New York, 1 September 2026

Mr. Co-Chairs,
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,

At the outset, my Delegation would like to thank Kazakhstan and Kiribati for convening this meeting and for their work as Co-Chairs of the Working Group on Victim Assistance, Environmental Remediation and International Cooperation and Assistance under Articles 6 and 7 of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

In his Encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV warns against the emergence of “a culture of power,” in which “the availability of resources and the ability to dominate tend to dictate the agenda and criteria for decision-making.” He observes that such a culture grows by “normalizing war, pursuing ever-greater military power, taking advantage of the crisis of multilateralism and fueling a false realism that insists that there is no alternative.”[1]

This logic is particularly pertinent in the nuclear field, where nuclear arsenals are being modernized and expanded, alongside the increasing integration of rapidly evolving technologies into weapons systems. Rather than offering a firmer foundation for peace, these developments risk deepening reliance on instruments equipped with a destructive potential that endangers human life, human dignity and creation itself.

The enduring consequences of nuclear weapons’ use and testing remind us that, behind doctrines, arsenals and considerations of strategic advantage, stand human persons whose inherent God-given dignity can never be subordinated to military or political interests. Pope Leo XIV calls for the adoption of “the perspective of victims,”[2] recognizing and listening to those whose lives have been affected by such suffering.

Therefore, victim assistance is not merely a humanitarian response to past harm, but also an expression of justice and solidarity. International cooperation, financial support and technical evaluation are required to provide medical care, psychological support, and social welfare for individuals harmed by radiation and nuclear testing fallout. Particular attention must be given to communities that have borne disproportionate burdens, including indigenous peoples, to ensure they can participate meaningfully in decisions concerning their lives and future.

Mr. Co-Chairs,

Care for affected communities cannot be separated from care for the environment. The contamination of land, water and ecosystems affects the health and livelihoods of present communities and places burdens upon future generations. Environmental remediation is therefore closely linked to protecting human dignity and the sustainability of communities and is part of the shared responsibility to care and safeguard creation. In this regard, Articles 6 and 7 of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) provide an important framework for advancing victim assistance and environmental remediation through international cooperation.

Considering the risks associated with the potential for mass destruction of nuclear weapons, their complete elimination remains the surest means of preventing their catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences. In this regard, the TPNW and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty provide essential foundations for advancing towards a world free of nuclear weapons and for fostering a human-centered approach to security, one that places the dignity of the human person at its heart and is grounded in dialogue, mutual trust and the pursuit of the common good. My Delegation therefore renews its appeal to all States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify these Treaties and work towards their universalization.

Mr. Co-Chairs,

Those affected by nuclear weapons call on us not only to address the consequences of past harm, but also to allow their testimony to guide our choices for the future. By doing so, we can move beyond a culture of power and promote a vision of security that places the human person at its center, safeguards creation and serves the common good.

Thank you, Mr. Co-Chairs.

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[1] Pope Leo XIV, Magnifica Humanitas, 188.

[2] Pope Leo XIV, Magnifica Humanitas, 216.