80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
First Committee
What is the UNGA First Committee?
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) First Committee, also known as the Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC), is one of six main committees of the UN General Assembly. It is responsible for addressing global challenges related to disarmament, international security, and the promotion of peace.
The Committee discusses a wide range of issues, including nuclear disarmament, other weapons of mass destruction, conventional weapons disarmament, regional issues, the prevention of an arms race in outer space, disarmament machinery, and measures to strengthen international security and trust among States.
The First Committee’s deliberations are especially significant for the work of RTT, as they provide a key forum for States and civil society to engage in dialogue, promoting disarmament initiatives, and reaffirming the importance of diplomacy over militarization.
First Committee: UN Advocacy on Nuclear Justice
New Modalities Resolution on the 2026 Resolution
Highlights: Member States, Observers States and Observers, plus civil society, UN agencies, scientists, and affected community will come together for the first-ever meeting on victim assistance and environmental remediation
Date of International Meeting: Early 2026
During the 80th Session of the UNGA First Committee, NAPF and RTT Youth Activists played an active role, where they collaborated with the penholders, Kazakhstana and Kiribati to build cross-regional support for the updated resolution on the legacy of nuclear weapons. The resolution is focused on the participation of key actors to the international meeting. Through dialogue and collaboration, NAPF=RTT youth ensured that affected communities would be invited.
Voting Results
Our Side Event on Gender and Nuclear Weapons
NAPF & RTT Host UNGA Side Event!
On October 16, 2025, the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation (NAPF) and its Youth Initiative, Reverse The Trend (RTT), co-hosted a UN side event with the Permanent Missions of Kiribati, Kazakhstan, and Malta on gender and nuclear weapons. Moderated by Christian N. Ciobanu, the discussion explored gender dimensions of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and emphasized inclusive approaches to peace and security. Distinguished speakers from the UN Office For Disarmament Affairs, International Committee of the Red Cross, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, and the Hiroshima Organization for Global Peace highlighted the disproportionate impacts of nuclear weapons on women, the importance of gender parity in disarmament, and the vital role of youth and women in advancing nuclear justice and sustainable peace.
Read more about this event — featuring insights from NAPF- RTT youth leaders — in the First Committee Monitor. The Side Event Report: Gender and Nuclear Weapons, appears on page 57. You can also read Julia Roberto’s statement on the intersectionality of gender and nuclear weapons here.
Side event reports by
NAPF - RTT Youth Activists
Legal and Humanitarian Implications of Bias in Military AI
By Mohammed Alkurashi
WPS and Disarmament
By Mohammed Alkurashi
New START
By Sofia Dominguez-Trejo
Gender and Nuclear Weapons
By Sofia Dominguez-Trejo
Unlocking Progress on PAROS
By Sofia Dominguez-Trejo
Collaborating with Other Youth Organizations:
Youth Statements at the First Committee
Collaborating with the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs
Since 2019, the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA) has empowered young leaders through its #Youth4Disarmament programme, connecting youth with experts to advance global peace and security. Building on this foundation, the first of its kind UN Youth4Disarmament Forum took place in New York 16-17 October 2025 as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and policy influence. This first edition of the Forum focused on nuclear weapons and emerging technologies. It also served as an opportunity to commemorate key disarmament milestones: 80 years since the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and 55 years since the adoption of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
As part of the forum, UNODA hosted a panel discussion on careers in the disarmament field. Christian N. Ciobanu, NAPF Policy and Advocacy Director and the Project Coordinator of RTT, served as a panelist.
Testimonies
“The oppourtunity to be in the room where real-world decisions are made was one that has changed my perspective on the work I want to do after graduating.”
Sofia Dominguez-Trejo, Youth Campaigner
“First Committee showed me that even in moments of political tension, the multilateral process still holds space for progress. When states and NGOs advocate for confidence-building measures, it becomes a pathway for consensus.”
Douaa Ahmed, Youth Campaigner
“It was eye-opening to witness how the UN makes decisions. This experience made me recognize the importance of gender equality in global spaces.”
Julia Roberto, Youth Campaigner
