New York, NY – September 26, 2024 – At the United Nations Headquarters, Her Excellency President Dr. Hilda C. Heine delivered a compelling statement during the high-level meeting to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.
Reflecting on her kin, Mr. Dwight Heine’s advocacy in the UN chamber nearly 70 years ago, President Heine lamented the ongoing struggles of the Marshallese people following 67 nuclear tests conducted between 1946 and 1958. “The cries of our people were brushed off,” she stated, emphasizing that the promises made in two UN resolutions remain unfulfilled.
“Today, I carry the hopes of the Marshallese people.” President Heine urged global action against the rising threat of nuclear proliferation. She reiterated that no community should suffer the consequences of nuclear detonations.
President Heine will further address these issues at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. “The world is slipping backwards into deeper nuclear risk,” she warned, stressing the importance of heeding the lessons of history.
