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UN Human Rights Commission report on Turkey confirms the need for decontamination of end-of-life ships

Amsterdam, July 12, 2005 - The UN Human Rights Commission issued a report in Februari 2005 based on the mission of the Special Rapporteur in March 2004 in Turkey. The report is on the adverse effects of the illicit movement and dumping of toxic wastes on the enjoyment of human rights, including effects of shipbreaking in Turkey. The Special Rapporteur notes with concern the different attempts at illegal transfers of waste and dangerous products to Turkey. She condemns such actions, and strongly urges the countries of origin to accept the return of the waste and dangerous products. She recommends that that the Secretariat of the Basel Convention continues to assist Turkey in its efforts to find solutions to the cases highlighted in the report.

The Special Rapporteur underlines that shipbreaking activities pose `enormous risks` for the lives of the people and environment. She recommends that:
- Countries of origin should take measures to decontaminate ships before exporting them for dismantling,
- Countries of origin should accept the return of illegally exported contaminated ships as well as any recovered toxic product that cannot be recovered by the dismantling country
- On the multilateral level, states should work to elaborate binding norms and directives to set responsibilities and define the rules and mechanisms for the management and control of ship dismantling activities.

Links:
- Report of the of the Special Rapporteur in Turkey