On 29 August 2023, SGI joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Center for International Security and Policy (CISP) and the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) to co-organize a regional conference titled the “Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons and Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia” and held in Astana, Kazakhstan.

The conference presented an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the humanitarian consequences related to the development, testing and use of nuclear weapons and applicable international and regional legal instruments, as well as victim assistance and environmental remediation issues. Representatives from the five Member States of the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Semipalatinsk Treaty), namely Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, attended.

Alimzhan Akhmetov of CISP welcomed the participants and introduced Kairat Umarov, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, who delivered a welcoming speech. First Deputy Minister Umarov remarked, “The catastrophic consequences of nuclear weapons cannot be adequately addressed nor can they be controlled, as the example of affected States clearly shows. They transcend national borders and pose grave implications for all life on Earth. In this regard, the prevention of these consequences must be at the center of our collective efforts to achieve and maintain a world without nuclear weapons.”

Hirotsugu Terasaki, SGI Director General for Peace and Global Issues, gave a speech expressing his hope for meaningful discussions on the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), in order to move the world closer to nuclear disarmament.

Marking the International Day Against Nuclear Tests, the conference participants discussed the humanitarian and environmental impacts of nuclear weapons and the legacy of nuclear testing in the region. Dmitriy Vesselov, a third-generation Semipalatinsk nuclear testing survivor, shared a powerful testimony about the long-term effects of nuclear testing. His candid story about his own health was a stark reminder of how the history of nuclear testing in the region continues to affect survivors even after over three decades since the closing of the Semipalatinsk Test Site.

Established in 2009, the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (CANWFZ), is the first nuclear-weapon-free zone situated entirely in the Northern Hemisphere. Participants discussed the complementarity of the CANWFZ treaty and other international legal instruments, such as the TPNW. Celine Nahory, Advocacy Coordinator of ICAN, emphasized that the members of nuclear-weapon-free zones have played a leading role in the negotiation, adoption and promotion of the TPNW. She stressed the importance of strengthening the global norm against nuclear weapons through the TPNW and stated, “Although Central Asia is a nuclear weapons free region, it is not free of the risks that nuclear weapons pose if they were to be used anywhere.”

Discussions at the conference also touched on the TPNW’s role in addressing victim assistance and environmental remediation. Elizabeth Minor of Article 36, speaking on behalf of ICAN, stated, “Articles 6 and 7 of the treaty, on victim assistance, environmental remediation and international cooperation and assistance, establish a framework of shared and collective responsibility and solidarity amongst states parties, which aims to support affected states parties to address the ongoing impacts of past nuclear weapons use and testing.” Minor also touched upon the work of the TPNW’s informal working group on this subject led by Kazakhstan and Kiribati, which have both been affected by nuclear testing.

Anna Ikeda of SGI presented on the role of peace and disarmament education in advancing disarmament and universalizing the norms of the TPNW. She stressed that any education about nuclear weapons must include, and ideally start with, raising awareness about the devastating humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons. “Learning about the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons helps us understand that this is not an abstract issue about political tools far removed from our daily lives,” stated Ikeda. She also emphasized that nuclear-weapon free zones are excellent venues for promoting disarmament education and highlighted some examples of the efforts in the region, such as the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness, an initiative of Kyrgyzstan.

Upon the conference's conclusion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan issued a chair’s summary as its host.

ICAN also issued a summary of the conference.