The Commission on Human Rights has been urged by environmental groups to update its advisory and further monitor hazardous substances.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) was asked by EcoWaste Coalition and its allied groups to take a more active role in protecting Filipinos' rights against hazardous substances, in tandem with global efforts to address the full and toxic life cycle of plastic.
EcoWaste Coalition, a network of more than 150 community, church, school, environmental, and health organizations, aims to make the Philippines more eco-friendly, zero-waste, and toxic free by pursuing sustainable solutions to waste, climate change, and chemical issues.
The groups urged the CHR to review and update its 2014 Human Rights Advisory, which called for "health-based, human rights-based policies on chemicals in the Philippines," in a letter initiated by the EcoWaste Coalition and endorsed by over 35 organizations, Inquirer reported.
The 8-year-old, 15-point agenda drafted by then-CHR chair Loretta Rosales mandated the government to fully implement all related laws protecting against hazardous substances, strengthen existing institutions, and increase research and risk awareness.
There is still much needed to be done despite the country already making significant strides in advancing Filipinos’ rights to chemical safety over the past years. There is still a need to have a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment to ensure that every Filipino is safe from hazards and risks.
The Philippines has yet to ratify the 2019 Basel Convention, which aims to control the transboundary movement of plastic waste and to create a mandatory and publicly accessible database or inventory of chemicals or pollutants released into the air, water, and soil.
The country also hasn’t adopted alternative agricultural practices that make use of natural and organic materials and processes, as well as Zero Waste resource management.
“For this reason, we [are] urging the CHR to review and update the 2014 Human Rights Advisory with the participation of rights-holders and duty-bearers and to have the revised document popularized among stakeholders.” EcoWaste Coalition national coordinator Aileen Lucero said.
Tags: #CHR, #Environment, #HazardousSubstances