United Nations by Collin McDowell May 28th, 2021
In the months before States across the world convene for a conference to advance the elimination and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, a number of next-generation experts delivered practical and actionable proposals to achieve a world free from the threat of nuclear weapons.
On 31 March, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and BASIC organized a webinarhighlighting the voices of young professionals in the field of disarmament and nonproliferation entitled “The Tenth NPT Review Conference: Empowering Emerging Voices.” More than 150 participants attended the online event, which was held in advance of the Tenth Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The webinar showcased the work of members of BASIC’s Emerging Voices Network (EVN), who had prepared policy papers on several critically important areas of nuclear policy. These papers were developed in close cooperation with groups of talented young professionals. Each policy paper offered pragmatic measures to make progress on their chosen topics.
Ambassador Kevin Hamilton, the Director General of International Security Policy at Global Affairs Canada, stressed just how important youth engagement and leadership are. “The next generation”, he said in his opening remarks, “will inherit the nuclear threat, and they must lead the fight against it.” He added that the views of the younger generation must be heard to add to the diversity of opinions that are necessary to make progress on disarmament and arms control issues.
Izumi Nakamitsu, the United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, echoed this conviction in her introductory remarks, saying that “the continued relevance of multilateralism and international cooperation actually depends on how we will be able to create space for youth and work with youth.”. Ms. Nakamitsu noted that UNODA has been actively engaging, educating, and empowering the next generation through the #Youth4Disarmament initiative, which has hosted workshops on disarmament, nonproliferation, and arms control for young leaders, held a conversation series on disarmament issues, and started the flagship “UN Youth Champions for Disarmament” training programme.
More:
https://www.un.org/disarmament/update/young-disarmament-and-arms-control-experts-make-their-voices-heard/
