France: The French Senate has unanimously adopted a pivotal bill aimed at formally recognizing the victims of French nuclear tests conducted in French Polynesia. This legislative move, passed on Thursday, is designed to enhance access to compensation for individuals who were exposed to radiation during decades of nuclear testing.

According to Anadolu Agency, the newly proposed legislation categorizes as victims those residents of French Polynesia who lived there during the nuclear testing era and subsequently developed any of the 23 recognized forms of cancer. Beyond recognizing victims, the bill also permits the heirs of these victims to seek compensation and mandates that France cover the related medical expenses incurred by those affected.

The legislation's adoption took place during a public session in the Senate. France's nuclear testing program in French Polynesia spanned from 1966 to 1996, involving 193 tests, including 46 atmospheric tests that significantly increased radioactivity levels in the atmosphere. The radioactive clouds that resulted from these tests contaminated numerous islands, sparking ongoing criticism from local communities and anti-nuclear activists who have long expressed concerns about the enduring health and environmental impacts.

In 2010, France enacted the Morin Law to allow cancer patients residing in affected areas to file for compensation claims. However, critics have consistently argued that the process remained overly restrictive and challenging for many applicants, prompting calls for reform and the introduction of the new legislation.