The United Nations (UN)Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights, Marcos Orellana, will visit Ghana from 30^th November to 13^th December 2022 to assess the country’s human rights situation in relation to toxics and hazardous substances.

The Special Rapporteur will visit at the invitation of the Government and would be particularly interested in the management of hazardous waste.

“I am particularly interested in identifying good practices and examining the use and management of chemicals and hazardous waste.

“The prevention from toxic exposure through the sound management of hazardous substances has direct consequences on the enjoyment of human rights, impacting people’s life, health and livelihood.”
Marcos Orellana

A statement issued by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), highlighted that while in Ghana, the Special Rapporteur will visit sites affected by toxic substances and hold meetings with government authorities, civil society and other stakeholders.

According to the OHCHR, the UN expert will hold a news conference on 13^th December, 2022 at 15:00 in Ghana Journalists Association premises (Ghana International Press Centre, Ringway, Accra, Ghana) to share his preliminary findings and recommendations. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) noted that access will be strictly limited to journalists.

The Special Rapporteur will present a comprehensive report with his findings and recommendations to the Human Rights Council in September 2023.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, commonly known as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) or the United Nations Human Rights Office, is a department of the Secretariat of the United Nations that works to promote and protect human rights that are guaranteed under international law and stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948.

The office was established by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 December 1993 in the wake of the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights.

The office is headed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, who co-ordinates human rights activities throughout the United Nations System and acts as the secretariat of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. The eighth and current High Commissioner is Volker Türk of Austria, who succeeded Michelle Bachelet of Chile on 8^th September 2022.

In 2018–2019, the department had a budget of $201.6 million (3.7 per cent of the regular United Nations budget), and approximately 1,300 employees based in Geneva and New York City. It is an ex officio member of the Committee of the United Nations Development Group.