PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 51 – UK position on nuclear legacy resolution [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 October 2022.

Ambassador Simon Manley explained the UK’s position on the resolution entitled ‘Technical assistance and capacity building to address the human rights implications of the nuclear legacy in the Marshall Islands’.

Thank you, Mr President.

Let me start by thanking the core group for presenting the resolution before us to this Council. We commend the core group and particularly the Republic of the Marshall Islands itself, for the constructive approach they have taken during the negotiations on this text. I am sure all of us in this room were moved by what the Chargé d’Affairs from the Marshall Islands said just a moment ago. And I am sure we are not alone in expressing our condolences to him and his Permanent Representative for her loss.

Mr President,

The UK would like to stress that we fully recognise the seriousness of the challenges that the Republic of the Marshall Islands has faced following nuclear testing between 1946 and 1958. We commend the efforts made by both the Government of the Marshall Islands and the Government of the United States to address these challenges and welcome the ongoing bilateral discussions between the two governments on these issues.

It is with deep regret, however, that the UK must disassociate itself from Operative Paragraphs 4, 5 and 11 of this Draft Resolution. As set out in our Explanation of Vote in respect of Human Rights Council Resolution 48/13 last year, and our Explanation of Vote in respect of UN General Assembly Resolution A/76/L.75 this year, we don’t consider that there is international consensus on the legal basis of the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. By extension, we do not accept the connection made in the Resolution before us to the testing of nuclear weapons and its impact on such a right. Joining consensus on this text should therefore not be misinterpreted as the UK agreeing to any expansion of the recognition of this right. Furthermore, we are not persuaded that the OHCHR is the appropriate body to advise the National Nuclear Commission on these matters, as set out in Operative Paragraph 11 of this resolution.

Notwithstanding those concerns, we do however join consensus on this initiative.

Thank you.