Amnesty International Calls for Justice for Victims of Environmental Pollution
Amnesty International has urged the United Nations to prioritize justice for victims of environmental pollution in its recent submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights, Jurist News reported. The report highlights the critical need for effective remedies and access to justice amid rising concerns over toxic exposure and environmental degradation.
The organization examined four significant cases of human rights abuses across India, the United States, Nigeria, and the Philippines. Each case underscores the inadequate judicial responses and ineffective remedies available to victims. Notably, the Bhopal disaster of 1984, where a gas leak killed over 22,000 people, remains a stark example of governmental negligence, with settlements failing to compensate many affected individuals.
In the U.S., pollution from over 600 petrochemical facilities along the Houston Ship Channel has severely impacted local residents’ health and their right to information. Additionally, oil contamination in Nigeria and nickel mining in the Philippines have devastated local ecosystems and communities, threatening livelihoods and health.
Amnesty’s report aligns with international human rights standards, referencing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). These frameworks emphasize the right to remedies and health. As part of his mandate, Dr. Marcos A. Orellana will incorporate these findings in his upcoming report, set for release in September 2025, focusing on the urgent need for environmental justice.
