UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a strong call for the permanent banning of nuclear testing in his message for the International Day against Nuclear Tests, observed annually on August 29. Guterres emphasized the devastating legacy left by over 2,000 nuclear tests conducted at more than 60 sites worldwide over the past eight decades. These tests have caused widespread destruction, rendering lands uninhabitable and causing long-term health problems for affected populations.

Guterres expressed concern over recent calls for the resumption of nuclear testing, warning that such actions indicate a dangerous disregard for the lessons learned from the past. He urged the global community to unite in ending nuclear testing once and for all.

The Secretary-General highlighted the importance of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which prohibits all nuclear testing and serves as a crucial security measure. However, he lamented that the treaty has not yet entered into force, as it still requires ratification from several key countries.

In his message, Guterres called on these countries to ratify the treaty "immediately and without conditions," emphasizing the need to protect both current and future generations from the dangers of nuclear testing. "Let's pass the test for humanity," he urged, "and ban nuclear testing for good."