International Day against Nuclear Tests, declared by the UN General Assembly in 2009, is observed on August 29.
The idea behind it was to intensify the efforts of the UN, of states, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations to stop nuclear testing, which is essential to maintaining international peace and security.
Over 2,000 nuclear explosions have been carried out throughout the history of humankind. More than half of these tests were performed by Western countries: 1,032 by the United States, 210 by France and 45 by the UK.
The main instrument for stopping nuclear testing is the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
The fact that one of the world’s largest nuclear powers, the United States, is among the countries still refusing to ratify this important document continues to cause deep concern.
The Russian Federation has consistently advocated that the #CTBT be transformed into a fully operational international legal mechanism.
