The Secretariat of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL) participated in the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly from October 14 to 18, focusing on disarmament, global security, and arms control. During these high-level discussions, the OPANAL reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones and promoting a world free of nuclear weapons.
In her statement during the general debate the OPANAL Secretary-General emphasised that the session was taking place in a challenging international security context, where dialogue and cooperation would be essential for overcoming the fragmentation the global system of norms and principles faces in preserving peace. See the full statement this article.
The OPANAL Secretary-General also highlighted the historical importance of the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean—Treaty of Tlatelolco—which established the first densely populated nuclear-weapon-free zone, comprising 33 Latin American and Caribbean states. This Treaty has inspired the creation of four other nuclear-weapon-free zones, bringing us closer to the shared goal of achieving general and complete nuclear disarmament.
The Secretary-General also addressed the current challenges facing the disarmament regime, urging nuclear-armed states to continue engaging constructively with non-nuclear-armed states and to sign or ratify the additional protocols of other treaties that establish nuclear-weapon-free zones.
The Secretariat also had several meetings during his participation, among which was a meeting with the current Chairperson of the First Committee of the General Assembly, Ambassador Maritza Chan-Valverde, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Costa Rica to the United Nations, as well meetings with other representatives of Member States stationed at New York. The Secretary-General updated the membership on the current status of the issues being reviewed by the Organization. The Secretariat also met with Ambassador Enrique Román-Morey, the current Permanent Representative of the Republic of Peru to the United Nations, who also served as OPANAL Secretary-General from 1994 to 2000, and with Her Excellency Ambassador Mutryce Williams, Permanent Representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations. Ambassador Williams was briefed on OPANAL’s work in promoting nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation education in the region, and efforts to strengthen dialogue and engagement with the Caribbean.
Further still, the Secretary-General held meetings with Mr. Xiaoyu Wang, Secretary-General of the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and other Weapons of Mass Destruction, aiming to strengthen co-operation between both regions, and with Mr. Hiro Sakurai, Director of the Soka Gakkai International Office for UN Affairs, to discuss the ties between the OPANAL and that organization, with shared goals of promoting disarmament and consolidating peace.
The OPANAL Secretariat also participated in a high-level exchange with Izumi Nakamitsu, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, where the regional efforts of the Agency and the significance of nuclear-weapon-free zones for global peace and security were emphasized. The discussion also highlighted the importance of women’s and youth participation in promoting non-proliferation and disarmament, as well as the role of disarmament education as a fundamental tool for raising awareness about the inhumane risks posed by nuclear weapons.
