PH Re-emphasizes Humanitarian Consequences Nuclear Weapons at International Day Against Nuclear Tests

First Committee Expert Diane Lipana at the High-Level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly to Commemorate and Promote the International Day against Nuclear Tests. (New York PM photo)

NEW YORK 11 September 2024 – The Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations participated in the High-Level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly on International Day against Nuclear Tests on 05 September 2024 at the General Assembly Hall in the United Nations Headquarters, New York. 

Speaking before members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of member and observer states, Philippine First Committee Expert Diane Lipana shared that the Philippines is a proud co-sponsor of the 2023 General Assembly resolution addressing the legacy of nuclear weapons and providing essential victim assistance and environmental remediation to Member States affected by nuclear weapon use or testing, as co-penned by Kazakhstan and Kiribati.

“We laud all the various activities worldwide, including Kazakhstan’s annual #StepUp4Disarmament challenge, first launched in 2021 in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. We also recognize all efforts towards mainstreaming disarmament education, particularly to our youth,” Ms. Lipana stated. 

The Philippines also congratulated Somalia as the most recent signatory to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in September 2023 and Papua New Guinea for recently ratifying the treaty in March 2024. Despite the treaty not being in force in the country, the Philippines recognizes CTBT Organization (CTBTO) for developing an extensive verification regime to monitor compliance.

“May the International Day Against Nuclear Tests serve as a powerful reminder of the devastating impact of nuclear weapons testing, reinforce the international community's ongoing efforts to prevent such tests and be an effective means to rebuke its occurrence,” First Committee Expert Lipana further mentioned. 

First Committee Expert Lipana added that “the Philippines stands united with the international community in calling for the cessation of all nuclear weapons test explosions. It is only through such decisive action that we can pave the way for a more secure and peaceful world.” END

For more information, visit https://www.newyorkpm.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.un.int/philippines or https://www.facebook.com/PHMissionNY/.