The year 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the opening for signature of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 1996. Over the past three decades, the Treaty has established a powerful global norm against nuclear test explosions, underpinned by its state-of-the-art International Monitoring System (IMS).
To maximize the impact of this milestone during the International Day against Nuclear Tests, this four-part event combines high-level political advocacy with targeted diplomatic capacity-building. In partnership with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and UNIDIR, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) will host a specialized diplomatic seminar designed to deepen delegates’ understanding of the Treaty ahead of the UN General Assembly First Committee session.
Agenda
Friday, 28 August 2026 | Day 1
Part I | Diplomatic seminar on the CTBT
10:00 – 12:00
Location: Conference Room 8, United Nations Headquarters
10:00 – 10:15 | Welcome and opening remarks
- Izumi Nakamitsu, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs
- Dr Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary, Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
10:15 – 10:40 | Module 1 – Legal and political framework and entry into force
- The history, evolution and political architecture of the Treaty
- Representative of the CTBTO
- Discussion of the Article XIV process and strategic pathways towards universalization
- Representative of the CTBTO
10:40 – 10:55 | Coffee break
10:55 – 11:25 | Module 2 – The science of verification
- A comprehensive briefing on the IMS across all four monitoring technologies: seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasound and radionuclide
- Representative of the CTBTO
- An overview of the International Data Centre and On-Site Inspections
- Representative of the CTBTO
11:25 – 11:40 | Module 3 – Navigating the First Committee
- Past CTBT resolutions and expectations for the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly
- H.E. Porfirio Thierry Muñoz Ledo Chevannier, Deputy Permanent Representative of Mexico
11:45 – 12:00 | Closing remarks
- Dr Robin Geiss, Director, UNIDIR
Part II | Exhibit launch and ribbon-cutting ceremony
12:00 – 12:30
Location: 1B Neck Exhibition Area, United Nations Headquarters
12:00 – 12:30 | Inauguration of the dedicated retrospective exhibit by the UN Secretary-General, CTBTO Executive Secretary Dr Robert Floyd, Friends of the CTBT, Article XIV co-chairs and Permanent Representatives, including the Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan.
12:00 – 12:30 | Lunch break
Part III | High-level 30th anniversary celebratory event
12:30 – 13:30
Location: Conference Room 8, United Nations Headquarters
High-level remarks
- H.E. António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General
- Dr Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary, Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization – Reflecting on 30 years of the verification regime and outlining the path forward
Audiovisual presentation
- “The Road to Zero” – a short film featuring the voices of negotiators, scientists, station operators and diplomats tracing three decades of ensuring no nuclear test goes undetected
Goodwill messages and statements
- Statements by partner Member States reinforcing national and regional commitments to the CTBT as a core pillar of the international non-proliferation regime
- A statement will be delivered on behalf of the co-presidency of the Article XIV process
- A statement will be delivered on behalf of the Friends of the CTBT
Closing remarks
- Permanent Representative of Latvia to the United Nations
Saturday, 29 August 2026 | Day 2
Part IV | International Day against Nuclear Tests tree-planting ceremony
10:00 – 11:00
Location: Secretariat Circle, United Nations Headquarters
The ceremony will mark three decades of the global norm against nuclear testing with the planting of a commemorative tree. The event is co-hosted by the Friends of the CTBT, in partnership with the CTBTO and UNODA.
Further details will be added in due course.
When and where
Friday, 28 August and Saturday, 29 August 2026 | United Nations Headquarters, New York.
Participants
Participation is upon invitation only.
Further information
For any questions, please contact Fanny Sebban at fanny.sebban@un.org.
In partnership with
