Event information

3 July 2019, 16:30-17:30

Downloads

Flyer >

Plastic Pollution: How to Turn the Tide Right

Event

Local people from Watamu work with Local Ocean Conservation to pick up plastic on the beach, on each Friday Local people from Watamu work with Local Ocean Conservation to pick up plastic on the beach, on each Friday

Logo Earthjustice n b

This side event during the 41st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, co-organized with Earthjustice, will address the issue of plastic pollution.

It's not just turtles that die under a tide of plastic ! The rights to health and even to life are also now affected. The impacts of massive production of plastics and its very limited recycling are now recognized as affecting the fundamental rights of human beings on the planet. Panelists will examine these impact and how to preserve the fundamental rights by turning the tide right.

This event is organized in conjunction with our training course on the protection of human rights and the environment, which will notably focus on plastic pollution, including the impacts of plastic pollution on the marine environment and human health, the responsibilities of states and businesses, vulnerable actors and environmental justice, and mechanisms at national and international levels to address actual and potential human rights violations.

Moderator

  • Yves Lador, Permanent Representative in Geneva, Earthjustice

Panelists

  • David Azoulay, Managing Attorney and Director of the Environmental Health Programme, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
  • Adriana Bessa, Senior Research Fellow, Geneva Academy
  • Kei Ohno Woodall, Programme Officer, Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

GHRP Ai for Good Workshop News

Exploring the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Human Rights Monitoring: Key Takeaways from the AI for Good Workshop

22 July 2025

Our event brought together human rights practitioners, data scientists, and AI experts to explore how artificial intelligence can support efforts to monitor human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Read more

neurotech image News

Human Rights Concerns in Neurotechnology Examined in New Research Brief

15 April 2025

Our research brief 'Neurotechnology - Integrating Human Rights in Regulation' examines the human rights challenges posed by the rapid development of neurotechnology.

Read more

Digital Globe Event

AI and Human RIghts: Risks and Promises - Panel at the 2025 LATSIS Symposium

10 September 2025, 16:30-17:45

This Human Rights Conversation will explore how AI is being used by human rights institutions to enhance the efficiency, scope, and impact of monitoring and implementation frameworks.

Read more

Training

Human Rights and the Environment: Introducing Legal Regimes and Key Issues

1-8 September 2025

Participants in this training course will be introduced to the major international and regional instruments for the promotion of human rights, as well as international environmental law and its implementation and enforcement mechanisms.

Read more

Open dump Training

Protecting Human Rights and the Environment

15-19 September 2025

Participants in this training course will gain practical insights into UN human rights mechanisms and their role in environmental protection and learn about how to address the interplay between international human rights and environmental law, and explore environmental litigation paths.

Read more

View of a session of the UN Human Rights Council Project

Human Rights Conversations

Started in January 2020

A series of events aimed at discussing contemporary issues and challenges related to the promotion and protection of human rights in Geneva and beyond.

Read more

George Floyd protest in Washington D.C. Project

Promoting and Protecting the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association and Civic Space Worldwide

Started in June 2020

This project aims at providing support to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association Clément Voulé by addressing emerging issues affecting civic space and eveloping tools and materials allowing various stakeholders to promote and defend civic space.

Read more

Cover of the 2023 Geneva Academy Annual Report Publication

Annual Report 2024

published on July 2025

Read more

Cover of the publication Publication

Briefing N° 25: Localizing Multilateralism

published on March 2025

Domenico Zipoli, Ludovica Chiussi Curzi, Kamelia Kemileva

Read more