CTBTO Youth Group
Final Statement of the Building Bridges Project
29 October 2021
We, youth participants of the 2020-2021 “Building Bridges, Nurture Partnerships, Embrace Dialogue” project are deeply grateful to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) of Switzerland for supporting us throughout the way.
The project served as a platform for dialogue between the traditionally insulated nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation field and the broader global agenda initiatives, working to advance the Sustainable Development Goals, counter climate change, promote gender parity, as well as regional cooperation.
We have built partnerships with six prominent youth-led organizations: African Young Generation in Nuclear (AYGN), Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens (BKM), Global Young Academy (GYA), Le Réseau Nucléaire et Stratégie – Nouvelle Génération (RNS-NG), Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), and YOUNGO.
We appreciate seeing how each partnership has developed joint initiatives that encourage better synergies, foster interdisciplinary dialogue, further new understanding of the CTBT as a key contributor to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda, and increase the involvement of young professionals from diverse fields and disciplines to advocate for the CTBT.
We thus join our voices and commit to:
Encourage every member of our respective organizations to go beyond their comfort zone and establish long-term partnerships with other organizations and entities, discovering potential synergies.
Do our utmost to promote the CTBT, its universalization and its verification regime. We will continue engaging, as we have done throughout this project, our peers from different spheres in an open dialogue, participate in raising awareness among the general public, and encourage extensive scientific research on the topic.
Recognize the overarching objective of achieving a world free of nuclear testing and subsequently of nuclear weapons.
Emphasize the importance of increasing the role of women in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, recalling the United Nations Security Council Resolution (S/RES/1325) on women, peace and security that reaffirmed the important role of women in prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response, and in post-conflict reconstruction.
Support and promote the important commitments undertaken by the CTBTO Executive Secretary Robert Floyd as an International Gender Champion, notably in regards to creating additional career opportunities for early career individuals, especially women and people from developing countries.
Underscore the wide range of civil and scientific applications of the CTBT’s global verification regime that contributes to sustainable development, disaster risk mitigation, climate change monitoring, knowledge expansion, and human welfare.
Recognize the contribution of the CTBTO and its verification regime to the advancement of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Highlight the devastating environmental consequences of nuclear testing and encourage exploring further synergies among organizations working on disaster risk reduction, climate change and those working in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
Urge States that have not yet signed and ratified the CTBT to revitalize their efforts towards the universalization of the CTBT as soon as possible, and call upon all States participating at the upcoming 2022 NPT Review Conference to take concrete actions and support the advancement of the CTBT’s universalization and Entry into Force as the most practical step towards nuclear disarmament.
Stress that the Entry into Force of the CTBT would complement and reinforce the status of Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones.
Pledge our support for the “Building Bridges, Nurture Partnerships, Embrace Dialogue” initiative and commit to continuing to nurture the established partnerships in the future.
CTBTO Youth Group
The CTBTO Youth Group (CYG) members actively engage in promoting the CTBT and its verification regime. By helping raise awareness of the Treaty’s importance, the CYG aims to revitalize the discussion around the CTBT among decision-makers, academia, students, the public, and media.
The CTBTO Youth Group is open to all students and young graduates who are interested in contributing to global peace and security. Please join us! Learn More: https://youthgroup.ctbto.org Twitter: @Youth4CTBT