Since nuclear weapons
testing began in the mid-twentieth century, with the first test on 16 July
1945, nearly 2,000 have taken place. There has been little consideration of the
devastating effects of testing on human life, let alone the understanding of nuclear
fallout from atmospheric tests. Early on, having nuclear weapons was a measure
of scientific sophistication or military might. Hindsight and history have
shown us the terrifying and tragic effects of nuclear weapons testing,
especially when controlled conditions go awry, and in light of today’s nuclear
weapons which are far more powerful and destructive. Subsequent incidents
world-wide have provided compelling reasons for the need to observe the
International Day against Nuclear Tests - a day in which educational events,
activities and messages aim to capture the world’s attention and underscore the
need for a unified attempt in preventing further nuclear weapons testing.
The international
instrument to put an end to all forms of nuclear testing is the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban
Treaty (CTBT), which has however yet to enter into force.
On 2 December 2009, the
64th session of the United Nations General Assembly declared 29 August the
International Day against Nuclear Tests by unanimously adopting resolution
64/35. The resolution calls for increasing awareness and education
“about the effects of nuclear weapon test explosions or any other nuclear
explosions and the need for their cessation as one of the means of achieving
the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world.” The resolution was initiated by the
Republic of Kazakhstan, together with a large number of sponsors and cosponsors
with a view to commemorate the closure of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test site
on 29 August 1991. The Day is meant to galvanize the United Nations, Member
States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, academic
institutions, youth networks and the media to inform, educate and advocate the
necessity of banning nuclear weapon tests as a valuable step towards achieving
a safer world.
2010 marked the
inaugural commemoration of the International Day against Nuclear Tests. Each
year, since then, the day has been observed by coordinating various activities
throughout the world, such as symposia, conferences, exhibits, competitions,
publications, instruction in academic institutions, media broadcasts and
others. A number of events
have been held at United Nations Headquarters, as well. Similar activities are
planned for the 2015 observance.
Since its
establishment, many bilateral and multilateral governmental level developments
as well as broad movements in civil society and efforts of the UN
Secretary-General himself have helped to advance the cause of banning nuclear
tests.
Moreover, “convinced that nuclear disarmament and the total elimination of nuclear weapons are the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of nuclear weapons,” the General Assembly designated 26 September as the “International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons", which is devoted to furthering the objective of the total elimination of nuclear weapons, through the mobilization of international efforts. First proposed in October 2013, resolution (A/RES/ 68/32) was a follow-up to the high-level meeting on nuclear disarmament held on 26 September 2013 in the UN General Assembly. The International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons was observed for the first time in September 2014.
Moreover, “convinced that nuclear disarmament and the total elimination of nuclear weapons are the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of nuclear weapons,” the General Assembly designated 26 September as the “International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons", which is devoted to furthering the objective of the total elimination of nuclear weapons, through the mobilization of international efforts. First proposed in October 2013, resolution (A/RES/ 68/32) was a follow-up to the high-level meeting on nuclear disarmament held on 26 September 2013 in the UN General Assembly. The International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons was observed for the first time in September 2014.
UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon has stated with great clarity: “A world free of nuclear weapons
would be a global public good of the highest order.” Defining a ban on nuclear
weapons as “vital”, in May of 2010, all the States Parties to the Treaty on the
Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, committed themselves to aim to
“achieve the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons.”
The International Day
against Nuclear Tests, together with other events and actions, has fostered a
global environment with more optimistic prospects towards a world free of
nuclear weapons. There have been visible signs of progress on various fronts
but, equally, challenges remain. This was most apparent at the 2015 Review Conference on the Treaty
of Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) held at the United
Nations in New York from 27 April to 22 May, in which Parties to the Treaty
failed to come to an agreement on the substantive part of the draft Final
Document. In a Statement to
the Conference on Disarmament (CD) on 7 July 2015, Mr. Kim Won-soo,
Acting High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, said, “The failure of the
NPT Review Conference to reach a consensus outcome—and the frustration felt by
States parties—makes the imperative for the CD to break the two decade-long
stalemate even more urgent.”
It is the hope of the
UN that one day all nuclear weapons will be eliminated. Until then, there is a
need to observe International Day against Nuclear Tests as we work towards
promoting peace and security world-wide.
