International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons

  Nuclear weapons continue to pose an existential threat to humanity. On Friday September 26th ,  International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons , in New York as high-level week draws to a close, world leaders will revisit the grave dangers these weapons pose and push for renewed global efforts to eliminate them. In the final days of the Second World War, as the idea of the United Nations was beginning to take shape, the atomic bombings of two Japanese cities sent a chilling warning to the world, of the terrifying destructive power of nuclear weapons . Eight decades later, amidst rising geopolitical tensions and ongoing conflicts , the threat from nuclear arms is escalating.

The conference, convened by the United Nations Secretary-General as the depository of the Treaty, is designed to rally international support for the CTBT and its entry into force as a core element of the global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament architecture. Objectives and outcomes of the high-level event: Officially launch the Morocco D4SD Hub for Arab and African digital cooperation. Announce flagship partnerships, financial commitments, joint programmes, and public-private alliances to support AI, DPI, and digital talent development. Showcase Morocco as a regional leader in digital diplomacy and innovation investment. Convene high-level dialogues on triangular cooperation, private sector engagement, and investment in digital ecosystems. Related Sites and Documents:  Concept Note  &  Programme . Watch the (2nd meeting) CTBTO "Article XIV Conference"! Meetings & Events

   Plenary segment (continued)Closing segmentAchieving global nuclear disarmament is the highest disarmament priority of the United Nations. It was the subject of the General Assembly's first resolution in 1946, which established the Atomic Energy Commission (dissolved in 1952), with a mandate to make specific proposals for the control of nuclear energy and the elimination of atomic weapons and all other major weapons adaptable to mass destruction. Related Sites and Documents:  The official website of the United Nations &  Programme . Watch the (Plenary, continued & Closing) High-level Meeting on International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons - General Assembly, 80th session! Meetings & Events

The conference, convened by the United Nations Secretary-General as the depository of the Treaty, is designed to rally international support for the CTBT and its entry into force as a core element of the global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament architecture. Watch (1st meeting) CTBTO "Article XIV Conference"! Live Meetings & Events

Disarmament over destruction: A renewed push for a world without nuclear weapons

Achieving global nuclear disarmament is a core objective of the work of the United Nations. On Friday's  September 26th ,  International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons , United Nations Secretary-General  stressed: “I call on states that possess nuclear weapons to lift this shadow hanging over humanity. Honour your disarmament obligations and commit to the total elimination of nuclear weapons.”   Mr. Atonio Guterres  

A range of multilateral treaties and initiatives have been established to curb, regulate, or eliminate nuclear weapons over the decades, helping – to some extent – to put the brakes on proliferation and advanced disarmament. However, rising global instability and violent conflicts are placing increasing pressure on these mechanisms. The weakening of such frameworks risks sparking a renewed nuclear arms race. In 2019, the United States announced its withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty , which targeted the elimination of a specific class of nuclear missiles and, in 2022, a major review conference failed to reach consensus on the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty . The following year, Russia withdrew its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and suspended its participation in the ‘New START’ Treaty on measures for the reduction and limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms. These developments have led to growing frustration over the slow pa...

To mark this year’s International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons , a high-level meeting is being held on Friday, September 26th , as high-level week of the General Assembly draws to a close. This initiative, established by a resolution passed in 2013, is designed to raise public awareness, foster global dialogue on disarmament , highlight the benefits of a nuclear-weapon-free world , and draw attention to the costs of maintaining these weapons . This gathering is expected to mobilize international support for a world free of nuclear weapons and reassert commitment to disarmament and non-proliferation , especially on the historic occasion of the UN’s eightieth anniversary.

The UN Messenger of Peace Michael Kirk Douglas spreads the message on the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons that, "a nuclear war can never be won and can never be fought."

Achieving global nuclear disarmament is the highest disarmament priority of the United Nations. It was the subject of the General Assembly's first resolution in 1946, which established the Atomic Energy Commission (dissolved in 1952), with a mandate to make specific proposals for the control of nuclear energy and the elimination of atomic weapons and all other major weapons adaptable to mass destruction. Opening segment Plenary segment This Day provides an occasion for the world community to reaffirm its commitment to global nuclear disarmament as a priority. It provides an opportunity to educate the public - and their leaders - about the real benefits of eliminating such weapons, and the social and economic costs of perpetuating them. Commemorating this Day at the United Nations is especially important, given its universal membership and its long experience in grappling with nuclear disarmament issues. It is the right place to address one of humanity's greatest challenges; a...

Although nuclear weapons have only been deployed twice, their shadow still hangs over humanity. Over 12,000 nuclear warheads still exist today. Their destructive potential threatens entire cities, millions of lives, the environment, and future generations. More than 50 per cent of the world’s population lives in countries that either possess nuclear weapons or are part of nuclear alliances. Deep concerns surrounding the possible use of these weapons have intensified due to conflicts, including the war in Ukraine. Many nuclear-armed countries are also planning to modernise their arsenals . The integration of emerging technologies , such as artificial intelligence , raises the possibility of misjudgements and misunderstandings, making the risks even more complex and unpredictable. The International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons is marked annually on 26 September  to think about the  Status of World Nuclear Forces .

In his message for the ‘ International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons ’, observed annually on September 26th , UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reminds the world that “nuclear weapons deliver no security – only the promise of annihilation.” Nuclear disarmament has remained a top priority for the UN since its inception. In fact, the very first resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1946 focused on nuclear disarmament. In the decades that followed, the UN continued to lead diplomatic efforts in this direction. In 1959, the General Assembly formally supported the goal of general and complete disarmament . In 1978 , the first Special Session of the General Assembly on Disarmament declared nuclear disarmament to be the highest priority. Every UN Secretary-General has actively pursued this goal. The current incumbent, António Guterres, has repeatedly warned in recent years that “ geopolitical tensions and mistrust have escalated the risk of nuclear warfa...

The main aims of the high-level meeting are to: Urge nuclear-armed states to re-engage in dialogue aimed at building transparency and mutual trust Encourage a voluntary moratorium on nuclear testing, Call for binding disarmament commitments and mechanisms for accountability, Advocate for no-first-use pledges by nuclear armed states, Press the largest nuclear powers – the United States and the Russian Federation – to lead by example and resume compliance with disarmament treaties.

  Still, over 12,000 warheads remain today. The only truly safe number is zero.