A New Programme for the “Youth Leader Fund for a World Without Nuclear Weapons” is Now Open for Application

 
Since 18 May 2023, application is open for a new programme under the “Youth Leader Fund for a World Without Nuclear Weapons” organized by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) with the contribution by the Government of Japan. 
 
1  At the 10th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in August 2022, Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio announced Japan’s intention to contribute toward establishing this Find as a part of effort under the “Hiroshima Action Plan that he presented at the Conference. The primary goal of this programme is to bring future leaders from both nuclear-weapon States and non-nuclear-weapon States to Japan to learn firsthand the realities of nuclear weapons use. It also aims to create a global network of diverse international cohorts of future leaders and other key actors from governments, civil society, education, academia, media, industry, and other sectors.
 
2  Application for this programme is open from 18 May, 2023. Details for application can be found in the following link. 
 URL：www.disarmamenteducation.org/ylf 　
 
[Reference] Summary of the Programme of “Youth Leader Fund for a World Without Nuclear Weapons”
(1) This Fund was announced by Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio at the 10th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in August 2022 as a pillar of the “Hiroshima Action Plan”. In his speech, the Prime Minister announced Japan’s intention to contribute ten million US dollars towards the UN to establish this new initiative.
(2) The programme will start in 2023 and culminate in 2030 – a year marked by the 85th year from the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings and the 60th anniversary of the entry into force of the NPT. The eligibility criteria for age is at least 18 years old on January 1, 2023 and not older than 29 years old on July 31, 2023(closing date of the call for application).
 
Over the course of two years, the selected participants will receive training in general principles of nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation, and arms control through online courses, with a selected cohort going on a week-long in-person study tour to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 
Upon completion of the programme, the alumni will play a key role in training and mentoring the next cohort of interested young nuclear disarmament advocates. 　　　　　　
Following the 2023 – 2025 inaugural training programme under the Youth Leader Fund, three more rounds of similar trainings will be conducted, consolidating a worldwide network of talented future leaders with the shared goal towards the elimination of nuclear weapons.