Mission of Paul Hunt, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to the highest attainable standard of health: Oral remarks to the press, Bogota, Colombia

Colombia has a human rights responsibility of international assistance and cooperation, including in health. Consequently, as a minimum, Colombia must not jeopardise the enjoyment of the right to health in Ecuador.
  • Alternative development
  • Human rights
The glyphosate aerial spraying issue has become deeply politicised. When an issue becomes politicised in this way, human rights are always among the first victims. The health and lives of ordinary people – especially the most disadvantaged and poor – are forgotten or obscured. It is imperative that when considering this very important issue the human right to health – at root, the well-being of disadvantaged individuals and communities – is placed at the centre of all decision-making.
  • Alternative development
  • Human rights

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The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health raised concerns in 2007 about the impact of aerial crop eradication activities along the Colombia/Ecuador border. In “looking at this issue through the prism of the right to health”, the Special Rapporteur recommended that the aerial spraying of glyphosate by the Colombian government should be discontinued as the activity “jeopardise[d] the enjoyment of the right to health in Ecuador”, as well as damaging the physical and mental health of people living in Ecuador.

  • Cultivation and alternative development
  • Human rights