UN Report Declares PFAS a Human Rights Violation
Anna Makowski, Bethanie Carney Almroth (UN Special Rapporteur) and Emily Donovan, at the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.
GENEVA, Switzerland — Sept. 13, 2026
Emily Donovan, Clean Cape Fear Co-founder and Leland, North Carolina mother, traveled 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 a series of events surrounding the presentation of the first-ever UN report on Forever Chemicals and Human Rights.
The resulting report concludes that 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 on to take immediate action to end existing human rights violations in PFAS sacrifice zones by providing medical monitoring and treatment for people already exposed.
"The United States is the birthplace of forever chemicals, and much of the contamination happening globally can be traced back to irresponsible business practices from 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." -Emily Donovan, Co-founder, Clean Cape Fear
Resources:
United Nations Events:
Mark Ruffalo, actor and activist; Rob Bilott, environmental attorney; Emily Donovan, co-founder, Clean Cape Fear speaking about the new UN report on PFAS.
Actions You Can Take
This report is a critical step in raising the alarm on PFAS pollution around the world. In the United States, forever chemical pollution has threatened our drinking water, contaminated our land, and impaired the very ecosystems we use for survival. The lower Cape Fear region is an internationally recognized PFAS sacrifice zone and one of the most polluted areas in the country thanks to companies like Chemours who want to expand PFAS production in North Carolina!
The UN's human rights report is clear: we can't filter our way out of this crisis. We must stop forever chemical pollution before it reaches our water, air, and soil. Make your voices heard:
1. Stop PFAS at the source.
Chemours wants to expand production at its Fayetteville Works plant on the Cape Fear River. Tell Gov. Josh Stein (919) 814-2000 and NC DEQ (919) 707-8626: deny the Chemours expansion permit. Call their offices and sign our petition.
2. Read and share the report.
Read the UN's first-ever report on forever chemicals and human rights, Forever chemicals and human rights (A/HRC/63/27), and share this page with someone who drinks water. The more people who know, the harder it is to ignore.
3. Subscribe to our mailing list.
Stay up to date and know when there are actions you can take to fight PFAS contamination. SUBSCRIBE