Fukushima: the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health is now in Japan to conduct an investigation on "the right to health" of the affected people including children by radiation released by the nuclear plant accident.

Although one and a half year have passed since the accident of the Fukushima Daiich Nuclear Power Plant, serious concerns are expressed such as whether health of people, who are living in a vast area around the power plant, is properly protected; and whether the government is taking effective policies to prevent serious health hazard against the expected risks of radiation.

The international human rights NGO Human Rights Now, along with other civil organizations, sent a request to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Special Rapporteur to conduct a fact-finding mission.

As a result, it was decided that the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, Mr. Anand Grover would come to Japan and conduct a fact-finding mission from 15 to 26 November to investigate the current situation of "the right to health" of the affected people including children by the radiation released from the nuclear power plant.

The Special Rapporteur is holding various interviews in Tokyo and Fukushima.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health is an independent specialist selected by the UN Human Rights Council in accordance with the special procedure began in 2002 by the adoption of the UN Resolution, and is conducting fact-finding missions and making recommendations on the issues and violations of the right to health around the world.

In this time, the Special Rapporteur is investigating situations of people's health after the Great East Japan Earthquake and the accident of the nuclear power plant. It is expected that the Special Rapporteur will formulate recommendations after the investigation.　

Although the detailed schedule is not announced, the Special Rapporteur is interviewing the governmental institutions and the Fukushima prefecture. At the same time, it is requested to meet with people living in Fukushima, evacuees (including self-evacuees), and the civil society.

Human Rights Now has been criticizing that the policies taken by the government and the prefecture after the accident for the surrounding residents are extremely insufficient compared to the international standard, the procedures are delayed, and people are suffering from health concern and it is hard for them to raise their voices. Human Rights Now has been requesting the improvement of these situations. Human Rights Now hopes that through the investigation this time, appropriate recommendations based on the international standard will be proposed by the UN and the current situation will improve.

The UN investigation mission this time is an independent and neutral one, but Human Rights Now will play a role of connecting the Special Rapporteur with Japanese civil society and the victims.

Also, Human Rights Now will provide information on the availability of interviews by media throughout the investigation process, and the schedule of the press conference by the Special Rapporteur.

(* Note: Human Rights Now received inquiries about events, debriefing sessions and symposiums, however, no assembly and lecture is scheduled since the purpose of the visit this time is an investigation.)

Regarding the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, and about Mr. Anand Grover, please refer the following website: http://unsrhealth.org/

If you have any inquiry, please send an e-mail to: info@hrn.or.jp