WCC NEWS: Nuclear justice in the Pacific: Churches do what governments often are not able to do

Tamatoa Tepuhiarii of Moruroa e Tātou nongovernmental organization and the Ètārētia Porotetani Māòhi (the Māòhi Protestant Church), currently pursuing PhD research on Nuclear Justice and Gender in the Sea of Islands (Pacific), was among the speakers at the World Council of Churches (WCC) cohosted side event at the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, addressing the human rights impacts of nuclear testing across the region. In this conversation, the WCC 11th Assembly youth delegate shares his view on the unique role churches can play in the pursuit of nuclear justice today. Tamatoa Tepuhiarii speaks at the World Council of Churches (WCC) cohosted side event at the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, addressing the human rights impacts of nuclear testing in Pacific. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC 30 September 2026 It is nearly 30 years since France's last nuclear test in Moruroa/Māòhi Nui (French Polynesia) - what does justice still look like for the local communities affected? Tepuhiarii: Well, yes, definitely it has been more than 30 years, and this year particularly, it is 60 years since the first nuclear explosion on Moruroa atoll. At the moment, when it comes to justice for people, it's all related to compensation process. How people can get compensation - the former workers of nuclear sites, or their relatives or people who got cancer, radiation-induced cancer. But it is not limited to compensation. At the moment, we are also trying to educate more people about the nuclear issue, the nuclear history at different levels - and it has started in churches. And that's also a process of healing - when you are aware of what happened on your islands, on your territory, you're more able to go through the journey.   What can international organizations and bodies like the WCC do to support the nuclear justice going forward? Tepuhiarii: As I said, the work back in Māòhi Nui (French Polynesia) really started with the church advocacy and particularly the Ètārētia Porotetani Māòhi (the Māòhi Protestant Church), which is a part of the World Council of Churches. And that church also advocated since 1982 to formally declare in their synod that the nuclear testing program has a negative impact on our population and the environment. And it's against God's will, or God's teaching about peace, love, and unity. So it's all related to the civil society’s role - and work of the churches, and church institutions at the international level. This work goes further with international institutions such as the UN, but also with other international civil societies, such as ICAN, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.   What can you say about the unique role churches have addressing the nuclear justice issues - among other international and civil society organisations? Tepuhiarii: I guess the work that churches are doing back home on educating or advocating for justice is definitely related to what the politics, governments, or other colonial institutions are supposed to do but not fully able to provide for the communities and for the people. A lot of work on nuclear justice, nuclear advocacy, and education has been led by the churches and other civil society institutions. And that’s the process of how churches also convert words into action.   Your PhD research is also related to the nuclear justice in the Pacific — what does it reveal in the broader justice conversation? Tepuhiarii: It’s the first time that we have a research project at the international level talking straightly and directly about nuclear justice as an academic concept.  Most of the time, we are hearing about nuclear justice in civil society discussions, in institutions like the UN. When it comes to academics, it's the first time that we are having this academic perspective on nuclear justice on it. Other academics have shared their perspectives of nuclear justice as well.  That's what we want to provide – and not only at the academic level, but also how can we better support the nuclear-affected communities by listening and understanding - and also questioning and engaging - with their narratives, with their perspectives.   Photo gallery from the side-event on Nuclear Justice in Pacific at the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland