BAMRO

Nuclear Disarmament – Striving for a World without Nuclear Weapons

Every year on 26 September, the world observes the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. This day is not just symbolic; it is an alarm bell reminding us of the existential threat nuclear weapons pose to humanity and the environment, and it urges us to redouble efforts to eliminate this deadly menace.

History and the suffering of victims from radiation and nuclear pollution prove that these weapons do not distinguish between soldier and civilian, or between times of war and peace. Their very existence poses a constant threat to the right to life and to fundamental human rights.

UN warnings and alarming figures

Recently, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the world is spending far more on weapons than on human development. In his report “The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future”, he presented striking figures:

Global military spending in 2024 reached about USD 2.7 trillion.
Equivalent to around USD 334 per person on earth.
Military spending amounts to 13 times official development assistance from wealthy nations.
Just 4% of this spending would have been enough to eradicate hunger by 2030.
Redirecting even a fraction toward education, healthcare, and clean energy could transform millions of lives.

These figures reveal a dangerous imbalance in global priorities: investing in destruction rather than in development.

BAMRO’s stance

The Belgian Association for Human Rights and Development (BAMRO), joining the international community in observing this day, stresses that global peace will not be achieved by stockpiling nuclear weapons but by promoting justice, development, and human dignity.

Our organization calls on governments and international bodies to:

Uphold international treaties on nuclear disarmament.
Redirect financial resources from the arms race to sustainable development projects.
Ensure that human rights are at the heart of security and defense policies.

Humanitarian message

“On the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, let us remember that true global security is not measured by the number of weapons we own, but by our ability to care for the poor, build schools, heal the sick, and safeguard our children’s future. Redirecting even a small portion of wasted military spending toward genuine development is the path to a more just, humane, and nuclear-free world.”