Statement by His Excellency Thoriq Ibrahim, Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy at the High-Level plenary meeting to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
Mr. President,
Mr Secretary General,
Excellencies.
Thank you Mr. President, and Secretary General: for convening this annual High-level meeting.
For the past 10 years, we have gathered in this Hall, on this day, to collectively call for the total elimination of nuclear weapons.
A call that has its roots in the very foundations of this organization.
A call that was echoed in the very first resolution passed by this organization.
A call, given today’s global security environment, remains extremely pertinent.
Sadly, in this time of increased volatility the current nuclear rhetoric has resulted in added insecurity
Any event involving nuclear weapons is likely to have massive and lasting global repercussions on populations, economies, and the environment.
If what we have witnessed in the past are any indication of what is possible, the consequences of a nuclear attack today, are too dire to even comprehend.
And so we must accept this fundamental truth:
That the only way to prevent the use of nuclear weapons is to completely eliminate them.
Mr. President,
We still live in a world of extreme poverty.
People are struggling all over the world, to put food on the table, find drinkable water, or adequate shelter.
Our environment is degrading, oceans are dying, climate is changing.
Children are still dying at birth, access to primary healthcare is still lacking, as is access to quality education.
The common roadblock to solving these global problems is said to be the lack of funding.
Yet, there seems to be no shortage of funds for nuclear weapons.
Global spending on nuclear weapons is estimated to have reached a record $91.4 billion during 2023.1
Leveraging these resources to advance sustainable development will be much more beneficial to humanity.
To eradicate poverty.
Advance healthcare, education, housing, food and water.
Find cures for diseases and ensure access to medicines.
Enhance medicine, agriculture and water resource management.
Establish schools and teach our next generation.
Save our environment for future generations.
I urge you: let us use our resources to advance humanity, not to destroy it.
Mr President,
Disarmament is vital for the pursuit of global peace and security.
Especially with regard to nuclear weapons.
This is why the Maldives became party to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
And why we support international cooperation and dialogue against nuclear armament.
We urge countries who have not done so to join the Treaty on the Prohibition on Nuclear Weapons.
We urge nuclear weapons states to consider establishing timeframes for the elimination of their stockpiles.
Mr President,
The Maldives stands firm in its commitment to global disarmament.
We recently became party to the Cluster Munitions Convention and the Arms Trade Treaty.
On the domestic front, we have recently passed legislation on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons – prohibiting the production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons.
We annually report to the United Nations Register for Conventional Arms.
We are actively collaborating with other countries on counter proliferation efforts – a task that is made even more challenging due to the relatively large maritime area that we are responsible for.
Disarmament is a cornerstone of global peace and security – and the Maldives remains committed to calling for its realisation.
Mr. President,
On Sunday, we met at the ‘Summit’ of the Future.
Identifying ways to give meaning to the hopes and dreams of future generations.
Part of that dream is for a peaceful and secure world.
And we can do that, by realizing our vision of a world free of nuclear weapons.
I thank you.
