On October 1, civil society leaders gathered to discuss the nuclear risk-reduction and disarmament commitments agreed upon at the UN Summit of the Future, held on September 23. The Summit saw world leaders adopting a Pact for the Future, which included commitments to strengthen multilateral cooperation on pressing global issues, including nuclear disarmament. However, these commitments remain broad, lacking concrete measures and timelines for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons.
During the event, panelists reviewed the existing Summit agreements and presented civil society’s own proposals, as outlined in the Peoples Pact for the Future. This advocacy document, endorsed by organizations such as the Basel Peace Office, urged stronger and more specific actions on nuclear risk-reduction.
In a special video message, Ela Gandhi spoke to the enduring need for disarmament, channeling Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolence. Her call to action underscored the moral imperative for a world free from the threat of nuclear war.
The panel concluded with calls for a renewed public awareness push, highlighting the need to make the dangers of nuclear armament more visible to foster a powerful, grassroots movement. Civil society leaders committed to ongoing advocacy, emphasizing collaboration across nations and the unyielding potential of global unity for peace and disarmament.