Open Nuclear Network was on the ground in New York, advancing conversations on nuclear risk reduction at the 2025 NPT Preparatory Committee.
From 28 April to 9 May, members of the Open Nuclear Network team were in New York for the 2025 Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) for the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) , where they engaged directly with diplomats, representatives from international organisations, technical experts and civil society actors on the issues of nuclear risk reduction.
On 28 April, Network and Engagement Specialist Dr Olamide Samuel met with Dr Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), and Alexandra Bell, President and CEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. These high-level engagements reinforced ONN’s commitment to collaborative efforts in reducing nuclear risks and advancing dialogue.
On 29 April, ONN Research Coordinator Elin Bergner spoke on peacebuilding and disarmament at a side-event, organised by Mayors for Peace (Japan), alongside the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu.
On 30 April, Elin Bergner delivered a statement on behalf of the Global Partnership Countering WMD Disinformation Initiative. The statement addressed the threat posed by nuclear and radiological disinformation, emphasising its detrimental impact on all three pillars of the NPT, and outlining possible measures to mitigate this growing challenge.
On 30 April, Dr Olamide Samuel represented ONN as a panelist at a side-event organised by the Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy (LCNP) during the 2025 NPT PrepCom at the UNHQ. The event, titled "Emerging Legal and Normative Trends in Non-Proliferation and Disarmament," explored recent shifts in international norms surrounding nuclear deterrence and disarmament, with a particular emphasis on how emerging scientific knowledge affects global security frameworks. Dr Samuel highlighted two critical trends: the securitisation of nuclear disarmament perspectives and the implications of new scientific understandings regarding nuclear war effects.
On 1 May, Dr Olamide Samuel met with former President of Tanzania, HE Jakaya Kikwete, at the sidelines of the PrepCom. President Kikwete, a statesman who remains actively engaged in promoting good governance, community empowerment, and youth participation, had previously connected with Dr Samuel nearly two years prior in Nairobi. The meeting provided an opportunity to reconnect and reaffirm mutual commitments toward continued engagement. Discussions specifically emphasised the influential role youth can play in strengthening peace and security, as well as advancing democratic governance.
On 2 May, Dr Olamide Samuel met with Dr Adedeji Ebo, Director of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA). Their discussion built upon a longstanding partnership with the UNODA. Dr Samuel expressed delight at the continued growth and increasing impact of UNODA leadership in advancing global disarmament and non-proliferation objectives.
On 6 May, ONN and the Global Partnership Initiative co-hosted an NPT PrepCom side-event examining the role of nuclear disinformation in undermining global security. The session explored actionable strategies to strengthen the Treaty’s three pillars: disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses against the spread of disinformation narratives. During this side-event, Research and Analysis Manager Marcy R. Fowler and Research Analyst Raymond Gough represented ONN on-site, while Network and Engagement Specialist Dr Olamide Samuel presented a pre-recorded statement. The panel also featured in-person expert contributions from Global Affairs Canada, the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and the US National Defense University.
ONN’s active participation at the 2025 NPT PrepCom highlighted its core mission of nuclear risk reduction through sustained multilateral engagement, expert collaboration and informed dialogue on nuclear policy.