Introduction – The 1960s and early 1970s were characterised by the British government’s forceful removal of approximately 15000 Chagossians from the Chagos Islands. The actions that followed were influenced by legislation attributed to the declaration of the Chagos-Marine Protected Area (MPA), which restricted Chagossians from coming back to their homeland and enabled the exploitation of their land’s resources.
The environmental injustices enabled by the MPA declaration are an overlook area of the Chagos disputes. Therefore, my interests are focused on considering their implications on International Social Work (ISW) as an integral part of international law. The considered materials include court rulings, government reports, and academic publications focusing on the MPA.
Chagos MPA Case Study – Consisting of more than 50 small islands, the Chagos Archipelago is among the wealthiest ecosystems in the world, as apparent from the exceptional environmental values. However, the MPA facilitated activities of Chagossians and other populations in the name of protecting the marine environment. As a result, the region was depopulated, and the No-Take Zone clause on the MPA instituted strong protection bans on activities such as commercial fishing. Unfortunately, the efforts to protect the Chagos marine environment in the name of military security do not extend to those in the US bases. Moreover, they act as a justification for denying Chagossians their right to return and live in their homeland. Reasons such as the high cost of resettlement and the significance of international security apply in perpetuating the environmental injustices.
Environmental Justice under International Law – The international law depicts environmental justice as fairness in the association between people and their natural environment. However, as a multi-dimensional concept comprising elements of distribution, recognition, and procedure, it was overlooked in the case of the Chagos Islands, particularly given the unhealthy environment for the Chagossians. Additionally, there was no equal protection from environmental destructions, equivalent access to environmental resources and information, and impartial involvement in making decisions attributed to the environment.
Repercussions on ISW – The transnational entanglement typifying the daily life of Chagossians highlights the need for comprehensive ISW frameworks as part of international laws safeguarding people and communities. The case of the Chagossian community depicts a perfect example of how environmental injustice can be a complicated environmental and socio-political problem. Given such circumstances, contemporary interventions need to be comprehensive by ensuring they surpass national borders.