Report References to occupational exposures “Impact of Toxics and Pollution on Children’s Rights” The illegal use of banned pesticides and toxic chemicals, as well as of counterfeit products, continues to be a major problem globally, a serious threat to children of the workers affected, to communities and to consumers. Tens of millions of children are engaged in hazardous work, where they are often exposed to toxic chemicals. For example, children around the world continue to work in artisanal and small-scale mines, where they are exposed to mercury and other toxic chemicals. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has estimated that 40,000 children toil in mines, extracting a known carcinogen (cobalt) to be used in cell phones, laptop computers and cars by companies that undoubtedly have resources for human rights due diligence. Children working in agriculture continue to use hazardous pesticides despite the bans on such products in several countries, raising questions of double standards and discrimination. (A/HRC/33/41) (2016) Childhood exposure to toxics occurs without the child’s (or parent’s) consent. Even if a parent were somehow able to identify every product and possible source of exposure to toxics that might harm their child, they are often powerless to do anything about it, particularly when it involves food, water or air pollution. Young children lack the physical and/or mental ability to vocalize opinions and understand the dangers and potential consequences of toxics until long after harm has been inflicted. This, for example, is why children are not allowed to buy cigarettes or alcohol until a certain age in many countries and are prohibited from working in hazardous conditions. As parents’ exposure to toxic chemicals can affect the development of the child, this is inextricably linked to the realization of several rights of the child. Cases of children born with disabilities because their mothers worked with toxic chemicals before or during pregnancy, or harmed by toxic residues brought into the home from work (“take-home exposures”) by their parents or others illustrate the importance of protecting not only women and girls of reproductive age, but the population at large. Examples of addressing certain sources of exposure to toxics by young children include the European Union directive on the safety of toys, which prohibits the presence of substances in toys that are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction, and United States legislation to protect children working on tobacco farms from toxic pesticides.101 Globally, a new treaty on mercury pollution holds promise, but only addresses one element of a much larger problem. States and businesses still have a long way to go. The importance of upstream prevention is illustrated by the case of children working in cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Reports describe children in Indonesia and Peru poisoned by mercury and suffering from birth defects due to small-scale gold mining. Companies that purchase or invest in such commodities have a responsibility to ensure that child rights are not violated as a result of their demand. • Inadequate standards of protection • Limited progress in prevention of exposure • Monitoring and enforcement gaps • Exploitation of those most at risk • Deliberate efforts to delay or obstruct protection from toxic exposure • Opaque supply chains and the transfer of hazardous work • Disconnected efforts on occupational and environmental health • Failures to realize the right to information • Inaccessible remedies, justice and accountability • Informal economy A/HRC/39/48 41 At the tail end of industrial activity, children are far too often found working at toxic waste dumps, burning plastics and cables to recover and recycle precious metals. Electronic waste (ewaste) is of particular concern. Children, sometimes as young as five, are involved in manual dismantling and burning of electronic products at e-waste sites in Africa, Latin America and Asia. Some are described as being among the most polluted places on earth. Infants living near waste Challenges faced by workers