the toxic truth - Greenpeace

104 Amnesty internAtionAl And greenpeAce netherlAnds
Chapter 8
State responsibility
By not enforcing laws to prevent the import
of hazardous waste into the country, the
government of Côte d’Ivoire failed to take all
necessary measures to safeguard persons
within their jurisdiction from infringements of
the rights to health and work by Trafigura and
Compagnie Tommy. The authorities failed to
implement regulations relating to the licensing
of companies to carry out removal of waste
from ships. They failed to inspect the ship and
its contents or verify the nature of the waste,
despite indications that it may be hazardous.
Nor did they regulate the Akouédo dumpsite
to ensure that its operators did not accept
industrial and hazardous wastes.
The government of Côte d’Ivoire breached its
obligation under Article s 12.1 and 12.2(b)
of the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights to prevent and
reduce “the population’s exposure to harmful
substances such as... harmful chemicals or
other detrimental environmental conditions
that directly or indirectly impact upon human
health”. 487 The government also breached
its obligations under the Basel and Bamako
conventions to prevent illegal traffic, import
and disposal of hazardous waste by persons
who were not authorized to perform such
operations. 488
The Ivorian Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny (middle) and French
Minister for Cooperation Brigitte Girardin (right) visit one of several sites
in Abidjan where toxic waste was dumped illegally, 8 September 2006.
© uN PHoto/Ky CHuNg