The complete abolition of nuclear testing is a decisive step toward peace and the creation of a world free of nuclear weapons. To achieve this goal, awareness-raising initiatives must be strengthened to promote universal ratification of the CTBT and global nuclear disarmament, which are essential for peace, security, and the protection of future generations.
Since the first nuclear test in 1945, more than 2,000 nuclear tests have been conducted, causing severe human and environmental consequences. To raise public awareness and promote the end of these practices, the UN General Assembly established the International Day Against Nuclear Tests in 2009, celebrated every August 29. This initiative commemorates the closure of the Semipalatinsk test site in 1991 and is accompanied by educational, scientific, and media events worldwide.
To ban all forms of nuclear testing, the international community adopted the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 1996. Although it has been signed by 187 countries and ratified by 178, the treaty has not yet entered into force due to a lack of ratification by some nuclear-capable states. To date, nine countries—the United States, Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel (whose possession has not been officially declared)—are known to possess nuclear weapons. Despite these challenges, the CTBT remains an essential tool for disarmament and non-proliferation, limiting the development of new weapons and reinforcing the international norm against testing.
Diplomatic, scientific, and civic mobilization has grown over the years. Technological advances now allow for better monitoring and detection of nuclear explosions through the international system of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), which has over 300 operational stations worldwide. At the same time, civil society—scientists, doctors, NGOs, survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (both targeted by US nuclear bombings), and populations affected by nuclear tests—has played a key role in advocating for the abolition of nuclear testing and the elimination of nuclear weapons.
The complete abolition of nuclear testing is a decisive step toward peace and the creation of a world free of nuclear weapons. To achieve this goal, awareness-raising initiatives must be strengthened to promote universal ratification of the CTBT and global nuclear disarmament, which are essential for peace, security, and the protection of future generations.
Each International Day provides a unique opportunity to inform the public about major global issues, but its impact depends heavily on the mobilization of civil society. NGOs, associations, academics, and citizens can exert pressure on governments to respect and ratify international treaties such as the CTBT, promote disarmament education, and disseminate information on the human and environmental consequences of nuclear testing. This civic vigilance is particularly necessary given the ongoing nuclear threat. Countries possessing nuclear weapons, even in periods of relative peace, pose a latent risk to global stability. This risk is further heightened by geopolitical tensions, which create a climate of instability that could escalate into conflict. In this context, civil society serves as both a warning system and a mediator: by informing, advocating for disarmament, and promoting a culture of peace, it helps reduce the likelihood of nuclear escalation and safeguards future generations.