Twelve people reportedly died and more than 1,000 fell sick after styrene leaked from the
Styrene is used to make plastics, but it can also cause cancer and neurological damage. It can also harm reproduction and its impacts may go unnoticed for years after exposure.
"The latest disaster has rightly drawn parallels to the toxic gas leak that killed thousands in
"It also illustrates the range of human rights infringements brought by our rampant consumption and production of plastics", he said, welcoming the start of an investigation and possible homicide charges.
In a statement, he recalled that the
"It is yet another reminder that around the world, mini-
Reiterating his call last year on the 35th anniversary of the
"I am concerned about ensuring that the victims of exposure who develop diseases or disabilities later in life are provided an effective remedy",
"I urge Indian and South Korean authorities, and the businesses implicated, to avoid the same mistakes and abuse of judicial procedures that have denied justice to the victims of the
In the wake of the
"Yet this industry initiative's principles contain no mention of human rights and fail to require that industry respects human rights in practice as required under the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights", the Special Rapporteur said.
Endorsing his appeal was the
News reports say that
The plant used styrene monomer to make polystyrene products which would go on to become consumer items such as cups, cutlery and electric fan blades.
UN Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the
.
(C) 2020 M2 COMMUNICATIONS, source