Report References to occupational exposures Challenges faced by workers • Monitoring and enforcement gaps • Failures to realize the right to information “Adverse effects on human rights and right to information and participation” The former Special Rapporteur noted 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 former Special Rapporteur called 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. • Exploitation of those most at risk • Failures to realize the right to information • Opaque supply chains and the transfer of hazardous work During a country visit to Tanzania in 2008, the former Special Rapporteur observed that workers did not use safety equipment such as gloves, dust masks, boots and glass retorts in the course of extracting and processing gold. He was particularly concerned because dangerous chemicals, mercury and cyanide, were used in the extraction process. Most of these were artisanal and smallscale miners (ASM) in the informal sector. • Inadequate standards of protection • Limited progress in prevention of exposure • Exploitation of those most at risk • Failures to realize the right to information • Opaque supply chains and the transfer of hazardous work • Monitoring and enforcement gaps • Informal economy (A/HRC/7/21, sect. III) (2008) “Mission to the United Republic of Tanzania” (A/HRC/9/22/Add.2) (2008) The former Special Rapporteur was informed that there were instances of miners not receiving adequate information on the impact mercury can have on their health. In other cases, however, local miners were sensitized through efforts made by the Government, non-governmental organizations and through projects such as the Global Mercury Project, launched by UNIDO and the Ministry of Energy and Minerals with the support of other stakeholders. Some workers informed the former Special Rapporteur that they were aware of the dangers of using mercury and other chemicals in the extraction process; however, due to poverty and the lack of a suitable alternative, the miners were forced to continue to use mercury and other dangerous products without supervision, endangering the health of themselves, their children and their community more broadly. The former Special Rapporteur was concerned about the number of women and children he saw during his visits to the artisanal and small-scale mining areas. Many of the women and children were unaware of the health and safety hazards that are associated with artisanal and small-scale mining, such as mercury poisoning in the long term, amongst others. It was the case that during the processing of gold, ore is moved to the milling centres by women and children. In addition to working in harsh environments, often exposed to direct sunlight and not able to afford safety equipment, the women were sometimes subjected to threats and intimidation by other members of 23 A/HRC/39/48 In relation to workers, the former Special Rapporteur was informed that workers handling toxic material (acid tars) were not informed of the materials toxicity and would unload the acid tars (A/HRC/7/21/Add.2) manually. These tars observed to be in partially exposed conditions around the grounds of the (2008, mission carried out Dobrotvir power station, posing threats of exposure to the workers, their families and the in 2007) communities living around the area. “Mission to Ukraine”