Fatma Zohra Ksentini Explained

Fatma Zohra Ouhachi-Vesely
Office:United Nations special rapporteur on Toxic Wastes
Term Start:1995
Term End:2004
Predecessor:Position established
Successor:Okechukwu Ibeanu
Office2:United Nations Commission on Human Rights special rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment
Term Start2:1989
Term End2:1994
Birthname:Fatma Zohra Ksentini
Nationality:Algerian

Fatma Zohra Ouhachi-Vesely (née Ksentini) is an Algerian woman who was the first United Nations special rapporteur on toxic wastes from 1995 to 2004. Prior to her position, she was a Special Rapporteur in the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities from 1989 to 1994.

Career

Ksentini was part of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities when she was named special rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment in 1989.[1] For the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, she started a four-year investigation into environmental human rights in 1990.[2] After completing her research in 1994, she submitted her findings and cosigned the Draft Declaration of Principles on Human Rights and the Environment.[1]

In 1995, Ksentini became the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Toxic Wastes.[3] During the beginning of her tenure, she gathered information on the health effects of disposing toxic wastes.[4] After submitting her report in 1997, Ksentini criticized the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for not providing her the necessary funding to conduct on the ground research.[5] After being reappointed in 1998, Ksentini began developing proposals on the elimination of toxic waste disposals into developing countries. Her final term as Special Rapporteur started in 2001 and ended in 2004.

Outside of her work as Special Rapporetur, Ksentini was the chairwoman of the Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery in 1991.[6]

Personal life

Ksentini was married to a Mr. Ouhachi-Vesely.

Notes and References

  1. Kvočekova. Barbora. Fighting dirty business: litigating environmental racism. Roma Rights Journal. 11 July 2000. 2 . 9 November 2017.
  2. Book: Clay. Jason. Who Pays the Price?: The Sociocultural Context Of Environmental Crisis. 1994. Island Press. Washington D.C.. 1559633026. xi-xii. 9 November 2017.
  3. Web site: Former Special Rapporteurs. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 21 November 2017.
  4. Olowu . Dejo. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Adverse Effects of the Illicit Movement and Dumping of Toxic and Dangerous Wastes on the Enjoyment of Human Rights: A Critical Evaluation of the First Ten Years. Environmental Law Review. 1 December 2006 . 8. 3. 208. 10.1350/enlr.2006.8.3.199. 154361294.
  5. Book: Gwam. Cyril Uchenna. Toxic Waste and Human Rights . 2010. AuthorHouse. 978-1452026886. Bloomington, Indiana. 141–42. 9 November 2017.
  6. Book: Yearbook of the United Nations 1991. United Nations Department of Public Information . 1992 . Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. 45. 0792319702. 1056 . 24 November 2017.