Peter Waweru v. Republic of Kenya
Country: KenyaYear: 2006
Court: High Court at Nairobi
Citation: Miscellaneous Civil Application 118 0f 2004; (2007) AHRLR 149 (KeHC 2006)
Health Topics: Environmental health, Water, sanitation and hygiene
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Right to a clean environment, Right to life, Right to water and sanitation
About one hundred residents of the Kiserian township were approved to construct residential-cum-commercial buildings by county officials, including health officials. A public health officer investigated reports of “indiscriminate discharge of offensive smelling waste matters within the trading centre flowing out of various premises into open channels along the road to the environment and to the …Read more
Sawhoyamaxa Indigenous Community v. Paraguay
Country: ParaguayYear: 2006
Court: Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Citation: Merits, Reparations and Costs, Judgment, Inter-Am. Ct. H.R. (ser. C) No. 146 (Mar. 29, 2006).
Health Topics: Child and adolescent health, Diet and nutrition, Health care and health services, Medicines, Water, sanitation and hygiene
Human Rights: Right to due process/fair trial, Right to property
The Sawhoyamaxa, an indigenous community in Paraguay brought the case against the Paraguayan government for failing to ensure their ancestral property right. The Sawhoyamaxa’s claim for territorial rights had been pending since 1991. The lands at issue constituted their traditional habitat suitable for their subsistence activities, consisting of hunting, fishing, and gathering. The lands claimed …Read more
Gbemre v. Shell Petroleum Development Company and Others
Country: NigeriaYear: 2005
Court: High Court, Benin Division
Citation: Suit No. FHC/B/CS/53/05; (2005) AHRLR 151 (NgHC 2005)
Health Topics: Chronic and noncommunicable diseases, Environmental health, Health care and health services, Poverty, Water, sanitation and hygiene
Human Rights: Right to a clean environment, Right to life
Applicants, residents of Iwherekan community in the Delta State of Nigeria, applied for an order enforcing their fundamental right to life and dignity of human person as provided by sections 22(1) and 34(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (the “Constitution”) and articles 4, 16, and 24 of the African Charter …Read more
Yakye Axa Indigenous Community of the Enxet-Lengua People v. Paraguay
Country: ParaguayYear: 2005
Court: Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Citation: Series C No. 125, June 17, 2005
Health Topics: Aging, Child and adolescent health, Diet and nutrition, Health care and health services, Poverty
Human Rights: Freedom of movement and residence, Right to a clean environment, Right to due process/fair trial, Right to food, Right to health, Right to housing, Right to life, Right to property, Right to water and sanitation, Rights to the benefits of culture
Petitioners, leaders of the Yakye Axa indigenous community of the Enxet-Lengua people, filed suit against the Republic of Paraguay alleging violations articles 4 (right to life) and 25 (right to judicial Protection) of the American Convention on Human Rights (the Convention). They further alleged that Paraguay ignored article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil …Read more
Yakye Axa Indigenous Community v. Paraguay
Country: ParaguayYear: 2005
Court: Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Citation: Yakye Axa Indigenous Cmty. v. Para., Merits, Reparations and Costs, Judgment, Inter-Am. Ct. H.R. (ser. C) No. 125 (June 17, 2005).
Health Topics: Child and adolescent health, Diet and nutrition, Health care and health services, Medicines, Water, sanitation and hygiene
Human Rights: Right to due process/fair trial, Right to life, Right to property
The indigenous community of Yakye Axa, a traditional society of hunter-gatherers, was resettled as part of a development program in Paraguay started in 1979. They were displaced to lands with a natural environment and resources that were different from the Yakye Axa’s traditional territory and incompatible with their traditional means of subsistence. They also faced …Read more
Santosh Mittal v. State of Rajasthan
Country: IndiaYear: 2004
Court: High Court - Rajasthan
Citation: RLW 2005 (1) Raj 486; 2005 (1) WLC 52
Health Topics: Chronic and noncommunicable diseases, Diet and nutrition, Environmental health, Health information, Public safety, Water, sanitation and hygiene
Human Rights: Freedom of expression, Right of access to information, Right to life, Right to water and sanitation
The case concerned a claim that the sale of PepsiCo and Coca-Cola carbonated beverages should be banned on the account that they are contaminated with pesticide residue and suspended impurities and are therefore harmful to human life. The petitioners relied on the report published by the Centre for Science and Environment (“CSE”), which conducted an …Read more
Suo Moto v. State of Rajasthan
Country: IndiaYear: 2004
Court: High Court - Rajasthan
Citation: AIR 2005 Raj 82; RLW 2005 (2) Raj 1437
Health Topics: Environmental health, Health information, Health systems and financing, Infectious diseases, Poverty, Public safety, Water, sanitation and hygiene
Human Rights: Right to a clean environment, Right to food, Right to health, Right to life, Right to water and sanitation
The case was regarding multiple suo moto orders issued by the Rajasthan High Court to the municipal authorities of the city of Jaipur to clean-up, restore and maintain the city which was plagued with trash, open sewage and polluted water bodies. Specific orders were issued to remove and dispose of the plastic and polyethylene bags …Read more
Yakye Axa Indigenous Community of the Enxet-Lengua People v. Paraguay
Country: ParaguayYear: 2002
Court: Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Citation: Yakye Axa Indigenous Cmty. of the Enxet-Lengua People v. Para., Case 12.313, Inter-Am. Comm’n H.R., Report No. 2/02, OEA/Ser.L./V/II.117, doc. 1 rev. 1 (2003).
Health Topics: Child and adolescent health, Diet and nutrition, Health care and health services, Water, sanitation and hygiene
Human Rights: Right to due process/fair trial, Right to property
This case was heard by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Their opinion is available here. Leaders of the Yakye Axa indigenous community of the Enxet-Lengua people filed suit against the Republic of Paraguay claiming that the Paraguayan State violated Articles 4 (right to life) and 25 (judicial protection), in conjunction with Article 1(1) (obligation …Read more
The Social and Economic Rights Action Center, et al. v. Nigeria
Country: NigeriaYear: 2001
Court: African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
Citation: Comm. No. 155/96 (2001).
Health Topics: Chronic and noncommunicable diseases, Diet and nutrition, Environmental health, Infectious diseases, Violence, Water, sanitation and hygiene
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Right to a clean environment, Right to food, Right to health, Right to housing, Right to life, Right to property
The applicant alleged that the military government of Nigeria (Government), in its efforts to produce oil through the State-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), contaminated the environment of the Ogoni People and led to environmental degradation and health problems among that community. More specifically, the applicant claimed that the NNPC, acting within a consortium with …Read more
A.P. Pollution Control Board II v. Prof. M.V. Nayudu and Ors
Country: IndiaYear: 2000
Court: Supreme Court
Citation: Appeal (civil) 368-371 of 1999
Health Topics: Environmental health, Public safety, Water, sanitation and hygiene
Human Rights: Right to a clean environment, Right to life, Right to water and sanitation
Respondent industry sought to establish a new factory in the State of Andhra Pradesh to produce vegetable oils. The industry purchased land in Peddashpur village, within 10KM of two reservoirs that provided drinking water for 5 million people. In 1988, the Ministry of Forests and Environment established a “red” list of hazardous industries, including industry …Read more