Honorable Co-Chairs, distinguished delegates, dear friends and colleagues,
It is an honor and a privilege to address you today in my capacity as President of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, which is serving as a Civil Society Coordinator for this historic meeting. We are grateful to the United Nations (UN) Office of Disarmament Affairs for entrusting us with this role, to the Republics of Kazakhstan and Kiribati for their leadership and partnership in bringing this critical topic to the forefront of discussions here at the UN, to all of the States that have supported the resolution on Addressing the Legacies of Nuclear Weapons Use and Testing, and to all of you in attendance for your contributions to charting the path to nuclear justice for peoples and communities that have long suffered from the harms inflicted throughout the nuclear age.
Our task is to advance the implementation of mechanisms for victim assistance and environmental remediation in all areas impacted by nuclear weapons use, testing, and development. The context, some of which you heard about from the distinguished representatives of affected communities who have already addressed this meeting, may vary, but the conclusions are nearly universal. For all who may wish to learn more about the many regions affected, we recommend the comprehensive recent report published by Norwegian People’s Aid, entitled Is It Safe.
A nuclear explosion in one place can impact people and ecosystems far downwind, and its effects can persist for decades and across generations.
Nuclear injuries differ from other types of violence in that they defy our experience of both space and time. A nuclear explosion in one place can impact people and ecosystems far downwind, and its effects can persist for decades and across generations. This makes the task of defining victims and remediating environments particularly difficult. But difficult does not mean impossible. Nor does it mean that it should not be done.
What CAN be done? Independent, transparent, and comprehensive studies of both public health and environmental contamination are desperately needed. Direct financial assistance to victims and their families is an essential requirement. And research into decontamination techniques and application of novel technologies to areas that remain contaminated is a key step. UN Member States that have used, tested, or developed nuclear weapons must start with apologizing to those they have harmed, whether in their own territories or not. They must release all available scientific data and reports to the public, provide financial assistance to affected communities, and underwrite efforts to manage and clean up impacted areas. States that host nuclear weapons or belong to military alliances that rely on nuclear doctrines bear a special responsibility and must contribute in any way they can, including via diplomatic channels. All States in a position to do so should provide financial, technical, and scientific assistance.
The pursuit of nuclear justice is more than just the righting of historical wrongs of the nuclear age. It is also about regaining our footing on genuine collaboration amongst UN Member States and living up to the highest aspirations of the UN Charter, which calls on us “To achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character.” Let us advance victim assistance and environmental remediation together as an important step in creating a safer and more just world.
Read or download the full statement as a PDF here.
