International day against nuclear weapons. International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons

September 26 marks the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. It is one of the international holidays in the United Nations system and was established in December 2013 by the relevant resolution of the UN General Assembly (No. A/RES/68/32).

The main purpose of establishing this date is to draw the attention of the world community to the need for global nuclear disarmament and inform the public about the benefits of eliminating nuclear weapons. After all, one of the main tasks of mankind is to achieve peace and security on the planet without nuclear weapons. The complete elimination of nuclear weapons in all countries of the world is one of the main and oldest goals in the activities of the UN. It became the subject of the first resolution of the General Assembly in 1946, in which it was first announced and legally enshrined. In subsequent years, this topic was repeatedly included in the agendas and plans of meetings (1959, 1975), and was also identified as one of the priorities of the first special session of the General Assembly on disarmament in 1978, which paid special attention to the problem of nuclear disarmament.

In addition, this goal was approved and supported by each of the UN Secretaries General. As a result, several Treaties on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons were signed in different years. However, despite all the efforts of the UN, and despite the adoption of bilateral and multilateral treaties, as of 2015, not a single nuclear weapon has been physically destroyed in the world (in the arsenals of various countries of the world, there are a total of about 16 thousand nuclear weapons ). And today, more than half of the population of our planet lives in countries that have nuclear weapons or are part of nuclear alliances. Therefore, it is not surprising that every year the world is becoming more and more concerned about the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of using even a single nuclear warhead, not to mention a regional or global nuclear war. However, no negotiations on nuclear disarmament are currently taking place anywhere. And the countries possessing such weapons, moreover, have developed long-term plans to modernize their nuclear arsenals. Therefore, the problem of nuclear disarmament in our time is very acute and is a top priority.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons in 2015, recalling the 70th anniversary of the terrible date - the first and last use of nuclear weapons in the course of the war, also expressed regret that today everything is observed between Member States great disagreement over the means and timing of achieving the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons. He called on all States to be constructive and to find ways to move forward. In addition, according to the head of the UN, the elimination of nuclear weapons will free up colossal resources that can be used to implement the 2030 sustainable development agenda. After all, the use of nuclear weapons somewhere in one place in the world will lead to a catastrophe on the entire planet. And in order to avoid such consequences, it is necessary to eliminate it, including other weapons of mass destruction. The only absolute guarantee that nuclear weapons will never be used is their total elimination. Taking into account all the indicated facts and the current situation, the UN decided to officially establish this date - the Day of Struggle for the Complete Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, in order to once again remind the participating States of the priority task in foreign policy, of the benefits of disarmament and the costs in social and economic terms.

And, of course, to once again call for the destruction and limitation of nuclear weapons, in one way or another to minimize their role and participation in the foreign policy of the state. Today, the International Day for the Complete Elimination of Nuclear Weapons is celebrated by all countries interested in this goal and their populations. Despite the youth of the holiday, various events are held on this day in a number of countries - flash mobs, demonstrations of short films and the distribution of campaign materials on the topic of disarmament and against nuclear weapons. After all, it is this Day that will allow the world community to reaffirm its commitment to the cause of global nuclear disarmament as a top priority.

Only another atomic weapon can protect against nuclear weapons. However, this will lead to disaster throughout the world. To avoid such consequences, it is necessary to eliminate it, including other weapons of mass destruction. It is the day that calls for the destruction and limitation of nuclear weapons, in one way or another to minimize its role and participation in the foreign policy of the state, when the governments of countries think about the benefits of disarmament, and this world holiday is dedicated.

When does it pass

The International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons is celebrated on 26 September. It was proclaimed on December 5, 2013 at the 60th plenary session of the UN General Assembly by resolution No. A/RES/68/32. In 2020, it is celebrated for the 7th time. Russia joins the celebration of the date.

Who notes

International Day for the Complete Elimination of Nuclear Weapons is celebrated by all countries and their populations interested in this goal.

history of the holiday

This goal is one of the oldest in the activities of the UN. It was first voiced and legally enshrined in the 1946 resolution. Further, it was repeatedly included in the agendas and plans of meetings (1959, 1975). Treaties on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons were signed. In 1978, a separate special session was devoted to this topic. It became a landmark for the UN, as this goal was approved by all the secretaries general of the United Nations.

However, today many countries are in no hurry to eliminate their nuclear weapons, having developed long-term plans for their modernization. Given the current situation, the UN decided to officially establish this holiday to remind the participating States of the priority task in foreign policy, the benefits of disarmament and the costs in social and economic terms.

According to the UN, states (as of 2014) have not physically eliminated a single nuclear weapon on the basis of bilateral or multilateral treaties, and are also not negotiating nuclear disarmament.

The nuclear "Tsar Bomb" (AN602) was created by Academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences I. Kurchatov. Its capacity was about 58 megatons, and during the test at the test site (October 30, 1960), it destroyed all life. During the explosion, the nuclear mushroom reached a height of 67 km, and the fireball of the explosion in a radius of approximately 4.6 km. The sound wave propagated over a distance of 800 kilometers.

On the cover of one of the American magazines - Bulletin of Atomic Scientist, an image of a clock is periodically printed with the designation of the time until Judgment Day, which will occur as a result of a nuclear conflict. The last publication of this clock was in 2012, and it showed the time 23:55 (five minutes past midnight). And in 1953, they showed the time 23:58 - this was the year when the USSR and the USA tested thermonuclear bombs.

September 26 is celebrated around the world International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons(International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons). It is one of the international holidays in the United Nations system and was established in December 2013 by the relevant resolution of the UN General Assembly (No. A/RES/68/32).

The complete elimination of nuclear weapons in all countries of the world is one of the main and oldest goals in the activities of the UN. It became the subject of the first resolution of the General Assembly in 1946, in which it was first announced and legally enshrined. In subsequent years, this topic was repeatedly included in the agendas and plans of meetings (1959, 1975), and was also identified as one of the priorities of the first special session of the General Assembly on disarmament in 1978, which paid special attention to the problem of nuclear disarmament. In addition, this goal was approved and supported by each of the UN Secretaries General.

As a result, several Treaties on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons were signed in different years. However, despite all the efforts of the UN, and despite the adoption of bilateral and multilateral treaties, as of 2016, not a single nuclear weapon has been physically destroyed in the world, and there are a total of about 14,000 nuclear weapons in the arsenals of various countries of the world. weapons. And today, more than half of the population of our planet lives in countries that have nuclear weapons or are part of nuclear alliances.

Therefore, it is not surprising that every year the world is becoming more and more concerned about the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of using even a single nuclear warhead, not to mention a regional or global nuclear war. However, no negotiations on nuclear disarmament are currently taking place anywhere. And the countries possessing such weapons, moreover, have developed long-term plans to modernize their nuclear arsenals. Therefore, the problem of nuclear disarmament in our time is very acute and is a top priority.

Sculpture depicting St. George slaying the dragon, created using fragments of the Soviet SS-20 missile and the American Pershing nuclear missile (Photo: UN/Milton Grant)

The 8th UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons in 2015, recalling the 70th anniversary of the terrible date - the first and last use of nuclear weapons during the war, also expressed regret that today between the states - Members are increasingly divided over how and when to achieve the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons.

He called on all States to be constructive and to find ways to move forward. In addition, according to the head of the UN, the elimination of nuclear weapons will free up colossal resources that can be used to implement the 2030 sustainable development agenda.

After all, the use of nuclear weapons somewhere in one place in the world will lead to a catastrophe on the entire planet. And in order to avoid such consequences, it is necessary to eliminate it, including other weapons of mass destruction. The only absolute guarantee that nuclear weapons will never be used is their total elimination.

Taking into account all the indicated facts and the current situation, the UN decided to officially establish this date - the Day of Struggle for the Complete Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, in order to once again remind the participating States of the priority task in foreign policy, of the benefits of disarmament and the costs in social and economic terms. And, of course, to once again call for the destruction and limitation of nuclear weapons, in one way or another to minimize their role and participation in the foreign policy of the state.

Today, the International Day for the Complete Elimination of Nuclear Weapons is celebrated by all countries interested in this goal and their populations. Despite the youth of the holiday, various events are held on this day in a number of countries - flash mobs, demonstrations of short films and the distribution of campaign materials on the topic of disarmament and against nuclear weapons. After all, it is this Day that will allow the world community to reaffirm its commitment to the cause of global nuclear disarmament as a top priority.

The International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons is aimed at raising awareness and educating the population about the threat posed by nuclear weapons to humanity, the need for the complete elimination of these weapons in order to mobilize international efforts to achieve the common goal of building a world free of nuclear weapons.

The complete elimination of nuclear weapons is one of the oldest goals of the United Nations. It was the subject of the first resolution of the General Assembly in 1946. Also, since 1959, along with general and complete disarmament, it has been included in the agenda of the General Assembly. It has been the main topic of the review conferences held at the UN since 1975 by the states parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. It was identified as one of the priorities of the first special session of the General Assembly on disarmament in 1978, which paid special attention to the problem of nuclear disarmament. Plus has been supported by each of the secretaries general of the United Nations.

At present, there are about 15,000 nuclear weapons in the arsenals of the countries of the world. More than half of the world's population lives in countries that either have such weapons or are members of nuclear alliances. As of 2016, no nuclear weapons have been physically destroyed under any bilateral or multilateral treaty, and no nuclear disarmament negotiations are underway.

In December 2016, the UN General Assembly decided to prepare a convention on the prohibition and total elimination of nuclear weapons. The corresponding resolution was supported by 123 states, while the nuclear powers, including Russia, and about 30 other countries voted "against". China was the only one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to abstain from the vote. The resolution decided to hold a conference with the aim of developing "a legally binding instrument for the prohibition of nuclear weapons, which will lead to their complete elimination."

On March 27, 2017, intergovernmental negotiations began in the UN General Assembly to develop the text of a convention on the prohibition and total elimination of nuclear weapons. However, almost 40 countries did not take part in the conference, including the US, UK, France, Russia and China.

Russia is committed to the goal of achieving a world without nuclear weapons and is making a significant contribution to global efforts to reduce nuclear weapons. The implementation of the 1987 Soviet-American Treaty on the elimination of their medium and shorter range missiles (INF) made it possible to destroy over 1800 ground-based ballistic and cruise missiles with a range of 500-5500 km and more than 800 launchers (PU) for them. In total, more than 3,000 nuclear warheads with a total yield of over 500,000 kilotons have been deactivated.

The Russian Federation has fully complied with its obligations under the 1991 Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START) and the 2002 Treaty on the Reduction of Strategic Offensive Potentials (SNOR). Russia has reduced the number of deployed strategic warheads from 9,000 to 1,700 units, and has also eliminated more than 1,600 launchers of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), more than 3,100 ICBMs and SLBMs, about 50 strategic missile submarines, and about 70 heavy bombers (TB).

Along with limiting strategic offensive weapons, Russia has cut its arsenal of non-strategic nuclear weapons by a factor of four and concentrated them in central storage bases within national territory.

On April 8, 2010 in Prague (Czech Republic), the Treaty on Further Measures to Limit and Reduce Strategic Offensive Arms was signed (entered into force on February 5, 2011).

The agreement fixes the parties' agreement to cut the total number of warheads by a third (up to 1,550 units) (the "ceiling" under the START - 2,200 units) and by more than two times (up to 700 units) - the maximum level of strategic launchers (the "ceiling" under the START - 1,600 units, DSNP did not restrict carriers). In addition, an additional level of 800 units is established for deployed and non-deployed launchers of ICBMs and SLBMs, as well as TB.

As of March 1, 2017, Russia had: 523 deployed strategic carriers and 1,765 warheads, 816 launchers for ICBMs and SLBMs, as well as TB.

Russia actively participates in the review process of the NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons) and in the work of multilateral negotiating forums in the field of disarmament (the Conference on Disarmament - CD, the UN Disarmament Commission).

The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources

Nevertheless, today there are about 15,000 nuclear weapons in the arsenals of the countries of the world. The countries possessing such weapons have no problems with financing and have developed long-term plans to modernize their nuclear arsenals. More than half of the world's population lives in countries that either have such weapons or are members of nuclear alliances. None of the nuclear weapons have been physically destroyed under any bilateral or multilateral treaty, and there are no negotiations on nuclear disarmament. Meanwhile, the doctrine of nuclear deterrence remains as an element of the security policy of all nuclear states and their nuclear allies. Challenges in the field of security cannot serve as a basis for continuing the maintenance of a nuclear potential and refusing to look for ways to strengthen peace throughout the world.

These facts prompted the General Assembly to establish September 26 as the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. This Day will allow the world community to reaffirm its commitment to global nuclear disarmament as a top priority. By commemorating the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, we are educating the public and its leaders about the real benefits of eliminating such weapons, as well as the associated socio-economic costs. It is especially important to celebrate this Day in the United Nations, given the universality of the membership of the Organization and the many years of experience in dealing with issues of nuclear disarmament. This is a landmark place for solving one of the main problems of mankind, for achieving peace and security in a world without nuclear weapons.

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, adopted on July 7, 2017, was an important step towards achieving a world free of nuclear weapons. It contains a provision that each State Party undertakes never under any circumstances to develop, test, manufacture, manufacture, otherwise acquire, possess or stockpile nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. . The treaty will enter into force after 50 states ratify it.