In commemorating and paying tribute to the victims, the experts issued this statement:
“For over a decade, the Indian company controlled by Union Carbide Corporation, which is now owned by the Dow Chemical Company, dumped and mismanaged hazardous substances and wastes in its pesticide facility in Bhopal. This has created a sacrifice zone, where pollution from the contaminated site continues to poison people, many living in poverty. The contamination has affected soils and the drinking water supplies of an estimated 200,000 people in 71 villages in Madhya Pradesh state. Victims still struggle for clean-up, compensation, and adequate medical care. They also demand respect for their fundamental human rights, including their right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
The Bhopal tragedy reflects the risks and harms resulting from the transfer of dirty or dangerous technologies to the countries in the Global South. The threats are aggravated where multinational companies apply lower safety standards in their overseas operations and outsource risks to their subsidiaries, as in this case.
On the night of 2 December 1984, 27 metric tonnes of methyl isocyanate gas and other still undisclosed chemicals were released into the air from Union Carbide’s factory. It is estimated that more than 570,000 people were exposed to the dangerous gas and have suffered chronic ill health and long-lasting impacts. Within three days of the gas leak, more than 10,000 people died as a direct result of exposure. More than 22,000 people have died since, and the toll continues to rise. The brunt of impacts has fallen on women, whose rates of infertility, miscarriage and adverse birth outcomes increased, resulting also in many children born with chromosome damage.
Compensation for victims has been inadequate, in blatant contravention of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Mechanisms to channel compensation have also been ineffective. Efforts by the Indian Government to provide medical care have been insufficient. Peaceful protests demanding adequate remedies have been heavily repressed. After four decades, judicial proceedings are still ongoing in Indian courts, while the contaminated site continues to spread destitution, illness and death.