3rd Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
The Third Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (3MSP) was held from March 3 to March 7 2025, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation and its youth initiative, Reverse The Trend brought a large youth delegation, delivered statements, organized side events, and hosted an art exhibition.
Recognition of Financial Support
We are immensely grateful for the contributions from The Telemachus Foundation to Empower the Poor and End War, the Ploughshares Fund, The Simons Foundation, and Joanne Dufour. These contributions enabled us to organize meaningful youth events.
NAPF’s RTT Youth Campaigners Delivered Statements and a Working Paper
We are committed to empowering young people and providing opportunities to express themselves at major UN conferences. It is our belief that diplomats should listen to the voices of young people and their recommendations regarding the implementation of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
You can listen to their statements and read their historic working paper.
Maverick Peter Seda, Frontline Community RTT Pacific Coordinator from the Solomon Islands - Universalization
Maverick Peter Seda calls for the universalization of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, emphasizing moral responsibility and youth-led movements.
Taraem Taukaro, Fourth Generation Survivor - High Level Statement
Taraem discusses her family’s harrowing experiences linked to the nuclear tests conducted on Christmas Island.
Oemwa Johnson, Fourth Generation Survivor- Gender Statement
Oewma Johnson explains the disproportionate impact of ionoizing radiation on women and girls from impacted communities and urges the States Parties to support and empower women and girls.
Dr. Ivana Hughes, President of NAPF, - General Remarks
Dr. Hughes underscores the global threat of nuclear weapons andthe importance of heeding warnings from affected communities. She further outlined key issues, including education, victim assistance, and verification mechanisms.
Oemwa Johnson, Fourth Generation Survivor - Positive Obligations
Oeema discusses the urgent need for States Parties to support the implementation of Articles 6 and 7, including the establishment of an international trust fund.
Yulianna Acuna, NAPF/RTT Costa Rican Youth Participant - Gender Statement
Yulianna provides an overview on the impact of nuclear weapons on women and girls.
Christian Ciobanu - NAPF/RTT - Policy and Advocacy Director and Project Coordinator - Closing Remarks
Christian provides closing remarks, where he thanks Kazakhstan for its leadership and efforts in establishing an international trust fund. He further urges the States Parties to listen to affected communities.
A hybrid press briefing was held on the Third Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The speakers included H.E. Ambassador Akan Rakhmetullin, First Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan and Chair of the 3rd Meeting to Abolish Nuclear Weapons; Melissa Parke, Executive Director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons; Eirini Giorgiou, Legal Advisor for the International Committee of the Red Cross; and Taraem Taukaro, a representative of Kiribati whose family experienced the tragic humanitarian impact of nuclear tests.
3MSP: Press Conference
Side Events
From March 3-7, 2025, we convened a series of events aimed to invigorate the global movement for nuclear disarmament and advance justice for communities affected by nuclear weapons. These gatherings sought to strengthen international cooperation, elevate the voices of youth and affected communities, and foster dialogue on the long-term consequences of nuclear weapons.
By raising awareness and building solidarity, the participants recommitted to helping affected communities and urged States Parties to take progressive action on issues, including the establishment of an international trust fund, empowerment of women and girls, and providing space for young people to express themselves.
Midtown Mixer
On Sunday, March 2, the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation and its youth initiative, Reverse the Trend, hosted an engaging evening of dialogue and reflection in New York. The event brought together advocates, youth leaders, and community members for a Midtown Mixer and a special screening of Shades of Disarmament.
The evening fostered a vibrant atmosphere of networking and discussion, with attendees exchanging ideas on nuclear disarmament and social justice over refreshments. The highlight of the night was the screening of Shades of Disarmament, an original short documentary produced by Reverse the Trend and its supporters. The film revisits the historic 1982 March and Rally for Nuclear Disarmament, highlighting the intersection of environmental justice, social justice, and human rights in the disarmament movement.
Following the screening, we hosted a panel discussion, featuring: Dr. Ivana Hughes, President of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation; Annie Jacobsen, author of Nuclear War: A Scenario; Jim Anderson, President of Peace Action New York State; and Jeremiah Williams, a young activist who interviewed several experts for the film. Read More Here
International Youth Orientation
On Monday, March 3, young leaders from around the world gathered at the Church Center in New York for the International Youth Orientation, an engaging and empowering kickoff to the Third Meeting of States Parties (3MSP) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). The orientation included a high-level panel and two additional panels focusing on why youth engagement matters and the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons and the TPNW. Alei Rizvi of Reverse The Trend moderated the event. Speakers included: representatives from the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, former NAPF/RTT activists, Hiroshima and Nagasaki Peace Messengers, and frontline communities and affected communities from the Solomon Islands, Kazakhstan, and Kiribati.
Nuclear Justice
In their quest for nuclear justice through the establishment of an International Trust Fund, Kiribati and Kazakhstan, in collaboration with the Solomon Islands, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Reverse the Trend (RTT), and Qazaq Nuclear Frontline Coalition, hosted a side event on nuclear justice on March 4, 2025. The event featured speakers such as Ambassador Rakhmetullin, Chair of the Third Meeting of States Parties (3MSP); Ambassador Tito of Kiribati; Dr. Ivana Hughes, President of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation; Maverick Peter Seda, RTT’s Pacific Coordinator; and members of the youth cohort. This signature event focused on advancing the development of the International Trust Fund.
Youth Voices for a Sustainable, Nuclear Weapons-Free Future
On Thursday, March 6, 2025 Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Kazakhstan, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), Marshallese Educational Initiative (MEI), Nuclear Age Peace Foundation (NAPF) and its youth initiative Reverse The Trend (RTT), Qazaq Nuclear Frontline Coalition (QNFC), and Soka Gakkai International (SGI) hosted a meaningful youth event. The event reported on the results of the Youth Peace Awareness Survey, which highlighted youth perspectives on nuclear abolition. By analyzing the findings, participants explored ways to enhance youth participation in the nuclear abolition movement.
The second part of the event featured young leaders from the Pacific Islands and international disarmament organizations who shared firsthand experiences of nuclear legacy and discussed innovative approaches to disarmament education.
Showing of Silent Fallout and Panel Discussion at Columbia University
On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation (NAPF) and Reverse the Trend (RTT) hosted a powerful film screening of Silent Fallout, directed by Japanese filmmaker Hideaki Ito, at Columbia University. The film, narrated by Alec Baldwin, aimed to raise awareness about radiation poisoning and nuclear contamination in the U.S. and globally. Following the screening, Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, and engaged in a Q&A with audience members. Dr. Ivana Hughes of NAPF moderated the panel, which delved into the human cost of nuclear testing and emphasized the critical need for nuclear justice. The event aimed to shed light on the far-reaching impacts of nuclear testing, focusing on the exposure of U.S. communities to fallout from American nuclear tests in the 1950s and 1960s, particularly in the Southwest U.S.
Examining the Relationship between the TPNW and the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons
On March 6, we convened a special event at New York University with the NYU's International Relations Society, Japanese Cultural Association, and Latinos Unidos Con Honor y Amistad. The event featured: Director General Arman Baissuanov of Kazakhstan; H.E. Ambassador Alexander Kmentt of Austria; H.E. Ambassador Elayne Whyte Gómez, the President of the 2017 Negotiating Conference on the TPNW; Yayoi Tsuchida, Assistant General Secretary of Gensuikyo; Masako Wada, Assistant General Secretary of Nihon Hidankyo, the 2024 Nobel Prize Winner; Hiroshima and Nagasaki Peace Messengers; Taraem Taukaro of Kiribati; Maverick Peter Seda, RTT Pacific Coordinator; Asuka Oka, RTT Japan’s coordinator; and Kenneth Chiu, the Communications and Media Coordinator at NAPF.
Gender and Nuclear Weapons
On March 6, 2025, Kiribati, Mexico, NAPF, RTT, and the Simons Foundation Canada co-convened an event focusing on how gender intersects with the impact of nuclear weapons. The discussion raised awareness about the disproportionate effects of nuclear weapons on women and girls. The event also addressed Kiribati's role as Co-Chair of the Informal Working Group on Articles 6 and 7 and Mexico's role as the TPNW Gender Focal Point. The event featured Dr. Ivana Hughes of NAPF; Rooj Ali, RTT’s Canada Coordinator; Senator Marilou McPhedran of Manitoba; and Dr. Jennifer Simons, Founder and President of the Simons Foundation Canada, who delivered the keynote presentation. Oemwa Johnson, a youth delegate of Kiribati; and Sylvia Paola Mendoza, Economic and Social Affairs Coordinator of Mexico served as additional speakers. Stella Dean Rose, a former NAPF intern and youth advisor, moderated the discussion.
On March 7, 2025, NAPF, RTT South and Southeast Asia, and Youth for TPNW hosted a side event focused on the psychological and long-term effects of nuclear weapons, particularly on vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly. The event fostered dialogue and cooperation to create pathways for justice and reconciliation within the ASEAN region.
Given the growing proliferation of nuclear weapons near the ASEAN region—including countries such as India, Pakistan, China, and North Korea—the event highlighted ASEAN as a model for non-proliferation efforts and emphasized its importance in advancing nuclear disarmament.
Lasting Physical and Psychological Effects of Nuclear Weapons
The Power of Art as a Form of Nuclear Justice
Reception
On March 4, 2025, the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation (NAPF) and Reverse the Trend (RTT) hosted a special art reception entitled From the Pacific to the Steppes: Solidarity, Reconciliation, and Nuclear Justice at the Church Center in New York. This impactful event brought together speakers and advocates from various regions affected by nuclear testing to share their personal stories and efforts toward nuclear justice. Speakers included: Christian N. Ciobanu, the Policy and Advocacy Director of NAPF and RTT Project Coordinator; H.E. Ambassador Akan Rakhmetullin, Chair of the 3MSP and Deputy Minister of Kazakhstan; Karipbek Kuyukov, the honorary ambassador of the ATOM Project who also experienced the tragic impact of Soviet testing in Kazakhstan. Keita Takagaki, a youth representative of ICRC Japan; Setsuko Shimomoto, whose family was exposed to fallout; and Ereti Tekabwaia the Principal Officer of the Line and Phoneix Islands of Kiribati.
This brief yet poignant art exhibition aims to center the difficult realities of many youth in the Asia Pacific region and Kazakhstan, as a result of the use and testing of nuclear weapons throughout the 20th century. This exhibit draws attention to the intergenerational effects of nuclear weapons on populations across the globe and art’s unique ability to empower youth voices and construct a deeper sense of international kinship. It also features a series of paintings that are part of Wakana Yamaguchiʼs exhibition “Two Suns.” Yamguchi’s paintings are focused on the Japanese fihsing boats that were exposed to US nuclear testing on Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands.
Youth Perspectives on the 3MSP
During the 3MSP, our amazing youth participants shared their expectations and perspectives about the meeting. Check out their recordings below.
Stella and Ibraheem, two former NAPF interns and RTT activists, discuss their expectations for the 3MSP.
Jonathan , a participant from Cornell University, shares his views about the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the 3MSP.
Representatives of RTT Canada (Linda, Rooj, Naya, and Sarah) share their thoughts about the 3MSP.
Izzah, a participant from Malaysia, presents her views about the TPNW and the 3MSP.
YOUTH TESTIMONIALS
“I had the honor of delivering a civil society statement for the Gender Focal Point at the Third Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW, addressing how nuclear weapons have inflicted lasting harm on women—through radiation exposure, generational health consequences, and systemic marginalization. Too often, these voices have been ignored in the name of ‘security.’
As a young Costa Rican-American woman pursuing a career in diplomacy, international security, and disarmament, I felt it was crucial to emphasize one truth: women and young people aren't just 'tomorrow's leaders'—we are stepping up and speaking out today. I am deeply grateful to NAPF and RTT for giving me the platform to amplify these essential voices in disarmament forums where they have too often been overlooked. This opportunity has left me more inspired than ever to continue advocating for a world free of nuclear weapons!
I also moderated our event at New York University on the humanitarian impacts of nuclear weapons. Bringing together Ambassador Alexander Kmentt of Austria (President of the 1MSP), Ambassador Elayne Whyte of Costa Rica (President of the 2017 Negotiation Conference), 2024 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Masako Wada, (Secretary General of Nihon Hidankyo), and Hiroshima and Nagasaki Peace Messengers, who reinforced why youth involvement in this movement is critical. Seeing everyone engage deeply with these powerful voices reminded me that we are not just the next generation of leaders—we are leading now.”
- Yulianna Acuna, New York University
“During the week of March 3rd to 7th, I had the opportunity to be at the United Nations Headquarters for the Third Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)! A huge thank you to the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation and Reverse The Trend for having me as part of the youth delegation.
A special highlight was getting to spend my 21st birthday, March 4th, at the UN—an amazing way to celebrate! From getting interviewed by a Japanese news station to hearing from diplomats and amazing global leaders and experts, each moment was eye-openiny and inspiring. My favorite moments included hearing from the delegations of Kiribati and Kazakhstan and meeting 2024 Nobel Peace Prize winner Masako Wada (Under-Secretary General of Nihon Hidankyo).
I’m beyond grateful to have had the chance to support the TPNW and its peacekeeping efforts. Thank you again to Christian Ciobanu and Yulianna Acuña for your incredible support. The TPNW and the work we've done over the past few months have deepened my passion for nuclear disarmament, and I’m excited to keep contributing to this important cause!”
- Julia da Silva Roberto, NYU
”I am honored to have participated as a civil society delegate at the Third Meeting of States Parties (MSP) to the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons!
Serving as an event organizer and head of press and media management for Reverse The Trend throughout the week was an invaluable experience. I had the privilege of engaging in dialogue with international parliamentarians, academics, community leaders, and youth, highlighting key efforts toward total disarmament. It was especially meaningful to reflect on the progress made since attending the first and second MSP and to witness the remarkable growth of this movement.
I was also grateful for the opportunity to speak on two panels, sharing insights on my work and background in disarmament efforts alongside distinguished leaders, civil society representatives, and renowned experts.”
- Rooj Ali, University of Toronto and RTT Canada Coordinator (need permission)
“I’m incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as a Youth Delegate for Reverse The Trend and Nuclear Age Peace Foundation at the Third Meeting of States Parties (3MSP) for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). It was inspiring to witness firsthand the global commitment to nuclear disarmament and to participate in key discussions shaping the future of a world free from nuclear weapons.
Attending plenary sessions and engaging in impactful side events deepened my understanding of the diverse strategies needed to advance this cause. One standout was Artists Against the Bomb, where panellists — including co-founder of Ben & Jerry's Ben Cohen, artist Pedro Reyes, and Mr. Eduardo Alcibiades Sanchez Kiesslich (Permanent Mission of Mexico) — discussed how media, pop culture, and art can mobilize public support and pressure governments to take action against nuclear weapons. The session, mediated by Melissa Parke, Executive Director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), emphasised the power of creative activism in shaping policy and public opinion.
Another crucial conversation took place at the Gender and Nuclear Weapons side event, featuring an insightful panel including Rooj Ali (RTT Canada Coordinator), Dr Jennifer Simons (The Simons Foundation Canada), H.E. Ambassador Alicia Buenrostro (Permanent Mission of Mexico), Dr Ivana Nikolic Hughes (NAPF President), and Senator Marilou McPhedran. Mediated by Stella Rose, the discussion highlighted the disproportionate impact of nuclear testing on women in affected communities and the historic exclusion of women from nuclear policy-making — an erasure that must be addressed to achieve a truly equitable and effective disarmament movement.”
- Zein Blanks, New York University