At the 2026 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, UNIDIR will convene a dynamic series of side events addressing today’s most pressing nuclear policy challenges. Co-organized with the Government of Switzerland, this event examines how nuclear risk reduction has emerged as a cross-cutting priority across the current NPT review cycle, reflected in working papers, national statements, and debates throughout its duration.
This side event will take stock of these developments, identify areas of convergence, and explore practical measures that could inform the Conference’s outcomes. It will also examine how to ensure that nuclear risk reduction remains a sustained and actionable priority within the NPT review process.
Agenda
Opening remarks
- Amb. Julien Thoeni, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the Conference of Disarmament
Panellist
- Abigail Bailey, Team Lead, Security Policy Department, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
- Amb. Shen Jian, Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs, Deputy Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations Office in Geneva
- Kgaugelo Mogashoa, Director for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa
- Sahil V. Shah, Senior Advisor and Member, Swiss Delegation to the NPT
- Sarah Ruth Opatowski, Associate Researcher, Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme, UNIDIR
Moderated by Andrey Baklitskiy, Senior Researcher, Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme, UNIDIR
When and where
Wednesday, 6 May 2026 | 13:15 – 14:30 EDT | Room CR.8, UN Headquarters, New York
In partnership with
