A/HRC/27/54
supervisory bodies, and the work undertaken by other special procedures, including his
predecessors on this mandate.
26.
For his next thematic report, the Special Rapporteur is considering carrying out a
study on the right to information in the context of the environmentally sound management
and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes. The Universal Declaration of Human
Rights (art. 19) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (art. 19),
among other human rights instruments, stipulate that the right to freedom of expression
includes the freedom “to seek, receive and impart information”. The right to information is
also ensured through a number of international and regional environmental instruments.2 As
noted by the then Special Rapporteur on the adverse effects of the illicit movement and
dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights,
access to, and the communication of, information about hazardous substances and wastes
and their effects on the environment “are essential to guarantee certain other rights, such as
the rights to life, to health and to adequate food” (A/HRC/7/21, para. 5). In order to avoid
duplicating earlier work, the report will focus on aspects of particular relevance to the tasks
mandated under Council resolutions 18/11 and 21/17.
27.
The Special Rapporteur looks forward to comments and suggestions from the
Council on his plans as outlined in the present document, and particularly to any feedback
on methodological issues and the organization of country visits. Furthermore, he looks
forward to receiving invitations for country visits from as wide as possible a range of
countries, in all regions of the world, and to receiving suggestions in that regard from all
stakeholders. The Special Rapporteur welcomes opportunities for collaboration with other
relevant mandate holders within their respective mandates.
28.
The Special Rapporteur concludes the present report by launching a first appeal to
States, relevant United Nations entities, non-governmental organizations, sectoral actors
and any other stakeholders to provide him with information and evidence relevant to his
mandate, including on situations of particular human rights concern, at their earliest
convenience and on an ongoing basis. In addition, he will solicit more specific information
on relevant trends and issues as he prepares specific thematic reports and country visits.
2
6
For example, treaties such as the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for
Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (art. 15), the Stockholm
Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (art. 10), the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (art. 6 (a)) and the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in
Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention), as well as
other instruments, such as Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development.
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