Péter Kovács, Deputy State Secretary for Water Management has informed the Special Rapporteur of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights about the details of the red sludge catastrophe of 2010, the rescue operations, the damage control and the legal modifications adopted since then.

During his visit in Hungary, Mr. Calin Georgescu is trying to get an overall picture regarding the conditions and consequences of the catastrophe. The diplomat dealing with the human rights impacts of the treatment of dangerous materials and waste management will meet the representatives of all the institutions concerned.

The Special Rapporteur of the UN will examine the consequences of the red-sludge catastrophe, which has had devastating effects on the lives of hundreds of people including those living in the surrounding area, working there or assisting in the rescue operations. On the basis of his experiences, Mr. Georgescu is going to write a report to the UN Human Rights Council on the human rights impacts of the treatment of dangerous materials and waste management.

The Special Rapporteur will explore the challenges and practices that could promote the mitigation of the environmental impacts of industrial accidents, an adequate compensation of the victims and could contribute to the prevention of the dangers posed by highly polluting industries.

(Ministry of Rural Development)