Mr.
Chairman,
On
behalf of the eight countries - Egypt, Hungary, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand,
Peru, Poland, Sweden - that submitted a joint working paper on disarmament and
non-proliferation education in the last review process, I would like to take
the opportunity today to re-emphasize the importance of disarmament and
non-proliferation education.
Mr.
Chairman,
Under
the current unstable international environment, it has become increasingly
necessary to raise awareness of disarmament and non-proliferation issues,
through educating the public of the dangers of weapons of mass destruction and
the tragic consequences of their use, as well as the steps required to overcome
the challenges caused by such weapons. As it has been mentioned in the past,
education is an important tool for strengthening the disarmament and non-proliferation
regime through raising the awareness of disarmament and non-proliferation
issues. It is our wish to promote a culture of disarmament and
non-proliferation for future generations through the more active utilization of
this tool.
The
high level of support for disarmament and non-proliferation education
initiatives within the international community has been consistently
demonstrated through engagement at the United Nations. On 20 November 2000, the
UN General Assembly adopted the resolution on "the United Nation's Study
on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education" (55/33E), and with the
assistance of governmental experts a report was prepared by the UN Secretary
General. The Secretary General's report put forward 34 practical recommendations
that should be implemented at various levels. Resolution 57/60, adopted by the
General Assembly on 22 November 2002, conveyed that these recommendations be
implemented, as appropriate, by Member States, the United Nations and other
international organizations, civil society, non-governmental organizations and
the media. Also, in 2004 and 2006 draft resolutions (59/93, 61/73) encouraging
the implementation of the recommendations by the UN Member States and UN
related organizations were adopted by consensus.
Mr.
Chairman,
We
attach great importance to the recommendations of the UN Study, and in our
joint working paper of 2005, we encouraged the States Parties to make efforts
based on those recommendations. For instance, we encouraged, amongst other
things, the support for and cooperation in disarmament and non-proliferation
education activities at various levels. Starting from where we can,
implementing continually and steadily the recommendations is important and we
have been keenly promoting these efforts ourselves.
A
key practical measure for the enhancement of disarmament and non-proliferation
education would be to facilitate the increased participation of civil society
networks in our work. The full and effective implementation of the NPT will
require active engagement between governments and all sectors of civil society,
including regional and international organizations and academic institutions.
Mainstreaming education in the fields of disarmament and non-proliferation is
essential for maintaining and strengthening the links between the Treaty regime
and the international community that it serves.
We
firmly recognize that education on disarmament and non-proliferation is a very
important way to make progress towards the full implementation of disarmament
and non-proliferation obligations under the NPT.
In
addition to appealing for the need to promote disarmament and non-proliferation
education, we will continue our efforts and share information on our progress.
In this regard, we urge other States Parties to also participate in these kinds
of efforts.
Thank
you, Mr. Chairman.