2026 International Youth Nuclear Disarmament Summit

Preamble

We, the youth participants of the 2026 International Youth Nuclear Disarmament Summit, gathered in New York on 25 April 2026, ahead of the 2026 NPT Review Conference, unite in our shared commitment to peace, human dignity, international security, and the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

Recognizing the catastrophic humanitarian, environmental, and intergenerational consequences of nuclear weapons, we affirm that the continued existence of such arms endangers all peoples and all futures. As young people, we have a particular stake in creating a world free from nuclear threat.

Our Concerns

We express grave concern over:

1. The continued possession and modernization of nuclear arsenals.

2. The growing risk of nuclear escalation, whether deliberate, accidental, or miscalculated.

3. The immense humanitarian impact of any use or testing of nuclear weapons.

4. The diversion of global resources away from education, health, climate action, and sustainable development.

5. The exclusion of young people from many disarmament and security processes that will shape their future. 

Our Principles

We ground this declaration in the following principles:

• The equal dignity and worth of every human life

• Peaceful coexistence among nations

• Respect for international law

• Accountability across generations

• Inclusion of youth in global decision-making

• The urgent moral and political necessity of nuclear disarmament

• Our shared responsibility to protect our common environment

Our Calls to Action

We call upon governments, international organizations, civil society, and all relevant stakeholders to:

1. Reaffirm the commitment to the complete elimination of nuclear weapons through concrete, time-bound, and verifiable measures. 

2. Reduce immediate nuclear risks by strengthening safeguards against accidental or intentional use.

3. Revitalize multilateral disarmament diplomacy, especially within the framework of the NPT and related international processes. 

4. Recognise the harm already caused by nuclear weapons on the environment and affected communities. In this regard, we call for all NPT States Parties to support references to the legacy of nuclear weapons in the outcome document and support the International Meeting on Victim Assistance and Environmental Remediation

5. Call for Renewed Commitments by the Middle Power States, especially Canada and Japan, in addressing the harm caused by nuclear weapons

6. Request all States to support an International Trust Fund on Victim Assistance and Environmental Remediation 

7. Advance transparency and accountability regarding nuclear doctrines, arsenals, and modernization programs.

8. Center the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons in all policy discussions through the inclusion of the perspectives of affected communities and survivors.

9. Ensure meaningful youth participation in disarmament, peace, and security forums at local, national, and international levels.

10. Invest in peace education, dialogue, and international cooperation so that future generations may inherit a more secure world.

Youth Commitments

As youth delegates and advocates, we commit to:

1. Raising awareness in our schools, communities, and institutions about the dangers of nuclear weapons.

2. Building cross-border solidarity among young people working for peace and justice.

3. Promoting dialogue, education, and public engagement on disarmament issues.

4. Supporting survivors’ voices and the lived testimony of affected communities.

5. Holding leaders accountable for promises made in the name of peace and international security. 

Closing Declaration

We declare that humanity’s future must not remain hostage to nuclear weapons. We reject indifference, delay, and complacency. We stand together in calling for a just, peaceful, and nuclear-weapon-free world.

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Endorsed by Association Katawara; Nuclear Age Peace Foundation and its youth initiative, Reverse The Trend; Qazaq Nuclear Frontline Coalition; Soka Gakkai International; Youth for the TPNW, Senator Marilou McPhedran of Canada; Yerdaulet Rakhmatulla; and Yua Satisu, Rinka Teramito, and Rio Shima, Hiroshima and Nagasaki Peace Messenger