Presiding over the United Nations diplomatic conference tasked with negotiating a legal ban on nuclear weapons was one of the greatest honors of my life, both as a diplomat representing Costa Rica and as a global citizen. The conference successfully met this immense responsibility. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, a groundbreaking achievement, was born in 2017, 72 years after the nuclear age began.

This treaty is the result of decades of relentless advocacy by individuals and organizations worldwide. It embodies the tireless efforts of diplomats in negotiating procedural, institutional, conceptual, and political frameworks to shape the narrative and build the political coalition necessary for a legally binding prohibition on nuclear weapons. This achievement stands as a testament to strategic vision, bravery, and political wisdom of political leaders and survivors of the atomic era. Beyond its historical and institutional significance, this conference was a transformative experience for all participants, one that will continue to shape our lives forever.

The most profound achievement occurred on July 7^th, 2017, in Conference Room 1 of the United Nations building. On that day, survivors of nuclear weapons use, production, and testing witnessed a historic moment: a decisive majority of the international community cast a vote of categorical rejection of nuclear terror. This resounding vote called for a fundamental shift in nuclear policy, advocating for the total elimination of nuclear weapons as the only guarantee that they will never be used again under any circumstances.

We, people from diverse generations and walks of life, united in the belief that a legal prohibition on nuclear weapons was an act of justice for victims and a preventive measure toward achieving a world free from nuclear threats. We rejoiced to see survivors of atomic bombings and nuclear testing, finally find justice, recognition, and acknowledgment of their special assistance needs, from the international community.

In shaping this groundbreaking milestone, Hibakusha, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki stand as living testimonies to humanity's vulnerability and strength. My visits to Nagasaki and Hiroshima in 2017 profoundly impacted my understanding of the human cost of nuclear weapons. Witnessing the resilience of survivors, the hibakusha, who rebuilt their lives and communities despite immense suffering, inspired me to believe that we could not fail in our mission. The mayor of Nagasaki urged me to convey the urgency of achieving a legal prohibition on nuclear weapons before more survivors perished. And so I did.

When diplomats, scientists, pacifists, humanitarian workers, lawyers, non-governmental organizations, and countless others called for a new paradigm in the global conversation on nuclear weapons, the hibakusha and the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were at the forefront, offering firsthand evidence of the devastating consequences of nuclear weapons on humans, the environment, and socioeconomic structures. Their unwavering advocacy played a crucial role in shaping the strong belief and conviction that nuclear weapons should never be used again under any circumstances and must be abolished.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki never relinquished their dream of a better, more just, and secure world, working tirelessly to convey that vision through action, word, and day-by-day perseverance.

In 2020, as the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations commemorated its 75^th anniversary. This sobering moment of reflection highlighted the dramatic changes that had occurred over the past seven decades and presented an opportunity for the organization to reevaluate its approach to global governance.

Building upon the lessons learned from both successes and failures, the upcoming Summit of the Future in September 2024, will serve as a platform for global leaders to agree on a new roadmap for international cooperation. This includes the reaffirmation of the commitments towards security, arms control, and disarmament.

The timing couldn't be more strategic. According to scientific studies analyzed by the First Meeting of States Parties (MSP) of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, it is feasible to determine that the abolition of a nuclear arsenal, even for the largest states, could be achieved within a decade. This decision, grounded in science and evidence, was reached at the First MSP.

However, it's challenging to write about hope in the face of current trends. Military buildup and expenditure have reached unprecedented levels, nuclear weapon arsenals are undergoing modernization and improvement, and the normative framework of international law and the nuclear taboo are being eroded by nuclear threats from Russia and a discourse that prioritizes war preparedness for security. The escalating great power competition and deteriorating security environment are a cause for grave concern for all citizens of the world and nations alike.

This is a moment in which we need to find strength, vision and inspiration. We need to drastically change course and humanity has the capacity to do so.

In that same line, the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross highlighted in 2010 before the United Nations in Geneva, that "… the existence of nuclear weapons poses some of the most profound questions about the point at which the rights of States must yield to the interests of humanity, [and about] the capacity of our species to master the technology it creates…" In the same tone, in the message conveyed to the negotiation conference by Pope Francis on March 27^th, 2017, he stressed the belief that Humanity "… has the freedom, intelligence, and capacity to lead and direct technology, to place limits on our power, and to put all this at the service of another type of progress: one that is more human, social and integral., and therefore, more conducive to structural peace."

This is the perspective that should guide the global conversation: not determinism, but human agency. In shaping the 21^st-century discourse on security, peace, and disarmament, Hiroshima and Nagasaki - symbols of both humanity's vulnerability and resilience - serve as enduring reminders of the profound impact of nuclear weapons. As we approach 2045, marking the 100th anniversary of the nuclear era, these two cities, carrying the legacy of the Hibakusha, should lead the global dialogue on security and nuclear disarmament, grounded in the harsh realities of the devastating human and environmental consequences of nuclear weapons.