International Day for Disarmament and Nonproliferation Awareness

On March 5th, the Permanent Missions of Kyrgyzstan and Viet Nam, alongside Columbia University’s Frontiers of Science Program, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), and the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation (NAPF) sponsored an event at the United Nations to mark the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness. Representatives from member states, civil society organizations, and disarmament experts gathered to focus on the importance of education, youth engagement, and multilateral cooperation. Speakers underscored that raising awareness and strengthening dialogue across governments and younger generations will be critical for the long-term process toward nuclear disarmament.

Key remarks and panel interventions were delivered by Mr. Adedeji Ebo, Director and Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs; H.E. Mrs. Aida Kasymalieva, Permanent Representative of Kyrgyzstan to the UN; Mr. Hoang Nguyen, Charge d’affaires of Viet Nam to the UN; Ms. Nompumelelo Sibiya, representative of South Africa to the UN; Mr. Seth Shelden, General Counsel and UN Liaison for the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons; Dr. Ivana Nikolic Hughes, President of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation; and Ms. Yulianna Acuña, a youth adviser of NAPF/RTT.

Director Adedeji Ebo opened the discussion by underscoring that disarmament and arms control remain indispensable to reducing human suffering and strengthening international security. He highlighted the office’s commitment to expanding youth involvement, recognizing that young people will shape the future security landscape. 

Following these remarks, Ambassador Aida Kasymalieva identified engagement, sustainability, and communication as the three pillars of effective disarmament education. She advocated for the use of diverse platforms, including art, music, and personal storytelling, to communicate complex security issues to broader audiences.

Representing Vietnam, Mr. Hoang Nguyen noted that the International Day serves as a reminder of the shared global responsibility to protect humanity from war. He argued that nuclear non-proliferation cannot be addressed by any single state alone, emphasizing that transparent multilateral processes and collective security are essential. 

Ms. Nompumelelo Sibiya of South Africa further highlighted the role of education within the framework of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Invoking Article 5 of the treaty, she drew particular attention to the disproportionate effects of ionizing radiation on women and children and the severe environmental and health risks posed by nuclear weapons.

Civil society perspectives were provided by Seth Shelden of ICAN, who emphasized that the TPNW is the first global treaty to comprehensively ban nuclear weapons. He noted that 99 states, more than half of all countries worldwide, have signed the agreement. Shelden raised concerns regarding technological vulnerabilities, such as the risk of computer malfunctions in nuclear systems, and presented a video showcasing the risk of a “stark regression to a darker age of human tyranny.”

Dr. Ivana Nikolic Hughes reflected on the intersection of science and policy, asserting that education is an increasingly vital tool for diplomats. She invoked Albert Einstein’s warning that while the weapons of a third world war are unknown, a fourth would be fought with “sticks and stones.” 

This sentiment was echoed by youth advisor Yulianna Acuña, who argued that the consequences of nuclear policies are borne by those who had no role in their creation. She called for disarmament advocacy to move beyond symbolic days and become a sustained part of public awareness.

During the interactive segment, a participant from El Salvador inquired how international institutions could more effectively involve young people. Seth Shelden, Ivana Nikolic Hughes, and Director Ebo collectively proposed integrating disarmament into national security strategies and utilizing historical lessons like the Cuban Missile Crisis. They concluded by emphasizing the power of music and storytelling to make technical disarmament issues accessible to the next generation.