During the Third Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation and its youth initiative, Reverse the Trend, hosted a side event on the lasting effects of nuclear weapons. The panel featured a diverse group of speakers, including Mr. Shivanand Sivamohan (Second Secretary, Malaysia), Véronique Christory (Senior Arms Advisor, ICRC), youth representatives Adam Danial Bin Azahari, Izzah Binti Ishak, and Johnathan Lam (Reverse The Trend), as well as Yathisa, a youth mental health fellow at Orygen. Ibraheem Waraich, a Youth Advisor to NAPF’s youth initiative, RTT, moderated the discussion.
Each panelist brought a unique perspective to the conversation. Mr. Shivanand provided a diplomatic overview of disarmament efforts, offering valuable context for the youth participants. Véronique Christory highlighted the ICRC’s work on the impact of nuclear weapons on children, while Yathisa spoke on the psychological effects of nuclear weapons. Ibraheem underscored the importance of coalition-building in advancing disarmament efforts, emphasizing the need for collaboration across generations and sectors. Meanwhile, Adam, Izzah, and Jonathan, who are three youth activists from Southeast Asia, stressed the urgency of nuclear disarmament and the power of social media in mobilizing change.
The event concluded with an interactive discussion, fostering engagement between the panelists and the audience.
