NEW YORK, USA – September 26, 2025 – H.E. President Hilda C. Heine delivered remarks at the Human Rights, Nuclear Tests and a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World Commemoration at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, marking the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.
President Heine shared the Marshall Islands’ lived experience of nuclear testing and its enduring impacts, underscoring the urgent need for nuclear disarmament. She affirmed that the existence of nuclear weapons represents a violation of human rights and a profound disregard for humanity.
Between 1946 and 1958, the Marshall Islands was the site of 67 nuclear tests conducted by the United States while under a United Nations Trusteeship. The most infamous of these, the Castle Bravo test in 1954, brought devastation that continues to affect generations. Communities were exposed to radioactive fallout, and residents endured severe health consequences without their knowledge or consent. These harms have left lasting scars on the health, environment, and self-determination of the Marshallese people.
President Heine highlighted the ongoing challenges caused by the nuclear legacy, including high rates of cancer and other diseases, displacement of communities, environmental contamination, and the threat posed by radioactive waste—exacerbated by climate change and rising sea levels.
Drawing on this history, President Heine emphasized that the Marshall Islands stands as a living testament to the connection between nuclear disarmament and the protection of human rights. She called for renewed global commitment to the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, stating that the fight for a nuclear-weapon-free world is essential for the future of humanity.
