The preambular text of the TPNW recognises “the importance of peace and disarmament education in all its aspects and of raising awareness of the risks and consequences of nuclear weapons.” Education not only plays a pivotal role in shaping perspectives on nuclear weapons, but in the policies governing them. This seems especially relevant in the current security landscape, with increasingly divergent narratives and perspectives on concepts like deterrence and disarmament, and interrelated, the perceived utility of nuclear weapons.

Organized by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the Alva Myrdal Centre for Nuclear Disarmament (AMC), this side event at the second Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW will consider how nuclear disarmament is taught in different settings, including at institutes of higher learning, in diplomatic environments, and in view of the general public. Drawing on their extensive experience in the field, panellists will consider a range of questions, including the following:

• How can stakeholders facilitate a wider diversity of views around nuclear weapons policy, especially in nuclear-armed states and states under extended deterrence?
• What are some of the key challenges in education around nuclear weapons, and what topical gaps still persist?
• How can different methodologies and approaches contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of nuclear dangers and related issues?
• Given conflicting national narratives, what practical steps can different stakeholders take to cultivate a more sustainable approach in nuclear education?

For further information, please contact SIPRI's WMD Programme at [email protected].