Toxic Waste Dumping
Our principal advocacy activities focus on two key areas:
(1) the issue of waste disposal companies engaging in the dumping of toxic waste in African countries that lack proper waste disposal infrastructure.
(2) End-of-life treatment and final disposal of waste. To hold corporations responsible for the procurement of a licensed and registered controlled waste supplier and validate that the end-of-life treatment for such waste is occurring correctly.
This issue is a significant environmental and human rights issue. Waste disposal companies, often from more developed nations engage in the illegal or irresponsible dumping of toxic waste in African countries. This dumping can have severe environmental and human health consequences, including contamination of water sources, soil, and air, as well as harm to local communities and ecosystems.
Many African countries, particularly those with limited resources, may lack the proper waste disposal infrastructure and regulatory frameworks to manage toxic waste safely.
This inadequacy can create vulnerabilities that waste disposal companies may exploit, as they can potentially dispose of waste more inexpensively in these countries.
The Rome Statute is the treaty that established the International Criminal Court (ICC) and defines international crimes, including genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and potentially, crimes of aggression and ecocide.
An amendment to the Rome Statute could introduce new international crimes or broaden existing definitions to include actions such as large-scale toxic waste dumping that cause extensive damage to the environment and human populations.
An amendment to the Rome Statute to include ecocide could serve as a deterrent against large-scale environmental crimes, including irresponsible toxic waste disposal.
It would also establish mechanisms for holding individuals, including corporate executives, accountable for actions leading to severe environmental harm.
Toxic waste dumping often has transboundary effects, impacting multiple countries and regions. An international legal framework can help address these cross-border issues effectively.
In summary, the issue of waste disposal companies engaging in toxic waste dumping in African countries without proper waste disposal infrastructure highlights the need for strong international legal mechanisms to address environmental crimes. An amendment to the Rome Statute, if adopted, could potentially provide a means to hold those responsible for large-scale environmental damage accountable and contribute to deterrence and environmental protection on a global scale.