[Cluster I : Nuclear Disarmament]

Statement by Ambassador Mine to introduce

the Working Paper on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education

at the Third Prep Com

Mr. Chairman,

Distinguished delegates,

On behalf of the following countries --- Egypt, Hungary, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Sweden and Japan --- I would like to introduce a working paper on disarmament and non-proliferation education. This paper builds on the working paper which these countries presented at the Second Preparatory Committee last year.

We welcome the "United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education," containing a series of practical recommendations on the promotion of disarmament and non-proliferation education and training.

The overall objective of disarmament and non-proliferation education and training is to impart knowledge and skills to individuals to empower them to make a contribution, as national and international citizens, to the achievement of concrete disarmament and non-proliferation measures. Education on disarmament and non-proliferation is one means for advancing towards the full implementation of disarmament and non-proliferation obligations under the NPT --- both to ensure the continuation of institutional knowledge, encouraging new and innovative thinking to overcome the current challenges and creating a greater awareness and understanding of the NPT regime. These current challenges that the NPT regime faces warrant utilizing all available tools by States Parties ; disarmament and non-proliferation education, which was previously underutilized, now needs to be fully embraced.

This working paper aims to encourage Governments, the United Nations and other international organizations, civil society and non-governmental organizations to attribute a high level of importance to the UN study recommendations, encourage them to make effors to take concrete steps toward implementing these recommendations and include in their education and training programmes information on the NPT.

We encourage other States to support this paper, and to voluntarily share information on their respective efforts in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation at the 2005 NPT Review Conference. Education is essential to encourage critical thinking and attitudinal change so that the next generation can choose a culture of peace over violence. We hope this working paper will encourage all States to take active measures to this end.