VCDNP at the 2019 CTBTO Science and Technology Conference

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) held its seventh biennial Science and Technology Conference on 24-28 June, 2019 at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria. Over 1000 scientists, academics, policymakers and representatives of research organisations attended the conference, including VCDNP staff and interns.

VCDNP Executive Director Elena K. Sokova moderated a panel discussion on Tuesday, 25 June on the "Youth as an Agent of Change". Ms. Sokova was joined on the panel by Marzhan Nuzhan (CTBTO Youth Group Outreach Coordinator), Gaopalelwe Santswere (South African Young Nuclear Professionals Society), Tatsujiro Suzuki (Research Center for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, Nagasaki University) and Hind Touissate (citizen journalist and human rights blogger).

During the discussion, panellists addressed the different ways in which youth, academia, non-governmental organisations and the broader public can promote international peace and security, as well as the CTBT's mission, including through the use of personal narratives on nuclear testing, education and training programmes, social media campaigns and continuous public engagement on nuclear issues.

VCDNP Senior Fellow Angela Kane also moderated a session during the conference, which focused on strengthening the link between the "CTBTO and the 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development". Ambassador Abel Adelakun Ayoko (Nigeria), Ambassador John Bernhard (Denmark) and Ana María Cetto (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México) joined Ms. Kane on the panel.

All three speakers emphasised the role that the CTBT plays in the pursuit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While the CTBT contributes to some of the SDGs directly, such as trying to prevent nuclear explosions that are harmful to human health and the environment, the speakers said that the CTBT contributes to many others indirectly by promoting international peace and security.