August 29: International Day Against Nuclear Nuclear Tests

Observe a Moment of Silence

Basel Peace Office

(August 24, 2019) — In 2009, the United Nations declared 29 August to be the International Day against Nuclear Tests, a day to raise awareness about the catasrophic impacts of nuclear weapons tests or any other nuclear explosions, and the need to abolish nuclear tests as one of the ways to achieve a nuclear-weapon-free world.

The initiative for the day came from the government of Kazakhstan. The date chosen commemorates the anniversary of the closure of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test site in Kazakhstan in 1991.

Since then a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) has been negotiated, and an Organisation for its implementation established, but the treaty is still not universally supported and has not entered into force.

ATOM Project Calls for Moment of Silence

Karipbek Kuyukov, a second generation victim of Soviet nuclear tests, calls on people around the world to observe a moment of silence on August 29th.
Kuykov is Honorary Ambassador of the ATOM Project, which was launched at the 2012 Assembly of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament (PNND).

“Nuclear weapons testing in Kazakhstan and around the world unleashed untold amounts of suffering,” said Kuyukov. “The suffering of these victims continues today. Their struggles cannot be forgotten. I urge, in memory of those who have suffered and continue to do so, people around the world to observe a moment of silence on that day.”

Kuyukov, who was born without arms but is an accomplished artist, would like people to observe the moment of silence at 11:05 a.m. their local time. At this time analog clock hands form a Roman letter “V,” symbolizing victory. “The moment of silence and the representation of victory honour those who have suffered and urges the international community to continue to seek victory over the nuclear weapons threat.”

Other Actions and Events
Parliamentarians, governments and civil society are encouraged to also commemorate the International Day Against Nuclear Tests through statements and events promoting the CTBT, the prohibition of any use of nuclear weapons and the achievement of a nuclear-weapon-free world.

United Nations Commemorative Events

 1. Panel Discussion on Cooperation amongst NWFZs
Monday, September 2. 13:15 – 15:00 pm. 
Palais des Nations, Room XXVII, Geneva
Speakers:
H.E. Ms. Zhanar Aitzhanova. Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the UN in Geneva
Ms. Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General, United Nations Office at Geneva
Mr. Alyn Ware; PNND Global Coordinator, Consultant for the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms
Mr. Pavel Podvig. Senior Researcher, Weapons of Mass Destruction and Other Strategic Weapons Programme, United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research
Click here for the event flyer.
Those without a UN grounds pass interested in the event please contact: a.fazylova@kazakhstan-geneva.ch before Aug 28. 
2. High-level plenary meeting
Thursday, 9 September 2019. Time: 10:00am
General Assembly Hall, United Nations Headquarters, New York
Opening remarks: H.E. María Fernanda Espinosa, President of the General Assembly
Those without a UN Grounds Pass interested in this event should contact: Ms. Diane Barnes at +1 212 963 9169, Email: diane.barnes@un.org 

Basel Peace Office

Seminar fur Soziologie, Petersgraben 27, Basel 4051, Switzerland