Humanitarian Disarmament: A Living Legacy | At the United Nations

On 17 February 2026, at the Church Center for the United Nations, the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation (NAPF) and its youth initiative, Reverse the Trend (RTT), in collaboration with the Permanent Missions of Thailand, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Kiribati, and Sanctuary Beyond War, hosted an interactive panel discussion on the importance of humanitarian disarmament. This event examined how humanitarian treaties, such as the Mine Ban Treaty and the Convention on Cluster Munitions influenced the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons’ humanitarian provisions on victim assistance and environmental remediation (Articles 6 and 7).

Christian N. Ciobanu, Director of Policy and Advocacy of NAPF and TPNW Advisor for Kiribati, moderated the event. Speakers included: H.E. Cherdchai Chaivavid, Permanent Representative of Thailand to the United Nations and Co-Facilitator of the TPNW Informal Working Group on Complementarity; H.E. Thongphane Savanphet, Permanent Representative of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to the United Nations and Chair of the Third Review Conference on the Convention on Cluster Munitions; H.E. Josephine Moote, Charge d’Affaires of the Mission of Kiribati to the United Nations and Co-Chair of the TPNW Informal Working Group on Articles 6 and 7; Brady Mabe, Legal Adviser with the International Committee of the Red Cross Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations; Dr. Ivana Hughes, President of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation (NAPF); and Jonathan Lam, 2024-25 John Lewis Young Leader Fellow and NAPF/RTT Activist.

Humanitarian Disarmament Panel Discussion

At the outset of the panel, H.E. Cherdchai Chaivavid emphasized Thailand’s commitment to humanitarian disarmament through concrete actions, including landmine clearance, stockpile destruction, and international mine action cooperation. Reflecting on Southeast Asia’s experience with landmines, he underscored the interconnected relationship between development, peace, and security, and highlighted Thailand’s work advancing the complementarity of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons among other disarmament treaties.

H.E. Thongphane Savanphet of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic discussed the enduring humanitarian and socioeconomic consequences of cluster munitions in Laos, one of the most heavily bombed countries in history. He described national efforts to clear unexploded ordnance, integrate humanitarian action into development strategies, and preparations for the upcoming Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, emphasizing the need for sustained international cooperation.

H.E. Josephine Moote of Kiribati addressed the importance of Articles 6 and 7 of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, focusing on victim assistance and environmental remediation. Drawing from Kiribati’s experience with nuclear testing, she highlighted the long-term health and environmental impacts faced by affected communities and noted that humanitarian provisions developed through earlier coalition-driven treaties, including the Mine Ban Treaty and the Convention on Cluster Munitions, helped inform the humanitarian framework of the TPNW. She also underscored how the significance of the upcoming international meeting on victim assistance and environmental remediation.

Brady Mabe of the International Committee of the Red Cross spoke about the humanitarian risks posed by explosive weapons and their remnants, emphasizing the lasting dangers of unexploded ordnance and the impact of explosive weapons on civilian populations. He highlighted core principles of international humanitarian law, including distinction, proportionality, and precaution, and noted the ICRC’s view that the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons raise serious concerns regarding their compatibility with international humanitarian law.

Dr. Ivana Hughes, President of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, reflected on how earlier humanitarian disarmament successes, including the Mine Ban Treaty and the Convention on Cluster Munitions, helped inspire diplomatic and civil society efforts that led to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. She discussed the scientific understanding of nuclear risks, the scale of global arsenals, and the importance of maintaining momentum toward disarmament amid rising geopolitical tensions and challenges facing existing arms control frameworks.

Jonathan Lam, a NAPF/RTT activist and 2024-25 John Lewis Young Leader Fellow, concluded the panel by sharing a personal perspective rooted in intergenerational experiences of war and displacement in Southeast Asia. He spoke about the enduring trauma caused by unexploded ordnance and emphasized the role of youth advocacy in advancing humanitarian disarmament, calling for sustained investment in victim assistance, environmental recovery, and survivor-centered policies.

Following the panel discussion, participants engaged in an interactive exchange highlighting the role of civil society coalitions, including those behind the Mine Ban Treaty and subsequent humanitarian disarmament agreements, in advancing international norms, as well as the challenges facing multilateral disarmament processes amid increasing geopolitical pressures. The participants heard key interventions from representatives of Austria, Tunisia, and the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.

See below for the full event recording and photos.