GENEVA (18 September 2024) – UN experts* today welcomed the emphasis placed by the UN Secretary General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals on ensuring human rights are at the core of all mineral value chains. They issued the following statement: “We welcome the focus placed on human rights by the UN Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals. The Panel noted that “human rights must be at the core of all mineral value chains” in its report on Resourcing the Energy Transition to guide the mineral life cycle of critical energy transition minerals toward equity and justice. The report was launched on 11 September 2024. In addition, we underscore that international human rights norms must inform the application of the seven voluntary Principles included in the report. While the Principles refer to international human rights frameworks “agreed upon by all countries,” international human rights instruments which are not ratified by all countries are nonetheless applicable in the context of critical minerals to States that are party to those instruments. Further, all States should respect the tenet that human rights are universal, interdependent, inherent and indivisible. Existing international human rights norms that are not mentioned by the Principles are thus applicable to States in all action concerning critical minerals, including their extraction, development, use, recycling and disposal. Respecting, protecting and fulfilling all human rights is particularly important due to growing evidence of human rights risks, impacts and violations arising from the critical minerals sector. This evidence include: involuntary resettlement of Indigenous Peoples without adequate consultation and compensation; environmental degradation; deprivation of livelihoods and access to clean water and clean air; forced labor; sexual and gender-based violence; among others. We recall States’ obligations to respect, protect and fulfill everyone’s human right to a healthy environment and protect environmental human rights defenders who are calling attention to the risks of biodiversity loss, water shortages, ocean degradation, climate impacts, and toxic pollution arising from action on critical minerals. States have an obligation to apply the precautionary principle and to recognise and protect the human rights of Indigenous Peoples, including their right to free prior and informed consent, and the rights of peasants and others, whose rights are most severely affected by environmental degradation arising from the exploration and exploitation of critical minerals. Businesses have a responsibility to respect internationally protected human rights in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. This is in addition to the “credible industry standards” referred by the Principles. Notably, businesses should identify and assess human rights risks throughout the value chain and life cycle of critical minerals, take effective measures to prevent and mitigate such risks, and track whether those measures are effective. Business should also communicate information sufficient to those potentially affected, in particular Indigenous Peoples, and ensure access to effective remedies to people who suffer adverse effects. Finally, we underscore the importance of prior comprehensive independent assessments, based on best available science, of the need for critical minerals and of alternatives to extraction.” The experts: Ms. Elisa Morgera, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change; Ms Astrid Puentes Riaño, Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment; Mr. Marcos Orellana, Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes; Ms. Fernanda Hopenhaym (Chairperson), Ms. Pichamon Yeophantong, Mr. Damilola Olawuyi, Mr. Robert McCorquodale and Ms. Lyra Jakulevičienė, Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises; Mr. Jose Francisco Cali Tzay, Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples. The experts are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity. For additional information and media requests please contact Federica Donati at federica.donati1@un.org For media enquiries regarding other UN independent experts, please contact Dharisha Indraguptha (dharisha.indraguptha@un.org) or John Newland (john.newland@un.org) Follow news related to the UN"s independent human rights experts on Twitter: @UN_SPExperts