Human Rights and the Environment

Case Study: U.S. Military Debris in Panama

Country: United States, Panama

Region: Central & South America, North America

Issues: Toxics, Pollution

The United States' transfer of control of military bases to Panamanian government at the end of 1999 pursuant to the terms of the 1977 Panama Canal treaty[1] has resulted in harm to the environment and human health. The US military has left the bases in a state of extreme environmental degradation, including tens of thousands of acres littered with military garbage. Since the transfer, Panama's president has repeatedly declared that the United States should clean up the unexploded munitions, chronically leaking underground fuel tanks, and the toxic residue of chemical weapons testing. Yet, the Panamanian government has taken little action so far to pursue this goal.[2]

In her report to the fifty-sixth session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur on Toxics discussed the failure of the US army to clear military waste including mines, toxic gas and arms residue which could affect the health of area residents. The Panamanian Government believes that the United States has not complied with its obligations under Article IV(4) of the Panama Canal Treaty "to take all measures to ensure insofar as may be practicable that every hazard to human life, health and safety is removed from any defense site or military area of coordination any portion thereof." In response to comments by the governments of both Panama and the US, the Special Rapporteur found allegations of ordinance residues and toxic waste remaining in extensive areas to be corroborated and that there is "a real hazard to human life and health." She supports continued monitoring of the situation.[3]

[1] Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal, Pan.-U.S., Sept. 7, 1977, 3 UST 1, TIAS 10029, 1161 UNTS 177.

[2] See John Lindsay-Poland, Military's Explosive Legacy a Low Priority for Moscoso Government, Fellowship of Reconciliation Newsletter, Mar. 2000.

[3] See Adverse effects of the illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights, Report by the Special Rapporteur on Toxic Waste, U.N. Hum. Rts. Comm., at 18-22, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/2000/50 (2000).

Last Updated: 09/09/05