NGO STATEMENT BY AFFECTED COMMUNITIES AND ALLIES WORKING GROUPS

A CALL FOR A NUCLEAR-FREE FUTURE.

On 1 May 2026, during the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in New York, the Congolese Civil Society of South Africa joined global partners as part of the Affected Communities and Allies Working Group for a Nuclear-Free World.

This powerful joint statement, endorsed by 73 additional organisations worldwide, centres the voices of frontline communities who continue to live with the long-lasting and often invisible consequences of nuclear activities.
From uranium mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo to the enduring legacies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and global nuclear testing, one truth remains undeniable: the nuclear fuel cycle continues to inflict deep harm on human rights, environmental systems, and the pursuit of lasting peace.

We stand in unwavering solidarity with survivors of radioactive harm, communities affected by mining, weapons testing, nuclear waste exposure, and intergenerational impacts. Their lived realities call for urgent recognition, accountability, and justice.

Our collective demands include:
-Full acknowledgement of the human and environmental costs of nuclear technologies
-Stronger international accountability and transparency mechanisms
-Critical reassessment of policies enabling uranium extraction and nuclear proliferation
-Renewed global commitment to disarmament and protection of affected communities

As the Congolese Civil Society of South Africa, we remain committed to amplifying marginalised voices and advancing dignity, justice, and protection for all communities impacted by the nuclear industry.
A nuclear-free future is not an aspiration; it is a responsibility we must all uphold.