By Christian Ciobanu | Project Leader
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:
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
