PURPOSE: The United Nations General Assembly by resolution established the International Day against Nuclear Tests to be celebrated each year on August 30th, with the aims to prevent more of the “devastating and harmful effects on the lives and health of people and the environment” caused by nuclear testing. The nuclear legacy of tests resulted in detrimental humanitarian, environmental and socio-economic consequences, leaving a mark for people to suffer after 30 years past and still continue to influence the lives of the victims now in the fourth generation.
FORUM: "Let’s end nuclear testing forever." International Day Against Nuclear Tests 2023. Nuclear weapons are the most dangerous weapons on earth. One can destroy a whole city, potentially killing millions, and jeopardizing the natural environment. Every effort needs to be made to ensure the entry into force of the CTBT and to preserve its place in the international architecture. In this regard, the Secretary-General appeals to all remaining States whose ratifications are required for the CTBT to enter into force to commit to sign the Treaty at an early date if they have not already done so, and to accelerate the completion of their ratification processes. It is the hope of the United Nations that one day all nuclear weapons will be eliminated. Until then, there is a need to observe International Day against Nuclear Tests as the world works towards promoting peace and security. Follow the conversation with the hashtags:#EndNuclearTesting, #IDANT, #InternationalDayAgainstNuclearTests, #AgainstNuclearTests, #29August, #StepUp4Disarmament. #NuclearWeaponsFreeWorld.
EVENTS: Commemoration of the International Day Against Nuclear Tests 2023. On August 29th, the United Nations Security Council, the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters, the 1540 Committee (Committee to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons and their means of delivery), the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Member States, the UNODA, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) will observe the 14th International Day Against Nuclear Tests (IDANT). The commemoration will be held at the United Nations headquarters in Vienna, Geneva and New York to remember the victims of testing and raise awareness of their destructive effects.
STATEMENTS: Statement from the United Nations Secretary-General on the International Day Against Nuclear Tests 2023; August 29th. and the Statement from CTBTO Executive Secretary Robert Floyd's on the occasion of the 14th International Day Against Nuclear Tests (IDANT).
PODCASTS: What damage a nuclear bomb would do to your city and ride that distance? The Initiative bike around the bomb launched by Global Zero through the NukeMap to reaffirm our commitment to outlaw all nuclear tests, by anyone, anywhere. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: The “Embrace A world Free of Nuclear Weapons” Campaign is Encouraging more intergenerational cooperation as well as geographically diverse youth dialogue so that knowledge and experiences are passed across the times, globe.
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
PARTNERSHIPS
HOW TO GET INVOLVED?
Since 2009, 29 August was declared as the International Day against Nuclear Tests (IDANT) by the United Nations General Assembly with resolution 64/35. which was initiated by Kazakhstan. 29 August is a symbolic day which marks simultaneously the first Soviet nuclear test in the Semipalatinsk (Semey) test site, which is located in Kazakhstan, in 1949 and the official closure date of the Semey polygon in 1991. The United Nations throught several resolutions have urged U.N. Member States and Non-States Members to ban nuclear testing forever.
The servicemen involved and people living close to the test sites often paid with their health, some even with their lives; see chapter effects of nuclear testing. Some of the world’s over 60 nuclear test sites (see interactive map) continue to be contaminated. However, nothing can play as crucial a role in avoiding a nuclear war or nuclear terrorist threat as the total elimination of nuclear weapons. Bringing an irreversible end to nuclear explosions will prevent the further development of nuclear weapons. Since the International Day against Nuclear Tests was first declared, there have been a number of significant developments, discussions and initiatives relevant to its goals and objectives as well as conferences convened to elaborate and advance these developments.
Educate people about the existing danger of nuclear weapons.
Raise awareness and promote the IDANT by engaging with youth networks.
Develop activities and public actions to stop nuclear tests around the globe for a nuclear-weapon free world.
Join the Abolition 2000 Youth Network, which is a working group that provides a forum for networking and building cooperation between various youth-led nuclear disarmament initiatives
Join the CTBTO Youth Group (CYG), which is open to all students and young graduates who wish to actively engage in promoting the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), the multilateral treaty that bans all nuclear tests
Sign up for CYG introductory curriculum – online course to get educated about the history of nuclear testing
Find out about what is the nuclear-weapon-free zone and whether your country is part of it
Start with small steps, advocate for and establish nuclear-free area/zone in your schools or universities, join the Nuclearfreeschools
Sign the ATOM project petition for a nuclear-weapon-free world and get to know more about humanitarian consequences from the stories told by the victims.
The International Day Against Nuclear tests is hosted by the First Committee of the General Assembly (Disarmament and International Security); The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs; The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation; The Conference on Disarmament; The Disarmament Commission; The Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters; The 1540 Committee (Committee to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons and their means of delivery); The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space; The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR); the International Atomic Energy Agency; The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO); The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), Civil society Organizations and Non-Governmental Organization.