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<\/a>The study \u201cOf Rights and Poisons: Accountability of the Agrochemical Industry\u201d<\/em><\/a> revealed that HHPs remain widely used in the countries surveyed which include Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Vietnam with a total of 2,025 respondents involved.<\/p>\nSeven out of 10 of the respondents interviewed said they have suffered ill-effects due to pesticide exposure, said Ms. Sarojeni Rengam, Executive Director of PANAP and one of the authors of the report. Commonly reported health issues include respiratory, skin, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, EENT (eye, ear, nose, throat), and neurological problems.<\/p>\n
The report found that the agrochemical transnational corporations (TNCs), their subsidiaries as well as local pesticide manufacturers and distributors are producing and distributing HHPs that cause acute and chronic health effects particularly to children and other vulnerable people. These pesticides are also known to cause environmental damage and loss of biodiversity.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is clear that agrochemical corporations are responsible for violating the human rights to life and health; access to information; safe working environment; and livelihoods. They violate children\u2019s rights, women\u2019s rights, and indigenous peoples\u2019 rights. All for the sake of profits,\u201d Ms. Rengam said.<\/p>\n
The situation is totally unacceptable, according to PANAP\u2019s senior science and policy advisor Dr. Meriel Watts.<\/p>\n
\u201cPesticides are a serious human rights issue that is not being adequately addressed at national, regional or international levels. This latest report shows that international agreements and treaties are not working. Industry stewardship programmes are a sham,\u201d said Dr. Watts.<\/p>\n
Dr. Watts noted that poverty is often characterised by malnutrition, which can worsen the effects of pesticides. \u201cPesticide poisoning aggravates the cycle of poverty and ill health and the malnourished become less able to provide food for themselves,\u201d she stressed.<\/p>\n
As farmers resort to more toxic pesticides, to increased spraying, or to dangerous cocktails, health impacts are not just intensified. Many also fall into debt and poverty to keep up with increasing use of expensive chemicals and crop loss.<\/p>\n
PANAP renewed its call on the global community to negotiate a global legally binding treaty that phases out HHPs and replace them with agroecology. Such treaty should pave the way to the dismantling of TNCs\u2019 power over the United Nations (UN), governments and farmers.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnder this treaty, the industry will be held accountable for the human and environmental impacts of their pesticides and containers. It will also stop the double standards of countries banning pesticides but are still manufacturing them for export,\u201d added Ms. Rengam.<\/p>\n
While poverty has various dimensions, addressing pesticides\u2019 serious impacts on people\u2019s physical and economic wellbeing could go a long way in helping eradicate global poverty, which is most felt in the rural areas, the PANAP official argued.<\/p>\n
For her part, Dr. Watts urged \u201call countries in the region to rapidly phase out highly hazardous pesticides and assist farmers to convert to agroecology \u2013 for the sake of the farmers and workers, their children, future generations, the environment, and society as a whole including the countries\u2019 economies and to help alleviate the state of hunger and poverty among the rural poor.\u201d<\/p>\n
The results of the study were generated through PANAP\u2019s Community Pesticide Action Monitoring (CPAM) as well as fact-finding missions. CPAM is a participatory action research approach to document and create awareness on pesticide impacts on human health and the environment. It involves community members who undertake the research, and encourages organizing and action. ###<\/p>\n
Contact: Ms. Sarojeni Rengam, Executive Director, sarojeni.rengam@panap.net<\/a> or Milagros S. Serrana, Programme Officer, mila.serrana@panap.net<\/a><\/p>\n\n