news.un.org
2024-09-28
World leaders, senior government officials and civil society representatives joined forces at UN Headquarters on Thursday to reaffirm commitment to nuclear disarmament as a global priority.
The High-Level Meeting was held to commemorate the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, observed annually on 26 September.
"There should be no place for these devices of death in our world," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Nuclear 'spectre' looming
He warned, however, that "not since the worst days of the Cold War has the spectre of nuclear weapons cast such a dark shadow."
He said that "nuclear sabre-rattling has reached a fever pitch" and there have been threats to use a nuclear weapon, highlighting fears of a new arms race.
Meanwhile, decades-old norms established against the use, spread and testing of nuclear weapons are being eroded.