By Maria Perez Alsina | Environment Coordinator
In 2018, FUNDEPS, in collaboration with other civil society organizations, made several reports to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) for its session No. 64.
Among other observations linked to ESCR issues, we criticized the current system of agricultural production, emphasizing the multiple effects on the right to health derived from the use of agrochemicals. We did recommendations regarding the adoption of a national law to regulate the use and application of agrochemicals, and we requested the revision and adaptation of national and provincial regulations to the new categories established by the WHO regarding the classification of agrochemicals. In addition, we recommend the adoption of measures to minimize the impact of the use of these chemical products for agricultural use and the performance of periodic epidemiological evaluations.
After analyzing the national report presented by the Argentine State, as well as the information received from civil society organizations, the UN Committee on Economic Rights, Social and Cultural, released its concluding observations on September evaluating Argentina’s implementation of the International Covenant.
Regarding agriculture, the environment and health, the Committee expressed concern about the increase in the use of pesticides and herbicides that include glyphosate, despite the serious adverse impacts on health and the environment of many of them, indicated as probably carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the WHO.
In this regard, the Committee recommended that Argentina adopt a regulatory framework that includes the application of the precautionary principle regarding the use of harmful pesticides and herbicides, particularly those that include glyphosate, to prevent negative impacts on health.
Committee's concluding observations were in the same line that our recommendations and it provides tools for us to demand that the Argentine State to enforce human rights standards in the area of ESCR.
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