UN Addresses Member States on International Day Against Nuclear Tests

Since nuclear weapons testing began on 16 July 1945, more than 2,000 test explosions have been conducted around the world. In the early days of atomic bomb testing, little attention was paid to the devastating effects on human life, even to the danger of radioactive fallout. Past views and history testify to the terrible and tragic consequences of nuclear weapons testing on humanity, especially when controlled conditions are violated, and this is made even more frightening by the more powerful and destructive nuclear weapons that exist today.

On 2 December 2009, the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted resolution 64/35, proclaiming 29 August as the International Day Against Nuclear Tests. The resolution calls for awareness-raising and education “about the consequences of nuclear weapons test explosions and the need to stop them in order to achieve the goal of building a world free of this dangerous syndrome.” The resolution was proposed by the Republic of Kazakhstan together with a large number of co-sponsors to mark the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site on August 29, 1991.

The first commemorative event was held in 2010 as part of the International Day against Nuclear Tests. Annual symposia, conferences, exhibitions, competitions, publications, lectures, media coverage and other initiatives around the world serve to coordinate various activities in this area.

Since the adoption of the resolution, numerous bilateral and multilateral initiatives at the governmental level, as well as broad movements in civil society, have contributed to the ban on nuclear tests. Moreover, “convinced that nuclear disarmament and the total elimination of nuclear weapons constitute the only absolute guarantee against their use or threat of use, the General Assembly established 26 September as the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, dedicated to achieving the goal of international mobilization for the total elimination of nuclear weapons. This significant day was first observed in September 2014. The International Day against Nuclear Tests, along with other events, has strengthened the global conditions for a nuclear-weapon-free world.

The international instrument aimed at ending all forms of nuclear testing is the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) of 1996. Unfortunately, this instrument has not yet entered into force.

The United Nations believes that every effort should be made to bring the CTBT into force and preserve its place in the international architecture. In this regard, the Secretary-General of the Organization appeals to all remaining States whose ratification is required for the entry into force of this instrument. If they do not, Member States are encouraged to commit to signing the Treaty as soon as possible and to complete the ratification process as soon as possible. The UN hopes that one day all nuclear weapons will be eliminated. Until then, the International Day against Nuclear Tests should be observed as the global community works to strengthen peace and security.