NEW YORK – The United Nations is observing the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons today, September 26, issuing an urgent appeal to global leaders to reinvigorate efforts towards a nuclear-weapon-free world amid a backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions and a new arms race.
At ceremonies held at the UN Headquarters in New York and in diplomatic missions worldwide, Secretary-General António Guterres and other high-ranking officials stressed that the threat of nuclear catastrophe is currently higher than at any point since the Cold War. The day serves as a critical annual reminder of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons and the imperative to secure their complete eradication.
"The choice before us is clear: nuclear abolition or human extinction," the Secretary-General stated in a powerful message released for the occasion. "On this important day, let us commit to forging a new consensus and to work with renewed determination towards a world where the shadow of nuclear annihilation no longer looms over humanity."
Established by the UN General Assembly in 2013, the International Day aims to mobilize global public opinion and galvanize governments to prioritize nuclear disarmament. The commemoration provides a platform for world leaders, diplomats, and civil society organizations to reaffirm their commitment to this long-standing goal.
This year's observance is particularly poignant. Against the backdrop of ongoing major conflicts and the modernization of nuclear arsenals by the world's nine nuclear-armed states, the foundational principles of arms control and disarmament are facing unprecedented challenges. Experts warn that decades of progress are being undone as diplomatic channels narrow and confrontational rhetoric becomes more common.
In his address, the President of the UN General Assembly highlighted the immense resources diverted to maintaining and developing these weapons of mass destruction. "Every dollar spent on a nuclear weapon is a dollar stolen from our schools, our hospitals, and our efforts to combat climate change," he remarked. "True security is not achieved through the threat of mutual destruction, but through mutual respect, dialogue, and cooperation."
Events today include high-level meetings, educational seminars, and grassroots campaigns across the globe. Survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Hibakusha) are once again sharing their harrowing testimonies, reminding the world of the real-life human cost of these weapons.
The central message from the United Nations is a call for all nations, particularly those possessing nuclear arms, to:
Reduce nuclear stockpiles and cease the development of new, more advanced weapons.
Adhere to and strengthen international treaties, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
Engage in good-faith dialogue to de-escalate tensions and rebuild trust.
As the world marks this solemn day, the call from the international community is unequivocal: the only guarantee that nuclear weapons will never be used again is their total and irreversible elimination.
