Lesson Learned – the Bhopal Disaster

Time: 2 December, at 6pm – 8pm
PlaceRafto Foundation for Human Rights, Menneskerettighetenes plass 1, 5007 Bergen, Hordaland

WELCOME TO PUBLIC PANEL DEBATE AT THE RAFTO HOUSE 
On December 2, 1984 an explosion occurred at the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal in Central India, and thousands died within hours. Tens of thousands have been injured, maimed, or affected by the disaster. Besides the health impacts, there have been adverse impacts on the environment, including contamination of water supply. The Union Carbide Corp paid a lumpsum compensation to the victims following an agreement with the Indian Government, with the approval of the Supreme Court of India. That was meant to settle all litigation, but victims have continued to fight for justice.

The Bhopal disaster raised several issues that go beyond the incident:
– What is the responsibility of a company towards the actions of its subsidiary?
– How can victims secure justice when the parent corporation is in another jurisdiction?
– What is the role of the state?
– Can a new international binding treaty concerning business and human rights solve problems of extraterritoriality?

Moderator:
Salil Tripathi, Writer and senior policy adviser, Institute for Human Rights and Business

Panel:
Nnimmo Bassey (Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation/ Rafto Prize Laureate 2012)
Namita Wahi (Fellow, Centre for Policy Research/ Centre on Law and Social Transformation)
Dr Philippe Cullet (Professor, SOAS University of London/ fellow, Centre for Policy Research New Dehli).

See Facebook-event.

This seminar is a collaboration between the Rafto Foundation and the Centre on Law & Social Transformation.


The event is free of charge and open to all