Press Releases
Second Call for Application for the “Youth Leader Fund for a World Without Nuclear Weapons” is now open
March 5, 2025
Application for the second phase of the “Youth Leader Fund for a World Without Nuclear Weapons” is now open. This program is organized by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) with the contribution by the Government of Japan.
- The goal of this programme is to create a global network of future generations from both nuclear-weapon States and non-nuclear-weapon States by bringing these future leaders 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.
- Application for this programme is open from March 5. Details of application can be found in the link below.
(Reference1) “Youth Leader Fund for a World Without Nuclear Weapons”
- This Fund was announced by then Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio at the 10th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in 2022 as a pillar of the “Hiroshima Action Plan”. He announced, in his speech, Japan’s intention to contribute ten million US dollars towards the UN to establish this new initiative.
- The program started in 2023 and culminate in 2030 – the year that marks 85th year from the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the 60th anniversary of the entry into force of the NPT.
During two-year course, participants take online learning program on nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation, and arms control.Selected members are given the opportunity to participate in a week-long study visit to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Upon completion of the programme, the alumni are expected to play a key role in training and mentoring the participants of subsequent program. Following the first program from 2023to 2025, three more rounds of similar trainings will be conducted to consolidate a worldwide network of talented future leaders with the shared goal towards the elimination of nuclear weapons. - 100 young leaders from about 60 countries participated online training course. 49 of them from about 40 countries visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
