#StepUp4Disarmament to mark the International Day against Nuclear Tests

The #StepUp4Disarmament Youth Campaign is back for the third year running!

Building on the success of the two previous campaigns conducted in 2021 and 2022, the Office for Disarmament Affairs’ #Youth4Disarmament initiative and collaborating partners are calling on young people to #StepUp4Disarmament by either completing a distance of 8.29 kilometres or tracking 10.9k steps, an approximate equivalent, to mark the International Day against Nuclear Tests, on 29 August 2023.

The nearly 2,000 nuclear tests that have taken place since 1945 have had devastating consequences for the survivors and communities affected by those tests. They continue to endure the biological, ecological and cultural consequences that are the legacy of nuclear testing. The campaign aims to raise awareness of this legacy through an emphasis on physical activity, recognizing that sport plays a crucial role for many young people across the world.

Click here to register for #StepUp4Disarmament Youth Campaign 2023!

By registering for and completing the #StepUp4Disarmament Youth Campaign 2023 you will receive a certificate recognizing your achievement. Tag your posts with #StepUp4Disarmament to be featured on the #Youth4Disarmament Instagram.

Collaborating partners 

Last year, more than 250 young people around the world participated in the #StepUp4Disarmament Youth Campaign, and a group of young participants took part in an event hosted by the Office for Disarmament Affairs in New York, including a tour of the United Nations HQ & an in-person briefing from experts to learn about their work towards ending nuclear tests.

 Opportunity to attend the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate and promote the International Day against Nuclear Tests

A limited number of young people participating in the campaign will also have an opportunity to attend the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate and promote the International Day against Nuclear Tests on Tuesday, 29 August 2023, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the General Assembly Hall, United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Participants will be selected from responses received to the following question:

"What is the role of young people in raising awareness of the

International Day Against Nuclear Tests and its cause?"

The submissions will be judged by UNODA staff based on the following criteria: Relevance, Clarity, Innovation, Originality and Passion. Submissions must be under 250 words and submitted before Friday, 18 August 2023. 

Interested participants must be based, or located, in New York on 29 August to take part. The #Youth4Disarmament initiative will not be able to provide travel or accommodation, and persons who participated in the tour in 2022 will not be eligible to participate in 2023. 

Learn more about the #StepUp4Disarmament Youth Campaign

What: 

The #StepUp4Disarmament Youth Campaign aims to raise awareness about the devastating health consequences of nuclear testing through the emphasis on physical activity, also promoting Sustainable Development Goal 3 on ensuring good health and well-being for all at all ages.

The third annual #StepUp4Disarmament campaign will invite young people to utilise their sporting passion, interest, and ability to raise awareness of the International Day Against Nuclear Tests.

To ensure as many people as possible can take part in the activity, the #StepUp4Disarmament Campaign will provide two options for young people, and others, to participate:

• Completing a distance of 8.29 km including by running, walking, biking, wheelchair, or an equivalent means.
• Logging 10.9k steps on a tracking app or device; an approximate equivalent to 8.29 km.

Why: 

Sports has the power to change the world, forming a shared interest and universal language that unites people from around the world. By crossing boundaries and inspiring hope across nations, sports acts as a powerful way to engage, educate and empower people through the pursuit of a collective goal. In this context, the #Youth4Disarmament initiative calls on young people, supported and joined by others, from around the world to #StepUp4Disarmament, using their talent and passion for sports to raise awareness of the International Day Against Nuclear Tests on 29 August 2023 and its cause.

Who: 

Youth of all nationalities, aged between 18 to 29, are invited to take part in the #StepUp4Disarmament Campaign, and can be joined and supported by family, friends and others from all ages. The campaign invites intergenerational participation, inspired by the ability for sports to promote fairness, teambuilding, equality and inclusion.

Physical activities, like running and walking, offer something to everyone, including younger people, older people, all genders, persons with disabilities, beginners, and experienced sportspersons. Please reach out to the Youth4Disarmament email (youth4disarmament@un.org) to discuss any needs or requirements to facilitate inclusion.

When: 

The #StepUp4Disarmament Campaign will be launched on 16 July on the day of the first nuclear weapons test and the campaign will culminate on the International Day Against Nuclear Tests on 29 August 2023 (8/29).

How: 

Participants may consider using a free app on their smart phones or watch devices to track their progress, as well as other activity trackers.

Participants who would like to receive a system-generated certificate recognizing their completion of the #StepUp4Disarmament Campaign and/ or be featured on the #Youth4Disarmament Instagram should share a record of their physical activity through the webform on this page. Individuals will receive a certificate by using the hashtag #StepUp4Disarmament and sharing materials to the email noted above.