Nuclear-testing survivors, including Utah downwinder, testify at UN’s first victim-assistance summit

Mary Dickson, a Salt Lake City resident who developed thyroid cancer from Cold-War nuclear fallout, testified at the United Nations’ first International Meeting on Victim Assistance and Environmental Remediation, a session convened after her story was featured in one outlet. The eight-hour hearing featured speakers such as Masako Wada of Nihon Hidankyo and Kazakh artist Karipbek Kuyukov, and included representatives from dozens of nations, but none from the nuclear-armed states that conducted the tests.

Organized by the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, the meeting sought testimonies to shape a report for the UN secretary-general and the General Assembly. Attendees urged broader compensation beyond the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, highlighted ongoing health problems for downwinders, and demanded environmental cleanup of contaminated lands. Calls were also made for more research, transparency, and inclusion of affected communities in future discussions. The session concluded with hopes that the recommendations will lead to an international trust fund and stronger enforcement of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.