Toxic chemicals impact human rights. A cocktail of hundreds of toxic chemicals are found in people all over the world, including populations that are vulnerable to disproportionate impacts such as unborn and newborn babies, low-income communities, developing and least-developed countries, indigenous peoples, women, minorities, and marginalized people. Meanwhile, chemical production is accelerating globally.

The complete lifecycle of toxic chemicals implicates fundamental human rights, such as the right to information, the right to participation, and the right to the highest attainable standard of health. The countless cases of dangerous toxic exposure around the world illustrate the ongoing inability to secure access to justice and the right to effective remedy for victims of pollution. Some of the most egregious cases of businesses failing to respect human rights, and states failing to protect people and ensure an effective remedy for victims, comes from the production, use and disposal of toxic chemicals.

CIEL advocates for prevention and precaution, and helps to craft and use international treaties to protect human rights from toxic chemicals.