Campaign for Nuclear Justice
The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation and its youth initiative, Reverse the Trend (RTT) have initiated a collaborative campaign with frontline communities and allies to raise awareness about nuclear justice. The recent desire amongst States to establish an International Trust Fund, under the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and the UN General Assembly Resolution on Addressing the Legacy of Nuclear Weapons underscore a growing global recognition on nuclear justice.
We stand firm on supporting nuclear justice by collaborating with the Co-Chairs of Articles 6 and 7 of the TPNW, Kiribati and Kazakhstan and amplifying the voices of survivors and communities impacted by the devastation of nuclear weapons.
The campaign will employ a multifaceted approach, including hybrid events aimed at engaging stakeholders, gathering perspectives on the international trust fund, and showcasing the stories of those affected by nuclear weapons through various media, such as recordings and speeches.
At the heart of this initiative lies the mobilization of affected communities’ voices to instigate enduring change.
We are dedicated to fostering a platform for these voices, ensuring their impact resonates in the pursuit of nuclear justice worldwide.
RTT’s Pacific Chapter and Maverick Peter Seda, an ally and RTT Coordinator from the Solomon Islands, is assisting with this project.
Learn More about RTT Pacific Here.
Launch of Our Nuclear Justice Campaign
Ereti Tekabaia
Advisor
Ereti Tekabaia was born and raised in Kiritimati Island. She is currently working at the Tourism Authority of Kiribati as the head of its subdivision based in Kiritimati Island and looks after tourism development and management in the Line & Phoenix Islands. Ereti loves working with the communities and on community projects especially the youth. Ereti played a significant role in the establishment of the Environment Youth Club in Kiritimati in 2009, a sister organization of the Environment Youth Club based in Tarawa, the capital of Kiribati.
She enjoys collecting and compiling stories and experiences that are related to Kiritimati history. That is how she became involved with victims of the British and US nuclear tests and the British veterans.
Oemwa Johson
Campaigner
Oemwa is from Kiribati and is currently pursuing her studies at Brigham Young University Hawaii. Growing up in a small island nation deeply affected by the nuclear testing legacy, she has witnessed the struggles that come with limited access to healthcare. This has fueled her passion for studying Biology and pursuing a career in the medical field. She hopes to use her skills and knowledge to empower individuals and communities from the Pacific Islands to advocate for nuclear justice.
Meet Our Team
Brock Walker
Campaign Manager
Brock Walker is from Las Vegas, Nevada, just 65 miles south of the Nevada Test Site. The deep impact of the legacy of nuclear testing motivates his pursuit of justice for frontline communities.
He recently graduated from the Dual Bachelor of Arts Program between SciencesPo and Columbia University. In the program, he attained two inter-discplinary degrees: Economics-Sociology (SciencesPo) and Economics - Political Science (Columbia). Throughout his studies, he extensively studied nuclear testing and international norms surrounding test bans.
He is passionate about nuclear justice and previously participated in RTT’s youth delegation to the 2nd Meeting of States of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Brock moderated the nuclear justice campaign launch event.
At the 2nd Meeting of States Parties, he delivered a youth statement on the implementation of humanitarian provisions to help the victims of the use and testing of nuclear weapons and remediate contaminated environments (Articles 6 and 7).
Maverick Peter Seda
RTT Pacific Coordinator
Maverick Peter Seda is an indigenous Pacific Islander from the Solomon Islands. Presently, he is pursuing his studies at the University of the South Pacific, Solomon Islands campus. In addition to Maverick’s academic endeavors, he is actively involved with youth groups and Civil Society Organizations. His work primarily focuses on advocating for and lobbying the Solomon Islands Government on issues that are significant to the people of the Solomon Islands and the broader Pacific Island community.
Franscine Anmontha
Social Media Coordinator
Franscine Anmontha Malieitulua is not only a descendant of survivors of the catastrophic Bravo Shot that devastated the Marshall Islands but also a tireless advocate for nuclear justice. With a deep-rooted commitment to her heritage and community, she plays an integral role in the Utah Marshallese Association, where she mentors and empowers youth.
Franscine's passion for civic engagement extends beyond borders. She is driven by the urgent need to address the interconnected challenges of nuclear proliferation and climate change, particularly in the Pacific region. She aspires to broaden the scope of her impact, aiming to amplify voices and catalyze change globally through her active involvement with organizations such as the Marshallese Educational Initiative (MEI) and Reverse the Trend (RTT).
Ariera Atiton
Campaigner
Ariera Atiton is a proud island girl who was born and raised on Kiritimati Island, a northern part of Kiribati situated on the north side of the Equator close to the Hawaiian Islands. She is very passionate about the protection and conservation of the environment and its resources, as well as climate change. Ariera is a former USP student, and now serves as a wildlife officer at the Wildlife Conservation Unit under the Ministry of Environments, Lands, and Agricultural Department in Kiritimati.
Nuclear Justice in Kazakhstan
On August 29th, 2024, the International Day Against Nuclear Tests, we hosted this forum with the Steppe Organization for Peace (STOP) and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Foundation Kazakhstan in Astana, Kazakhstan. This forum provided an opportunity for youth from impacted communities to discuss the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons and lay the foundation for an international network. Participants included survivors of nuclear weapons, activists from Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Marshall Islands South Korea, and the Solomon Islands. The participants presented a youth declaration to Kazakhstan and Kiribati, the Co-Chairs of Victim Assistance, Environmental Remediation, International Cooperation and Assistance.
The forum was held in connection with the Coordination Committee meeting of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and closely associated with the Nuclear Survivors Forum organized by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), in partnership with STOP, Center for International Security and Peace (CISP), and Peace Boat.
We are very grateful to the Telemachus Foundation to Empower the Poor and End War, The Prospect Hill Foundation, Joanne Dufour and James Manista for supporting this youth forum.
Nuclear Justice Activities in Geneva
Co-Chairs of the Intersessional Working Group on Victim Assistance, Environmental Remediation, International Cooperation and Assistance
As per the Vienna Action Plan and the decisions passed at the 2nd Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibititon of Nuclear Weapons, Kazakhstan and Kiribati have been appointed as the co-chairs of the intersessional working group on victim assistance, environmental remediation, international cooperation and assistance. They are determined to establish the International Trust Fund for victims and environmental remediation by the Third Meeting of States Parties. Our commitment involves ongoing consultations with them to ensure the effective implementation and evaluate the potential impact of the fund.
Ambassador Akan Rakhmetullin
of Kazakhstan to the United Nations
Ambassador Teburoro Tito
of Kiribati to the United Nations
Second Meeting of State Parties Decision on International Trust Fund
Decision 4: International trust fund for victim assistance and environmental remediation
The Meeting of States Parties decides:
(a) That focused discussions will be held under the informal working group on victim assistance, environmental remediation, international cooperation and assistance, taking into account inter alia document TPNW/MSP/2023/3, regarding the feasibility of, and possible guidelines for, establishing an international trust fund for victim assistance and environmental remediation.
(b) That a report will be submitted to the third Meeting of States Parties with recommendations related to the feasibility of, and possible guidelines for, the establishment of an international trust fund for victim assistance and environmental remediation, with the aim of examining the establishment of such a trust fund at the third Meeting of States Parties as a priority.
Video Statements on Nuclear Justice at the 2nd Meeting of States Parties
Historic UN Resolution Addressing the Legacy of Nuclear Weapons
On December 22, 2023, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a landmark resolution titled "Addressing the Legacy of Nuclear Weapons: Providing Victim Assistance and Environmental Remediation to States Affected by the Use or Testing of Nuclear Weapons." 161 states voted in favor of the resolution at the UN General Assembly, following an overwhelming 171 votes in favor of the resolution at the UN General Assembly’s First Committee.
The resolution, tabled by Kazakhstan and Kiribati, is significant due to the profound impact of nuclear testing conducted by the Soviet Union in Kazakhstan and by the United States and the United Kingdom in Kiribati. The resolution also refers to the Human Rights Council resolution 51/35 entitled “Technical assistance and capacity-building to address the human rights implications of the nuclear legacy in the Marshall Islands,” which requests OHCHR to prepare a report that examines the challenges and barriers to the full realization and enjoyment of the human rights of the people of the Marshall Islands, stemming from the State’s nuclear legacy. Moreover, the resolution sets forth measures to assess the effects of nuclear tests and explores avenues for providing practical and financial assistance to affected states. Notably, this resolution was co-sponsored by 41 UN Member States from diverse global regions, underscoring the widespread recognition of the urgent need to address the enduring consequences of nuclear weapons.
This UNGA resolution represents a pivotal step in the ongoing effort to address the far-reaching implications of nuclear weapons and work towards achieving nuclear justice. Its primary purpose is to establish the framework for global collaboration and support aimed at mitigating the severe damage suffered by countries affected by the use or testing of nuclear weapons.