The Marshall Islands’ National Nuclear Commission (NNC) is a government agency established in 2017 to coordinate national efforts to address the ongoing impacts of U.S. nuclear testing. It reports directly to the President of the Marshall Islands. Its role centers on advocating for justice and educating citizens about the nuclear legacy.

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Creation and Leadership

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• Year Established: 2017, by Act of the Parliament of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). The commission exists to respond to the ongoing consequences of the RMI nuclear legacy: health impacts, displacement and cultural loss, and environmental damage.

• Leadership: Ms. Ariana Tibon-Kilma chairs the commission. She is a direct descendant of survivors of Project 4.1, a top-secret U.S. medical study on radiation effects.

 

Key Roles and Functions

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• National Coordination and Advocacy: It serves as the central government body for all nuclear legacy matters. This includes coordinating the country’s quest for truth and accountability, including managing and authorizing research from international partners.

• Public Education: It educates citizens about the country’s nuclear history and integrates this legacy into school curricula.

• International Engagement: The commission advocates for the Marshall Islands at the international level. It utilizes social media to communicate updates on its initiatives, international nuclear research, and policy efforts. It also supports the government's pursuit of nuclear justice at the Human Rights Council and on other matters related to the nuclear legacy. 

 

How Do We Work Together

 

MEI and NNC are close partners with distinct but complementary roles. The NNC is the official RMI government body coordinating nuclear justice policy, while MEI, as a member of civil society, conducts advocacy, education, research, and outreach, particularly within the diaspora and outside of the RMI.

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• Event Collaboration: MEI organizes major conferences and panels, inviting NNC leadership to speak and share the government’s perspective.

• Shared Advocacy Goals: Both work toward the same ends—justice, compensation, and declassification of documents—but in different forums (government vs. public).

• Amplifying Messages: MEI uses its platform to amplify the NNC’s strategic goals, such as the need for full compensation and healthcare.

 

Both organizations are integral to the Marshall Islands’ broader strategy for achieving nuclear justice, with the NNC outlining a formal strategy that highlights five key pillars, one of which focuses on education and awareness about the nuclear legacy. MEI’s efforts directly support this pillar, acting as a crucial ally in educating both the Marshallese people and the international community about the historical and ongoing consequences of nuclear testing.

 

In this partnership, the NNC lays down the national policy framework, while MEI implements impactful educational and advocacy work from abroad, united in our common struggle for truth, recognition, and justice for the Marshallese people.

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