United Nations Human Rights Council Adopts Resolution on Marshall Islands Nuclear Legacy

The United Nations Human Rights Council has adopted a comprehensive resolution concerning the human rights and environmental problems caused by the 67 nuclear tests conducted by the US in the Marshall Islands between 1946 and 1958. The resolution invites the Washington administration to disclose all classified and archived government records, provide reparations to victims, and support a fair transitional justice framework.

The resolution adopted in the Human Rights Council draws attention to the severe and lasting impacts of the nuclear test program on people, notably the Castle Bravo detonation carried out in Bikini Atoll in 1954. While emphasizing that affected communities still lack a fair settlement, effective remedies, and adequate health systems, the Marshall Islands, the US, the UN, and relevant stakeholders are urged to cooperate to uncover the truth, provide full reparations, and prevent further harm.

Throughout the process, the World Council of Churches (WCC) and various non-governmental organizations also organized events drawing attention to the human rights dimension of the nuclear legacy in the region. Senator David Anitok, Presidential Special Envoy for Nuclear Justice and Human Rights of the Marshall Islands, met with WCC officials to reiterate their joint stance on supporting victims and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.