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10/25/13 Human rights experts rap U.N. report on Fukushima radiation | The Japan Times

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NATIONAL

Human rights experts rap U.N. report onFukushima radiationKYODO

OCT 25, 2013ARTICLE HISTORYPRINT SHARENEW YORK Human rights experts,

including a U.N. special rapporteur, are criticizing a U.N. scientific report

dismissing concerns about the effects of radiation from the Fukushima

nuclear disaster on the Japanese public.

Speaking Thursday at an event organized by U.S. and Japanese

nongovernmental groups, U.N. special rapporteur on the right to health

Anand Grover took issue with the reports conclusion that there is nothing toworry about for members of the public exposed to radiation from

Fukushima No. 1.

The report was prepared by the U.N. Scientific Committee on the Effects of

Atomic Radiation.

The committee, which studied the levels and effects of radiation exposure

caused by the nuclear disaster after the March 11, 2011, earthquake andtsunami, found that for the general public, no discernible increased

incidence of radiation-related health effects are expected.

Grover, who visited Japan in November 2012 and compiled his own report on

the situation from a human rights perspective, said the data on radioactive

exposure is insufficient to rule out the possibility that low doses could have ill

effects on health.

He also said that ensuring the participation of affected communities in

decision-making is one of the core obligations of governments and that the

public has a right to information.

Special rapporteurs are independent investigators tasked by the United

Nations with investigating human rights issues and can only investigate a

country if invited to do so by its government.

Mari Inoue, a representative of Tokyo-based Human Rights Now, meanwhile

called for the UNSCEAR report to be revised.

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10/25/13 Human rights experts rap U.N. report on Fukushima radiation | The Japan Times

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She said the report should endorse evacuation from areas where exposure

exceeds 1 millisievert of radiation per year, well below the Japanese

governments yardstick of 20 millisieverts per year.

It should also recommend continued study of contract workers exposed to

radiation, increased community participation in the government response tothe disaster, and recognition that it is too early to rule out future health

effects for the exposed, Inoue said.

Also on Thursday, Human Rights Now released a statement signed by 64

community organizations in Japan calling for revisions to the report.

The UNSCEARs full report, including scientific data supporting its findings,

has not yet been published. The group said when finished, the report will bethe most comprehensive scientific analysis of the information available to

date.