1st UN Pacific Forum on Business and Human Rights

There are documented impacts on human rights at every stage of the plastics life cycle. Such impacts can be disproportionate to the livelihoods of individuals who are dependent on the ecosystem of the Pacific Ocean.

During this session, panelists from diverse backgrounds and sectors will come together for the first time, to present their work and reflect how the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights can contribute to tackle plastic pollution in the Pacific.

This session aims to:

• Show intersections between human rights and pollution from plastics in the Pacific region.
• Discuss how a rights-based approach applied to the whole life cycle of plastics is necessary to prevent and redress the human rights impacts of plastic.
• Discuss the duties and responsibilities of actors such as Governments and the private sector, and in reference to protection, discuss how to respect and redress communities in the Pacific affected by plastic pollution.
• Highlight how Indigenous Peoples from the Pacific are using Traditional Knowledge to reduce the need for plastic and mitigate harms from plastic pollution.

Session organized by Center for International Environmental Law, Environmental Investigation Agency,  Massey University, and WWF-Pacific.