Revisiting the Marshall Islands Nuclear Claims Tribunal.

The article focuses on the establishment, operation, and challenges of the Marshall Islands Nuclear Claims Tribunal, created under the 1986 Section 177 Agreement between the Marshall Islands and the United States to compensate victims of U.S. nuclear testing conducted between 1946 and 1958. The Tribunal was designed to adjudicate claims for personal injury and property damage resulting from radioactive contamination, with a US$150 million fund intended to provide ongoing compensation. Despite initial administrative innovations and awards totaling over US$91 million for personal injuries and US$2.3 billion for property damage, the fund was depleted by 2009, leaving many claims unpaid and ongoing disputes unresolved. Subsequent efforts, including a 2000 petition to the U.S. Congress and the establishment of the National Nuclear Commission in 2017, have sought further compensation, but as of the 2023 Compact of Free Association renewal, no additional funds were secured. The Tribunal’s legacy reflects enduring intergenerational impacts of nuclear testing and continued advocacy for justice by the Marshallese people. [Extracted from the article]