“Stronger together” - Nuclear Survivors Forum 2024 in Astana, Kazakhstan

August 29 marks the United Nations International Day Against Nuclear Tests, which commemorates the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site in Kazakhstan on August 29, 1991. To utilize this important opportunity to promote a world free from nuclear weapons, Peace Boat in partnership with ICAN and two Kazakh civil society organizations - the Center for International Security and Policy (CISP) and the Steppe Organization for Peace (STOP) - held the Nuclear Survivors Forum 2024 (NSF2024) in Astana, Kazakhstan on August 28 and 29, 2024.

This was the third Nuclear Survivors Forum organized by Peace Boat in cooperation with ICAN. The first was held online in the lead up to the first Meeting of States Parties (MSP) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in December 2021. The second was held in person in New York, on the sidelines of the Second MSP to the TPNW in November 2023. These Forums provide important opportunities for nuclear affected communities from around the world to exchange amongst each other and to provide input into the TPNW policy process on victim assistance and environmental remediation.

To commemorate this day, Kazakhstan held a meeting for the member states of Nuclear Weapon Free Zones on August 27 and 28, and the TPNW Coordination Committee meeting on the 29. A youth forum titled “From the Pacific to the Steppes: Addressing the Nuclear Sins of the Past and Advancing Justice” was also organized in parallel by the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation with STOP, while Soka Gakkai International (SGI) and CISP also held a movie screening and testimony event. The NSF2024 jointly coordinated a panel discussion and press event with the youth forum and attended SGI’s event.

The NSF2024 had two main objectives: to create space for affected community members to deepen and widen their horizontal network through conversations and story sharing, building trust and bonds, and to find common challenges and hopes in their voices across diverse backgrounds. Within this, the forum aimed to provide space for them to discuss their expectations and demands in relation to the implementation of the TPNW, particularly Articles 6 and 7, and to come together in one voice to present these points to the relevant government representatives, including Kazakhstan and Kiribati. Both objectives were materialized through an agenda carefully curated by all involved partners.

Ms Zhanna Zhibrayeva (center), a second generation nuclear tests survivor and the president of the Center of Family foundation, giving her testimony with support from Ms Aigerim Yelgeldy (right), a third generation nuclear tests survivor and Ms Aigerim Seitenova (left) a third generation nuclear tests survivor and a co-founder of STOP

Day 1 of the NSF2024 on August 28 featured testimony by Kazakh nuclear tests survivors Karipbek Kuyukov, Aigerim Yelgeldy, Dimitriy Vesselov, Zhanna Zhibrayeva, Maira Abenova and Kaisha Atakhanova, as well as non-Kazakh nuclear survivors Kido Sueichi, Lee Tae Jae, Robert James and Benetick Kabua Maddison. The day focused on the participating survivors learning each other's stories and understanding the diversity in nuclear affected communities. On Day 2, the participants explored common ground and shared priority actions across diverse nuclear-affected communities, coming together to produce an outcome document and present this to the relevant governments, including Kazakhstan and Kiribati, the co-chairs of the TPNW Working Group on Articles 6 and 7 regarding victim assistance and environmental remediation.

Participants were divided into two groups by preferred language (English or Russian) for group discussions

The Kazakh participants and local partners said it was the first time Kazakh nuclear survivors gathered together for an international antinuclear event such as this forum. Due to the challenges of accessibility from Kazakhstan to major international cities such as New York or Geneva, normally only one Kazakh survivor attends these meetings, together with a coordinator or interpreter. The NSF2024 was able to invite seven Kazakh nuclear survivors, which made it possible to present diverse views on their needs and hopes for their communities. For example, although they are all from Kazakh nuclear affected communities and all request proper compensation, recognition and medical assistance, they have different views on the future of the post nuclear testing site. Coordination with youth forum members was also appreciated by both participants and the local Kazakh Forum organizers, as an opportunity for intergenerational bonding and learning. It also provided the Kazakh nuclear survivors an opportunity to learn about the international antinuclear movement, especially the work around the TPNW and its state parties’ efforts on victim assistance and environmental remediation.

Mr Kido Sueichi, Nagasaki Hibakusha (atomic bomb survivor) and Secretary General of Nihon Hidankyo (Japan Confederation of A-and H-bomb Sufferers Organizations) speaking at the joint press conference, along with other NSF2024 and Youth Forum participants

The third Meeting of State Parties of the TPNW is planned to take place at the UN Headquarters in New York in March 2025. Next year also marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The NSF2024 contributed to global network-building among nuclear affected communities, to more strongly amplify their joint voices to push implementation of the TPNW forward and continue to set their presence as the center of discussions.

Links:
ICAN’s report on this week including the NSF2024
Outcome Document