Ms. Soo Hyun Kim, UNODA’s #Youth4Disarmament lead, delivers remarks on ways "towards a nuclear-test-free future” with insights from and for the next generation at CTBT’s Science Diplomacy Symposium

On 9 December 2022, Ms. Soo Hyun Kim, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs' #Youth4Disarmament lead, participated in a panel discussion on ways "towards a nuclear-test-free future: insights from and for the next generation".

The panel formed part of the third Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) Science Diplomacy Symposium, bringing visionary thinkers from different backgrounds together to share their ideas for a more desirable future.

Ms. Soo Hyun Kim joined fellow speakers Mr. Youssef Nassef, Director of the Adaptation Programme, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Mr. Andrey Baklitsky, Senior Researcher with United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), Ms. Haeyoon Kim and Mr. Jeremy Faust, Members of the CTBTO Youth Group, to share lessons learnt from similar initiatives to engage young people. Ms. Maria Chepurina, External Relations Officer with CTBTO, moderated the panel discussion. 

In her remarks, Ms. Soo Hyun Kim highlighted the need to work together, across silos, to build towards a nuclear-test-free future. "The beauty lies in the blending of our interests and collective action, working together to build a safer, more peaceful world for all," she emphasized.

Ms. Soo Hyun Kim also noted the array of activities provided by the #Youth4Disarmament initiative to welcome youth of all backgrounds and interests to contribute to ‘Securing Our Common Future’. "This inclusive approach is not only necessary but vital to achieve the ultimate objectives of disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control (D.N.A), and for the effectiveness and sustainability of the agreements that we reach and the work that we do," she said.

During the question-and-answer session, the speakers discussed their experiences engaging youth in the disarmament field, how to develop scenarios for the future, ways to include disarmament and non-proliferation education in national school curriculums, and impact of current geopolitical tensions.

The Science Diplomacy Symposium aimed to build upon the momentum in universalizing the CTBT created during its 25th anniversary year and to contribute to the CTBTO strategy to achieve additional signatures and ratifications. As part of the closing session, the panel discussion explored insights from and for the next generation to provide a forward-looking conclusion to the Symposium.

Ms. Soo Hyun Kim and fellow panelists reiterated the need to work with and for young people in paving the way towards a nuclear-test-free world, as well as noted their intentions to take forward the discussions to generate new ideas and solutions to confront new challenges that lie ahead.

The panel discussion is available to watch back on CTBTO’s YouTube channel.

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