The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization

On 24 September 1996, the CTBT opened for signature: one of the most consequential steps ever taken against nuclear test explosions. 30 years on, 188 States have signed it and 179 have ratified it. The work of finishing it continues. 🌍 https://ctbto.info/Treaty

“As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the , we underline the Treaty’s significant contribution to international peace and security.”

The 12th Ministerial Meeting of Friends of the CTBT concluded in New York with the adoption of a joint statement, reaffirming their commitment to achieving the Treaty’s entry into force.

🔗 Read the full statement: https://ctbto.info/CTBTFriendsJointStatement

📷 UNPhoto

At the 12th Friends of Ministerial Meeting in New York, Executive Secretary Rob Floyd underscored why the Treaty matters and why we must sustain it: “Going back to nuclear weapons testing will make everything much worse. Our Treaty is a force for good. For peace. For common sense.”

🔗Read his full statement here: https://ctbto.info/CTBTFriendsESstatement

📷 UN Photo

Friends of the gathered for their 12th high-level meeting to reaffirm a shared commitment: advancing the Treaty’s entry into force and bringing all nuclear test explosions to a permanent end.

Opening the meeting, Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong underscored the group’s continued determination to advance the CTBT and the common goal of ending nuclear testing everywhere.

Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi called for renewed collective action towards the Treaty’s entry into force and tangible progress in nuclear disarmament.

CTBTO Executive Secretary Rob Floyd emphasized that the CTBT is “a force for good. For peace. For common sense,” and urged continued resolve to preserve and strengthen the norm against nuclear test explosions for the next 30 years and beyond.

UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu highlighted the CTBTO’s advanced global verification regime, which provides States with objective and reliable information relevant to the detection of nuclear test explosions.

The norm against nuclear test explosions is strong; verification capabilities are highly advanced; and political support is nearly universal.

📣 Happening today!

Join us at 19:30 CEST/ 13:30 EDT for the 12th Friends of Ministerial Meeting at United Nations Headquarters.

📺 Watch live: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k18/k18hoe49ep

A world without nuclear test explosions is a world built on trust, not assumption. On this , CTBTO reaffirms its role in making that trust possible: through its global monitoring system, we help States verify that peace is being kept. Security like this doesn’t happen on its own. It has to be built, and continually invested in.

In Chile, engineers ride mules to reach a monitoring station on Robinson Crusoe Island, one node in a global network that has spent 30 years listening for nuclear test explosions. Our short, 10-minute film, The Road to Zero, tells the story behind this remarkable effort.
❓ Film screening & talk
🗓️ 1 October
📍 Top Kino, Vienna
🎫 Reserve: https://ctbto.info/RoadtoZeroEvent

🌊 63 participants. 27 countries. A lot of ideas, experiences and knowledge shared.

The International Hydroacoustics Workshop 2026 brought colleagues together, both in person and online, to exchange knowledge on hydroacoustic monitoring, emerging technologies, data analysis, signal processing and long-range signal propagation.

It was also an opportunity to look beyond verification and explore the wider scientific and civil applications of International Monitoring System (IMS) data and technologies.

As the 2026 Mentoring Programme cycle comes to a close, we extend our sincere thanks to the mentors who dedicated their time and expertise to inspiring, educating and guiding 50 early-career women in , nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.

Their support is empowering the to find their voices, build confidence and contribute with conviction to a future free from nuclear test explosions.

Thank you for investing in the leaders of tomorrow!