U.N. Report Declares Forever Chemicals a Profound Threat to Human Rights and Calls For Immediate Global Coordinated Response
Summary: Clean Cape Fear and the National PFAS Contamination Coalition call for world leaders to stop expanding PFAS production, create immediate phase out strategies for the entire class, provide environmental restoration beyond drinking water filtration, and hold polluters fully accountable.
Geneva, Switzerland- Sept 14, 2026- Emily Donovan, a Leland, North Carolina mother, flew to Geneva, Switzerland to speak before the United Nations Human Rights Council about forever chemical pollution in southeastern North Carolina and around the United States. Donovan participated in the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on hazardous substances and wastes on September 14, 2026. This was part of events surrounding the presentation of the first ever UN report on Forever Chemicals and Human Rights.
The resulting report concludes PFAS pose a profound threat to human rights and the environment and calls for an immediate coordinated ban on all non-essential uses while governments enter into global negotiations to phase out the entire class of forever chemicals in legally binding ways. Governments are called to take immediate actions to end existing human rights violations in PFAS sacrifice zones by providing medical monitoring and treatment for victims with existing exposures.
“The United States is the birthplace of forever chemicals and much of the contamination globally can be traced back to irresponsible business practices from only a handful of PFAS producers,” says Emily Donovan, co-founder of Clean Cape Fear. “I live in a PFAS sacrifice zone and communities like mine all over the United States are begging world leaders to act right now on the UN report’s findings.”
Three years ago, Clean Cape Fear helped bring the first-ever U.S.-based United Nations investigation into PFAS contamination of the Lower Cape Fear region. This led to UN human rights experts formally calling out DuPont and Chemours for business-related human rights abuses tied directly to half a century of forever chemicals contamination in North Carolina from the Fayetteville Works Facility. PFAS persist and accumulate in people and ecosystems and cannot be effectively removed once widely dispersed. Due to this, the new UN report emphasizes the need to prevent PFAS pollution at its source rather than continuing to place the burden of contamination, treatment and cleanup on impacted communities. The report also finds that PFAS contamination disproportionately burdens workers and vulnerable populations.
“They poisoned our water and our blood. We didn’t ask for any of this,” adds Donovan. “PFAS polluters picked a fight with the wrong communities. The chemical industry has had decades to correct their behavior yet continue to ignore our most basic human rights. United States regulations have not stopped production or provided meaningful remedies. That’s why we need a globally coordinated intervention." Clean Cape Fear, in solidarity with the National PFAS Contamination Coalition which includes over 30 grassroots community groups in 21 states, demands the United States and other nations:
Immediately cease all non-essential uses and engage in a global, legally binding phase-out strategy for the entire class of forever chemicals rooted in Green Chemistry guidelines.
Urgently act to end human rights violations in PFAS sacrifice zones by providing medical monitoring and treatment to contaminated communities.
Issue strong deterrent measures which provide access to justice and environmental restoration that goes beyond drinking water filtration.