, regional and international levels. He reiterated that the challenge remains to ensure that hazardous products and wastes are properly managed in order to promote and protect internationally guaranteed human rights. 30. Finally, the Special Rapporteur invited the Government of Nigeria to consider hosting the first Conference of Parties to the Bamako Convention on the Ban of the Import into Africa and the Control of Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within Africa. While the Bamako Convention entered into force in 1996, there has been no meeting of the Parties so far. 31. The Special Rapporteur praised UNEP and the Basel Convention for following up on the Probo Koala incident in Côte d’Ivoire, for establishing a hazardous waste management plan for the district of Abidjan, and for launching a joint project to set up a more rigorous surveillance system on the movement of waste on the African continent. 32. He also acknowledged the efforts of the International Maritime Organization, the World Health Organization and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) which have worked closely with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire by providing technical assistance and helping with the implementation of the Programme of Action. III. REVIEW OF THE MANDATE 33. The Special Rapporteur would like to provide some comments on the challenges he has faced in the implementation of his mandate. He hopes that the Human Rights Council will consider them during the review of resolution 2005/15 of the Commission on Human Rights on the adverse effects of the illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights.