Expertise
Chemical law and policy, Environmental health, Occupational health, International law, Human rights
Research Interests
Human rights and toxic exposures, International environmental law and policy, Pollution prevention, Innovation and safer chemicals
Education
- JD: with honors, Seattle University School of Law
- BA: Chemistry-Biochemistry, with honors, Colby College
Biosketch
Baskut Tuncak is currently the director of the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) where he leads the organization’s efforts to advance safer and healthier environments and workplaces. He is nominated to be a Research Professor in the Department of Public Health of the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences at UMass Lowell.
From 2014-2020, Tuncak served as the UN Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur on human rights and toxics, working closely with States, businesses, and international organizations to promote environmental and occupational rights.Tuncak continues to advise various organizations on the intersection of human rights, the environment and working conditions. He has advised the ILO on the recognition of the safe and health work as one of the organizations Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. He has advised UNICEF and other organizations on the intersection of child rights and the environment and served on advisory committees of UNEP and the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions.
Tuncak can also be contacted, via email: baskut@turi.org