Frequently Asked Questions by Youth Group members

You can start now. From the comfort of your home (or smartphone), read, learn, tweet, etc. There are lot of interesting projects and opportunities out there, but the first step is education. Please make use of the capacity building material that is available on our Knowledge and Training Portal (KTP) and feel free to contact the CTBTO Youth Group support team ([email protected]) or other group members on the CTBTO Youth Group portal if you have questions or need additional information.

A wide variety of online educational resources are available on the Knowledge and Training Portal (KTP), the CTBTO’s interactive e-learning platform. The KTP hosts an open archive of past educational courses offered by the CTBTO, including interactive modules, recorded lectures, presentations, assessment quizzes and suggestions for further reading. The courses aim to develop expertise in the political, technical, scientific and legal aspects of the Treaty and its verification regime.

As a member of the CTBTO Youth Group, you will be provided with access to the group portal where you can interact with other members and with staff members of the organization. The portal also contains a calendar of events and a project management application showing what projects are currently being developed.

The CTBTO Youth Group is an affiliation of students and young professionals around the world who are directing their careers to contribute global peace and security and who wish to actively engage in promoting the CTBT and its verification regime. The group is an independent entity and is not part of the CTBTO.

First thing: Make sure you know enough about the CTBT and the work of the CTBTO. Visit the Knowledge and Training Portal (KTP), the CTBTO’s interactive e-learning platform, for a variety of online educational material.

Second: Keep in mind that the primary goal is entry into force of the CTBT. This means being sensitive to issues that alienate others or that may not be conducive to the entry into force of the Treaty. Familiarize yourself with these communication guidelines before you take action to promote the CTBT. Please review: Communication Guidelines

Finally, when it is all clear: Reach out through social media to your peers and community, propose initiatives and develop projects to raise awareness of the CTBT and of the need for its entry into force

Members are provided with access to CTBTO educational material, networks and forums and will have the opportunity to take part in the outreach activities of the organization.

It is up to each individual to make the most of his/her participation by actively engaging with other participants, developing projects and taking initiatives.

Provided that funding is available, the CTBTO is willing to sponsor projects that are conducive to the entry into force of the CTBT. Please review the Guidelines

The principal threat posed by the testing of nuclear weapons is their proliferation. A legally binding CTBT would make it very difficult for countries to develop nuclear weapons for the first time or to develop new, more powerful weapons. It would also prevent the catastrophic human and environmental consequences caused by radioactivity from nuclear explosions.

The Treaty requires ratification by 44 specific nuclear technology holder countries in order to enter into force. Of these, eight are still missing: China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Egypt, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Pakistan and the United States of America.

The CTBTO is not part of the United Nations but is considered an organization within the United Nations system. More precisely, the organization’s relationship with the United Nations is guided by an agreement signed by both parties in the year 2000. It stipulates that:

The United Nations and the Commission, recognizing the need to work jointly to achieve their common objectives, and with a view to facilitating the effective exercise of their responsibilities, agree to cooperate closely and to consult and to maintain a close working relationship on matters of mutual interest and concern. To that end, the United Nations and the Commission shall cooperate with each other in accordance with the provisions of their respective constituent instruments.

Youth Group members are welcome to apply to the CTBTO internship programme at ctbto.org/employment.

For those who already have work experience, employment opportunities are posted on the CTBTO website at ctbto.org/employment. As required under the CTBT, securing the highest standards of professional expertise, experience, efficiency, competence and integrity is paramount in the consideration of candidates for employment. Due regard is also paid to the importance of diversity in terms of gender and geographical representation.

Most of the events listed in the portal are events that relate to the CTBT in some way. Participation in events that are not expressly indicated as being CTBTO hosted events is subject to the terms and conditions of the organizers. The CTBTO may assist with letters of recommendation or by serving a reference. Funding is not available.

For CTBTO hosted events, unless otherwise specified, selection of CYG members for participation is generally based on four factors: (i) cost-saving; (ii) geographic relevance/balance; (iii) gender balance and (iv) equal opportunity. The weight of these factors varies from event to event. However, cost saving tends to be among the first criteria applied. 

For cost saving reasons, CYG members who are located in (or near) the venue of an event will be given preference. If there are more CYG members interested than those needed for an event, the other factors (items (ii) – (iv)) will be applied.