2023 NPT PrepCom: Side Event on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons

Report

By Harris Agha, RTT

On 2 August 2023, the Republics of Kiribati, Kazakhstan, and the Marshall Islands, as well as the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Reverse The Trend: Save Our People, Save Our Planet, and the Marshallese Educational Initiative held a side event at NPT PrepCom entitled “The Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons.”

The speakers were H.E. Ambassador Teburoro Tito, Permanent Representative of Kiribati; Zhangeldy Syrymbet, Counsellor to the Mission of Kazakhstan; Benetick Kabua Maddison, Executive Director of the Marshallese Educational Initiative and RTT Advisor; Dr. Ivana Nikolić Hughes, President of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation; and Dr. Becky Alexis-Martin, Professor of Peace, and International Development at the University of Bradford.

Panelists provided their insights into the multifaceted nature of nuclear weapons, and their humanitarian impact. Ambassador Tito discussed the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons in Kiribati and provided insights on how to engage in constructive dialogue with states regarding nuclear disarmament. Counsellor Syrymbet discussed Kazakhstan’s historical legacy of Soviet nuclear tests and highlighted Kiribati and Kazakhstan’s working paper 27 entitled Addressing the Past Use and Testing of Nuclear Weapons.

Benetick Kabua Maddison of MEI discussed the Marshall Islands’ treatment. He advocated the need for the citizens of Marshall Island to receive nuclear justice by the United States.

Building upon Maddison’s presentation, Dr. Nikolić Hughes delivered a presentation on past, present, and future use of nuclear weapons. She underscored the disastrous effects of a limited nuclear war between two nuclear-armed states on both humanity and the environment. In her video, Dr. Becky Alexis-Martin discussed her field work on Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati, and the significance of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Afterwards, the floor was opened up to the audience for questions. Panelists responded to questions and discussed how the narrative can be shifted in order for the non-nuclear weapon states to hold the nuclear-weapon states for their tests. The panelists further touched upon their hopes for the NPT PrepCom.

Afterwards, several audience members approached the panelists, eager to discuss about the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons and Kiribati and Kazakhstan’s joint working paper.