Reverse the Trend:Save Our People, Save Our Planet

Dear Friends, 

We would like to thank you for your continued support. We are happy to share with you our updates from the 3rd Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW that was held in New York in early March under the presidency of Kazakhstan.

At the 3rd Meeting of States Parties, NAPF and RTT brought together young people from Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Canada, Malaysia, and the United States. For some, it was their first time traveling to New York for an international conference. We strived to provide them with the best experience possible and deeply appreciated their invaluable work at the 3MSP.

For this 3MSP, our youth representatives prepared a cross-regional working paper on recommendations for advancing nuclear disarmament. Many of them also delivered statements in the main plenary room during the conference. We were also able to sponsor a group of young people from the Pacific region. 

Additionally, we convened multiple side events on the margins of the conference. These included: a special event at New York University on the relationship between the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons and the TPNW, an art reception with the President of the 3MSP and frontline and affected communities, advances in Nuclear Justice, and an event on youth engagement in Southeast Asia.  We would like to thank and acknowledge all of our amazing co-sponsors for these events.

A hybrid press briefing was held on the Third Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The speakers included H.E. Ambassador Rakhmetullin, First Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan and Chair of the 3rd Meeting to Abolish Nuclear Weapons;  Executive Director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons; Legal Advisor for the International Committee of the Red Cross; and a youth representative from Kiribati whose family experienced the tragic humanitarian impact of nuclear tests. 

In addition to the press briefing, we organized a special art exhibit and reception.  The exhibit drew attention to the intergenerational effects of nuclear weapons on populations across the globe and art’s unique ability to empower youth voices and construct a deeper sense of international kinship. It also featured a series of paintings that are part of Yamaguchi's exhibition “Two Suns.” Yamaguchi’s paintings are focused on the Japanese fishing boats that were exposed to fallout from US nuclear testing.

To raise awareness about the significance of these paintings, we hosted a special art reception entitled From the Pacific to the Steppes: Solidarity, Reconciliation, and Nuclear Justice at the Church Center in New York. This impactful event brought together speakers and advocates from various regions affected by nuclear testing to share their personal stories and efforts toward nuclear justice. Speakers included: Christian N. Ciobanu, the Policy and Advocacy Director of NAPF and RTT Project Coordinator; H.E. Ambassador Rakhmetullin, Chair of the 3MSP and Deputy Minister of Kazakhstan; Mr. Kuyukov, the honorary ambassador of the ATOM Project, who also experienced the tragic impact of Soviet testing in Kazakhstan. Mr. Takagaki, a youth representative of ICRC Japan; Ms. Shimomoto, whose family was exposed to fallout; and Ms. Tekabwaia, the Principal Officer of the Line and Phoenix Islands of Kiribati. It was a very meaningful event.

As we enter the summer, we kindly request your support. Any amount will help us to continue to empower young people.

Links:

• RECAP of 3MSP
• Maverick - RTT Pacific shares about advancing TPNW
• Oemwa shares about nuclear weapons and gender

Dear Friends,

It has been a while since our last update. Our youth activists have organized many global events. In late July, NAPF-RTT summer interns traveled to Geneva, Switzerland for the 2024 NPT Preparatory Committee (NPT PrepCom), where they participated in various side events, met with diplomats, and co-delivered the international youth statement. We are deeply grateful to our friends at the Marshallese Educational Initiative for co-sponsoring and speaking at the side events.

In late August, NAPF and RTT Nuclear Justice Campaign Manager, Brock Walker, and NAPF Policy and Advocacy Director and RTT Project Coordinator, Christian N. Ciobanu convened a special youth forum entitled From the Pacific to the Steppes: Addressing the Nuclear Sins of the Past and Advancing Justice with the Steppe Organization for Peace and  Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung Kazakhstan.

The Youth Forum on Nuclear Justice convened a diverse array of global stakeholders to address the enduring effects of nuclear weapons testing and use. This platform emphasized the importance of international collaboration, empowering frontline communities, and promoting youth-led initiatives. 

The event unfolded in three primary segments. The High-Level Segment, in the morning, gathered leaders in nuclear disarmament, including notable figures, such as Dr. Hughes, Christian N. Ciobanu, and H.E. Ambassador Kmentt. These experts engaged in discussions about existing pathways to justice, reflecting on historical and contemporary efforts aimed at rectifying the legacies of nuclear weapons within the framework of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

Following this segment, the Youth Forum provided a platform for personal testimonies from individuals belonging to affected and frontline communities. This led to a crucial dialogue on the support needed for the proposed TPNW International Trust Fund. Advocacy efforts were showcased, including movements like the Nevada-Semey Initiative and artistic contributions from Kiribati and the Solomon Islands. 

The day culminated with an Evening Press Event and Joint Panel featuring members from the Nuclear Survivors Forum and the TPNW Coordination Committee, fostering an intergenerational connection between youth, survivors, and policymakers. Key outcomes of the forum included: the formal adoption of a compelling Youth Declaration aimed at the members of the Coordination Committee and the establishment of a sustained Youth Network dedicated to advancing nuclear justice.

We will continue to empower youth by providing them with opportunities to express themselves on the twin existential threats of nuclear weapons and climate change. 

We appreciate your ongoing support.

Links:

• Youth Forum in Kazakhstan