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Since their creation, nuclear weapons have struck awe and horror in the popular imagination, including that of the scientists who helped create them. The horrific damage, death and destruction caused by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, demonstrated the cataclysmic capabilities of nuclear weapons.

The devastation, the likes of which had never been seen before, has become indelibly etched in the memories of those who witnessed it and, for succeeding generations, through the images of the unspeakable suffering captured at that time.

The use of nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 killed an estimated quarter of a million people immediately. Another estimated 200,000 people died subsequently from lethal radiation overdoses.

Halting the production, proliferation and testing of nuclear weapons has been a fundamental objective of the United Nations since the organization¡¯s inception in 1945. In fact, the very first resolution passed by the UN General Assembly on 24 January 1946 identified the goal of eliminating atomic weapons and all other major weapons adaptable to mass destruction from national armaments and paved the way for establishment of the UN Atomic Energy Commission to address the challenges posed by the discovery of atomic energy.

While the Commission has since been dissolved, the UN has remained steadily active over the years, developing a comprehensive framework to promote nuclear disarmament, underscoring the elimination of nuclear arsenals as a vital component of global peace and security.

Ways the United Nations promotes nuclear disarmament

The main UN organs that deal with nuclear weapons disarmament and nonproliferation are the , the of the General Assembly, the United Nations Disarmament Commission and the (UNODA).

As the primary body responsible for maintaining peace and security, the Security Council is the only international body that can authorize punitive measures such as sanctions or military action against a state

The First Committee debates disarmament, nonproliferation, arms control, and international security issues, recommending resolutions and decisions for adoption by the plenary session of the General Assembly.

The UN Disarmament Commission is a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly, composed of all Member States of the United Nations. It is a deliberative body that considers and makes recommendations on various issues in the field of disarmament.

UNODA works with Member States and other partners towards the elimination of weapons of mass destruction and the strict control of conventional weapons. It promotes norm-setting, and multilateral agreements in the areas of disarmament, arms control and nonproliferation and facilitates dialogue among diverse stakeholders.

The (IAEA) also plays a key role in addressing the issue of nuclear weapons. It is considered an autonomous international organization within the United Nations system but reports to both the General Assembly and the Security Council. The IAEA develops standards for nuclear safety, promotes the safe use of energy and verifies countries comply with commitments to use nuclear material and facilities only for peaceful purposes

The world must deliver a clear and united message: the only way to eliminate the nuclear threat is to eliminate nuclear weapons.¡±

ANT?NIO GUTERRES, United Nations Secretary-General (26 September 2024)

Disarmament initiatives

One of the most significant achievements to address the concerns of nuclear weapons is the (NPT).

The crux of the NPT is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, promote cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy and further the goal of nuclear disarmament. It is the only multilateral treaty that has legally binding commitments to nuclear disarmament from both nuclear-weapon States and non-nuclear weapon States.

The NPT opened for signature in 1968 and entered into force in 1970. In 1995, it was extended indefinitely and has been regarded as the ¡®cornerstone¡¯ of the nuclear non-proliferation regime ever since.

NPT States Parties hold review conferences every five years to assess the treaty¡¯s implementation, evaluate past decisions and to recommend ways to strengthen it. The eleventh NPT review conference will take place in 2026.

In addition to the NPT, the UN has supported other initiatives to advance nuclear disarmament. The (CTBT) was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1996 and the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) was set up in 1996 with its headquarters in Vienna, Austria. It is an interim organization tasked with building up the verification regime of the Treaty in preparation for its entry into force, as well as promoting its universality.

The CTBT bans ¡°any nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion¡± anywhere in the world, whether for military or civilian purposes, and is a critical step toward the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons.

The CTBT has been signed by 187 nations and ratified by 178 but has yet to enter into force because it requires the ratification of 44 specific states including China, Egypt, Democratic People¡¯s Republic of Korea, India, Iran, Israel, Pakistan, Russia and the United States. However, the CTBT has created a global norm against nuclear testing. Tests have been conducted on only 10 occasions since it opened for signature in 1996, compared with more than 2,000 over the five previous decades.

More recently, in 2017, following years of advocacy by civil society organizations to promote greater awareness and understanding of the humanitarian consequences that would result from the use of nuclear weapons, the United Nations supported the landmark (TPNW). It is the first legally binding international agreement to prohibit its States Parties from developing, testing, producing, acquiring, possessing, stockpiling, using or threatening to use nuclear weapons. The TPNW also prohibits the deployment of nuclear weapons on States Parties¡¯ territory as well as the provision of assistance to any State in conducting prohibited activities. As of July 2024, 70 states have ratified the TPNW, while 27 states have signed but not yet ratified.

Challenges ahead

Though nuclear weapons have not been used in warfare since 1945, current geopolitical tensions leading to increased reliance on nuclear arsenals have heightened the possibility of their use in current wars and conflicts. The world¡¯s nuclear powers still maintain over 12,000 nuclear warheads. Whether as a bid for dominance or a deterrent to prevent hostile nations from attacking what they consider their vital national security interests, nuclear weapons continue to pose an existential threat to humanity today. Challenges still lie ahead.

In June 2024, UN Secretary-General Ant¨®nio Guterres, told the Arms Control Association annual meeting, ¡°Humanity is on a knife¡¯s edge. The risk of a nuclear weapon being used has reached heights not seen since the Cold War. States are engaged in the qualitative arms race. Technologies like artificial intelligence are multiplying the danger. Nuclear blackmail has reemerged, with some recklessly threatening nuclear catastrophe.¡±

The UN will continue to be the global forum for nonproliferation and disarmament treaties, negotiations and deliberations, fostering international cooperation and dialogue. The international community, however, must reinvigorate and accelerate their efforts to address the threat of nuclear warfare and strengthen their shared commitment to non-proliferation and the eventual total elimination of nuclear weapons.

The next NPT Review Conference will be a pivotal moment for States to decide what steps must be taken to achieve this goal.

The UN Secretary-General has called on all States parties to step up their efforts and to collaborate now to ensure consensus at the NPT Review Conference in 2026. ¡°Until these weapons are eliminated, all countries must agree that any decision on nuclear use is made by humans, not machines or algorithms. Finally, nuclear saber-rattling must stop.¡±

International Days

Because nuclear disarmament is a leading goal of the United Nations in attaining international peace and security, it is critical that the issue remains in the public sphere to ensure both global awareness of the threat posed by nuclear weapons and to bolster support for the work of the international community. The General Assembly has adopted several international days to raise awareness about disarmament.

Celebrated on September 26, this day aims to educate the public about the need to eliminate nuclear weapons and the benefits of doing so. The UN also calls for progress on a nuclear weapons convention, which would prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons under international control.

The objective of observing this day, celebrated on August 29, is to educate the public about the need to ban nuclear tests and prevent their harmful effects on people's lives and health.

This day is celebrated on 5 March and focuses on disarmament to maintain international peace and security, protect civilians, and promote sustainable development.