International Day against Nuclear Tests, August 29

29 August 2013, International Day against Nuclear Tests

 

 Messages :

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. UN Photo/JC McIlwaine

 


Secretary-General's message for the fourth observance of the International Day against Nuclear tests in 2013


As we approach 29 August, the International Day against Nuclear Tests, let us maintain our momentum to end nuclear weapons testing and promote the achievement of a world free of nuclear weapons.

The strong and unified response to the nuclear test announced in February by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea demonstrated the international community’s commitment to uphold the global norm against nuclear tests.

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty is a cornerstone of our work.  I once again urge all States to sign and ratify the CTBT – especially the eight remaining States whose ratifications are necessary for the Treaty to enter into force.  At the same time, all States should maintain or implement moratoria on nuclear explosions.
Civil society, academia and the mass media have a crucial advocacy role to play towards accomplishing these goals.  Let us work together to end nuclear weapons testing around the world and build a nuclear weapons-free world for our children.

The President of the 67th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

In resolution 64/35, the General Assembly declared 29 August as the International Day against Nuclear Tests, highlighting the importance of ending nuclear tests in order to avert their devastating and harmful effects on the lives and health of people and the environment.The Assembly devoted this important day to enhancing public awareness and education about the effects of nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion and the need for their cessation as one of the means of achieving the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free-world. With this resolution, the General Assembly showed important leadership and responsibility in promoting peace and security, one of the main purpose and principle enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

As President of the General Assembly, I will mark this important international day by convening an informal meeting of the plenary of the General Assembly on 5 September 2013 under the overall theme “The Path to Zero”.

Nuclear tests and, ultimately, nuclear weapons, constitute a serious threat for all of us. Every effort should be undertaken to end nuclear tests. I invite you to be part of the celebration of the International Day against Nuclear Tests and to commemorate the day by renewing your commitment to strengthen public awareness and education about the negative effects of nuclear tests and to promote the ultimate goal of a nuclear weapons free world.

H.E. Mr. Vuk Jeremić, President of the 67th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. 
UN Photo

2013 Events

INFORMAL MEETING OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO MARK THE OBSERVANCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST NUCLEAR TESTS

Programme : 
The Meeting is convened by His Excellency Mr. Vuk Jeremić, President of the 67th session of the UN General Assembly, and organized in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Date: Thursday, 5 September 2013
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Venue: United Nations Headquarter, Trusteeship Council
Opening statements by:

• H.E. Mr. Vuk Jeremić, President of the 67th session of the UN General Assembly
• H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations (invited)
• Mr. Asset Issekeshev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Kazakhstan

High-Level Panel on the Path to Zero: The Role of the United Nations in Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation

The official opening ceremony will be followed by a High-Level Panel on the above theme. The panelists are expected to cover some key issues, including necessary steps for further progress on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, the establishment of further nuclear-weapon-free zones, confidence building and other relevant concerns.

Panel Details
Moderator
H.E. Ambassador Eduardo Ulibarri, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations in New York
Speakers

• Ms. Angela Kane, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (invited)
• H.E. Ambassador Martin Sajdik, Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations in New York
• Mr. Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary, Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test- Ban Treaty
• Mr. Geoffrey Shaw, Representative of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency to the United Nations
• Andrew S. Kanter, MD, Immediate Past-President, Physicians for Social Responsibility and Co-Vice President for North America, International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War

Lead Discussant
H.E. Ambassador Enrique Roman-Morey, Permanent Representative of Peru to the United Nations in New York.The panel will be followed by observations, and questions and answers from Member States.

EXHIBITION – Peace Now: Abolish Nuclear Tests and Weapons

An exhibition entitled, Peace Now: Abolish Nuclear Tests and Weapons, organized by the Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan to the United Nations in cooperation with the UN Department of Public Information, will be held on the occasion of the observance of the 2013 International Day against Nuclear Tests (29 August).
Dates: 4 -8 September 2013
Venue: Main Corridor, First Floor, Conference Building of the United Nations on First Avenue.

Inauguration:
Wednesday, 4 September 2013, 6 p.m. at exhibition site.    

About the exhibition:
It will portray the paintings of the world renowned Kazakh artist, Mr. Karipbek Kuyukov, who paints only with his feet, being a victim of the effects of nuclear radiation. His art depicts the triumph of the human spirit over the horrors of nuclear testing. He is the designated Ambassador of the ATOM Project and has received international acclaim for his committed and tireless advocacy to achieve total nuclear abolition. 

There will also be a display of the ATOM Project (Abolish Testing Our Mission), the official project of the Government of Kazakhstan, to end all nuclear weapons tests.

Entry to the UN:
The Informal Meeting and the Exhibition are open to all diplomats, think-tanks, the academic community, civil society and the media. Those without a UN Grounds Pass interested in these events should contact: itilegen@yahoo.com, or tel.: +1 (212) 230-1900, ext. 322.