UN Shines Spotlight on Kazakh Survivors’ Testimonies, Calls for Nuclear Justice
Kazakh nuclear tests survivors and anti-nuclear advocates took center stage at the third Meeting of States Parties (3MSP) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The discussions focused on nuclear justice and the lasting human and environmental toll of nuclear weapons.
One of the powerful testimonies came from 18-year-old Diana Murzagaliyeva, a fourth-generation survivor of nuclear testing at the Semipalatinsk test site. Born with dysarthria due to radiation exposure, she spent years unable to speak, symbolically represented by taping her mouth shut during her testimony. Despite her own struggles, Murzagaliyeva pledged to fight for the environment and children with disabilities, using writing as a means of expression.
Rebecca Eleanor Johnson, an anti-nuclear activist, was deeply moved by Murzagaliyeva’s testimony, recalling her own experiences in Kazakhstan in the 1980s. She reflected on the human stories of suffering caused by nuclear weapons testing and emphasized the need to eliminate such harm.
Karipbek Kuyukov, a Kazakh painter and global anti-nuclear activist born without arms due to radiation exposure, also shared his testimonies. His paintings showcased the tragic consequences of nuclear tests, urging the world to act for a safer future and calling for unity in the fight against nuclear weapons.
The stories shared at the 3MSP TPNW serve as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of nuclear weapons on individuals and communities. The survivors and advocates highlighted the urgent need for nuclear disarmament and a shift towards a world free from the threat of nuclear weapons.
