5 UN Special Rapporteurs raise “deep concerns” about rights violations caused by US militarization in Palau in response to filing by Blue Ocean Law and the Center for Constitutional Rights on behalf of Palauan youth

Five United Nations Special Rapporteurs have issued letters to the United States and the Republic of Palau around potential human rights and environmental violations linked to U.S. military construction projects in Palau. The letters were issued in response to a filing submitted by Blue Ocean Law (BOL) and the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) on behalf of the Ebiil Society, a Palauan grassroots environmental organization, and eight Palauan students, Ru-shell Keiula Kuroda, Idelbong Mamis, Ikaika Mariur, Mibuk R. Masang, Imaim Ngiraboi, Ebiklou Mau’hina Ngiraswei, Kelau Singeo, and Dilboi Suzuki, aged 14-18, who spent more than a year traveling throughout Palau to document the impacts of militarization in their homeland.

The Special Rapporteurs express “deep concern” that military projects in Angaur, Peleliu, Hatohobei, Kayangel, and Ngaraard have moved forward in breach of requirements under both Palau’s national environmental laws and international law to prepare comprehensive Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) and to uphold the right to free, prior, and informed consent of the Palauan people. The Special Rapporteurs also raise concerns about harms that have already been caused by these projects, including the destruction and disturbance of environments that are the site of important subsistence and cultural practices, provide coastal protection essential to climate adaptation and mitigation, and provide essential habitat for endemic and endangered species. The letter stresses that these and other impacts “imperil the Palauan ecosystems, the health and well-being of Palauan communities, including their right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, and the human rights of Indigenous Peoples.”

The letter requests further information from both Palau and the U.S. about how their governments will ensure compliance with environmental requirements; uphold the right to free, prior, and informed consent; restore damages caused by these military projects and address their climate impacts; ensure transparency around the use and disposal of hazardous substances in the projects; and ensure that the ongoing military projects do not violate Palauans’ right to development (including self-determination over their natural wealth and resources).

The students explain their motivation for this work: “It saddens us to see our environment being destroyed just for the use of a foreign power. As youth, we are the ones who will feel the consequences of the choices made today.” Autumn Bordner, an attorney with BOL explains the importance of bringing the students’ efforts to the international system: “I had the privilege to travel with this incredible group of students to each island impacted by U.S. militarization, where we saw firsthand the harm being done by the U.S. military without consequence. Without their efforts, there would be very little information available about ongoing militarization in Palau, which has been undertaken without meaningful information sharing or consultation. BOL escalated the students’ findings to the UN system because their voices deserve to be heard and because the military’s conduct deserves to be called what it is: wrong. We hope the Special Rapporteurs’ concerns will encourage the military to bring its conduct into compliance with all national and international requirements.”

Ann Singeo, Director of the Ebiil Society, explains that Palau and the U.S. share a responsibility to ensure compliance with these requirements: “It is our duty as Palauans to safeguard our land and ocean—our home. It is also the responsibility of our guests to be even more mindful not to cause harm to our home and our lives. To do otherwise is an injustice and a sign of disrespect to us, to our ancestors who fought before us, and to the next generation of Palauans. To my fellow Palauans, where will we go? Where will we go with our children and our elderly when war breaks out? To our Palauan leaders, lak mobes a ngercheliu el kiriu el mengeluolo e mesebechakl er tial beluu me a rechad er ngii. Ea Belau a diak longesiau er a beluulechad- ng beluulechad a mengesiau er Belau.