Case No
Country
Mandate(s)
Summary of the allegation transmitted
Reply
USA 6/2015
11/05/2015 United States
JAL
of America
African descent;
Health;
Hazardous
substances and
wastes;
11/09/2015
Allegation that members of a family in the United States of America suffered and
continue to suffer from the adverse impact of toxic mercury which was used as a form of
treatment for a sexually transmitted disease in the Rosenwald Fund Study. According to
the information received, the Rosenwald Fund Study was launched in 1929 by the
Government and involved approximately 40,000 African-Americans from six southern
states. It is alleged that participants of the study, including Mr. Chester Noel and other
members of his family, have suffered from the adverse effect of mercury and that
multiple generations of the Noel family, including Ms. Helen Noel, as the descendants of
the original victims exposed to mercury continue to suffer from adverse health impacts.
Furthermore, it is alleged that the Government has not investigated these allegations and
as a result the subjects of the Rosenwald Fund Study and their descendants have not
received an effective remedy.
SAU 2/2015
13/05/2015 Saudi Arabia
JUA
Freedom of
religion;
Summary
executions;
Alleged imposition of the death penalty after a trial that did not comply with due process 18/05/2015
26/10/2015
and fair trial guarantees. According to the new information received, Mr. Sheikh Nimr
Baqir Al-Nimr, who was sentenced to death on 15 October 2014 after a trial that
allegedly did not meet the most stringent due process and fair trial guarantees, has been
subjected to increasing ill-treatment. In addition, it has been reported that in April 2015
the authorities performed a medical intervention to extract a bullet from his body to
prepare him for the execution. It is reported that it is a common practice in the country to
remove, prior to an execution, all foreign objects from a person, which suggests that his
execution may be imminent. Mr. Sheikh Nimr Baqir Al-Nimr was the subject of two
previous communications sent on 28 August 2014, see A/HRC/28/85, case no. SAU
7/2014, and on 17 November 2014, see A/HRC/28/85, case no. SAU 12/2014.
A/HRC/31/79
184
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