For those who may have missed it, the United Nations Special Rapporteur released a 2012 report on the nuclear legacy of the Marshall Islands, finding that U.S. nuclear testing "resulted in both immediate and continuing effects on the human rights of the Marshallese."
Through interviews with government officials, ministers, academics, local communities and members of the press, the report noted that "the effects of radiation have been exacerbated by near-irreversible environmental contamination, leading to the loss of livelihoods and lands. Moreover, many people continue to experience indefinite displacement."
As part of its recommendations, the report also urges the United States to:
1. Continue to provide the Marshall Islands with assistance in developing its health infrastructure;
2. Continue to support the protection of the environment and support Marshallese efforts to develop their own atmospheric, marine and terrestrial monitoring capabilities, as well as strengthen the capacity of the Marshall Islands to address new threats from the impacts of technological progress;
3. Continue to assist in the development of national public health and disaster response plans, including implementation capacity;
4. Support a comprehensive nationwide terrestrial and marine survey to map the presence and concentration of radiogenic and other toxic substances remaining from U.S. military activity, and assist in securing, containing, and remediating hazardous sites;
5. Strengthen accountability and transparency mechanisms to ensure that atoll-administered funds benefit the constituents intended;
6. Provide full funding to the Nuclear Claims Tribunal to award adequate compensation for past and future claims, and explore other forms of reparation, including restitution, rehabilitation and measures of satisfaction, and consider the establishment of a truth and reconciliation mechanism or similar alternative justice mechanism;
7. Adopt a presumptive approach to groups currently excluded from programs created to assist survivors of nuclear testing, whereby individuals exposed to nuclear fallout would be presumed eligible;
8. Issue a presidential acknowledgment and apology to victims; and
9. Maximize the benefits of the joint task force established to discuss progress in the implementation of the Compact of Free Association with an emphasis on open and frank engagement to enhance accountability of both parties under the Compact.
Download the report here, or read a summary in the United Nations press release.
Through interviews with government officials, ministers, academics, local communities and members of the press, the report noted that "the effects of radiation have been exacerbated by near-irreversible environmental contamination, leading to the loss of livelihoods and lands. Moreover, many people continue to experience indefinite displacement."
As part of its recommendations, the report also urges the United States to:
1. Continue to provide the Marshall Islands with assistance in developing its health infrastructure;
2. Continue to support the protection of the environment and support Marshallese efforts to develop their own atmospheric, marine and terrestrial monitoring capabilities, as well as strengthen the capacity of the Marshall Islands to address new threats from the impacts of technological progress;
3. Continue to assist in the development of national public health and disaster response plans, including implementation capacity;
4. Support a comprehensive nationwide terrestrial and marine survey to map the presence and concentration of radiogenic and other toxic substances remaining from U.S. military activity, and assist in securing, containing, and remediating hazardous sites;
5. Strengthen accountability and transparency mechanisms to ensure that atoll-administered funds benefit the constituents intended;
6. Provide full funding to the Nuclear Claims Tribunal to award adequate compensation for past and future claims, and explore other forms of reparation, including restitution, rehabilitation and measures of satisfaction, and consider the establishment of a truth and reconciliation mechanism or similar alternative justice mechanism;
7. Adopt a presumptive approach to groups currently excluded from programs created to assist survivors of nuclear testing, whereby individuals exposed to nuclear fallout would be presumed eligible;
8. Issue a presidential acknowledgment and apology to victims; and
9. Maximize the benefits of the joint task force established to discuss progress in the implementation of the Compact of Free Association with an emphasis on open and frank engagement to enhance accountability of both parties under the Compact.
Download the report here, or read a summary in the United Nations press release.
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