The guarantee of a nuclear-free peace ful zone in outer space

FUTUREOFNON-PROLIFERATIONANDDISARMAMENT DIVERSITYINITIATIVES, EMPATHY,ANDTHE

By Sarah Bidgood James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies Monterey, California

If the last year has shown us anything, it is that the gender imbalance in nuclear policy is not going to fix itself. Thanks to a host of new reports issued in 2018 and 2019, the lack of gender diversity at NGOs, in governments, and within international diplomacy is better defined than ever before. The results are sobering but not surprising.

Nearly forty years after Carol Cohn first called out the dearth of women in the nuclear strategy world, we now have the data to prove that this gap is not only widespread but persistent. These findings demonstrate that it will take sustained action from all segments of the nuclear policy community if we are ever going to make things right.

While some of this recent research reaffirms what those of us in the field may already have suspected (yes, men really do out-represent women on foreign policy panels by a ratio of three to one), others highlight trends that are harder to pick up through observation alone. CAROL COHN

Many of these are teased out in the 2019 UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) study, “Still Behind the Curve: Gender Balance in Arms Control, Non-Pro

liferation, and Disarmament Diplomacy.” An update to the Institute’s pioneering work on the intersection of gender and nuclear diplomacy published in 2016, the new report finds that women represented no more than 37 percent of registered delegates at key UN non-proliferation and disarmament fora. Although these numbers constitute an improvement over the gender gap UNIDIR first observed three years ago, the authors find that greater representation has not necessarily translated into greater influence in the intervening years. working in the field by reducing the role of implicit bias in assessing merit. At the same time, they help make it more likely that women at all career stages receive the recognition—and compensation—their expertise deserves.

New data from both the private and public sector likewise show that practices “Despite the increased numbers

“Despite the increased numbers,” they note, “it is still possible to attend a session of the Conference on Disarmament, where dozens of state representatives take the floor, and not hear a single woman speak.” Understanding the reasons for this disconnect, and determining what can be done about it, should be a priority for all entities for which international security is a focus. Fortunately, a number of organizations have already put forward a range of approaches to promote parity in representation and impact that provide a useful place to start. These include adopting concrete policies that require gender diversity among job candidates, on panels, or in grant proposals to prevent defaulting to men when equally qualified women can do the job. https://sites.tufts.edu/genderconference/speakers

Deliberate actions like these can increase the number and visibility of women

... it is still possible to attend a session of the Conference on Disarmament ... and not hear a single woman speak.”

which reduce the “gender tax” on women in the workplace enable them to stay in the nuclear policy field longer. As a result, they are more likely to rise through the ranks, develop greater authority, and exert more influence on the shape of policy long term. New America’s 2019 study “The ‘Consensual Straitjacket’: Four Decades of Women in National Security,” identifies numerous approaches to operationalize these recommendations. These include offering paid family leave and flexible work options, enacting effective sexual harassment training, and institutionalizing mentorship and sponsorship programs.

Implementing recommendations like these is often part of the process of gender mainstreaming, or considering how

any proposed action or policy will affect all genders. This process helps to ensure that inequity isn’t inadvertently perpetuated in ways that may not always be apparent. When done effectively, gender mainstreaming requires us to reflect critically about our own privilege, power, and unconscious biases. These paradigms affect how we interact with one another, and they often reinforce systemic barriers that limit access for women in nuclear policy.

While none of these approaches offers a quick fix for addressing the gender gap in our field, they are worth pursuing in the interest of improving outcomes in non-proliferation, disarmament, and arms control. Given the stakes of our work, ensuring that we are not passing over good ideas simply because the women who propose them don’t have a seat at the table is a matter of national security. What’s more, private sector research has shown that companies with diverse employees generate above-average returns when compared with their more homogeneous counterparts. The positive correlation between gender representation and performance is one that the nuclear policy community cannot afford to ignore, especially given the challenges it faces now.

Acting on these recommendations can have another impact, which, while less obvious, is also important to international peace and security: the very steps required to increase diversity in our field can also increase our capacity for empathy, self-awareness, and flexibility in our substantive work. There is ample research to suggest that the ability to place one’s self in another person’s shoes is key to successful negotiations and the making of effective policy. Becoming more adept at this way of

www.passblue.com/2013/02/15/for-young-professionals-how-to-land-a-job-at-the-un

thinking could lead to new collaborative approaches for controlling the spread of nuclear weapons that take into account the priorities, positions, and contributions of diverse actors.

This outcome is one that is desperately needed today. Deep divides threaten the viability of the international non-proliferation regime, and states with opposing national security interests appear disinterested in finding common ground.

Shoring up multilateral nuclear diplomacy—including by seeing through the entry into force of the CTBT—requires bridge-building between actors with starkly different priorities and threat perceptions. This process cannot happen in the absence of civility, inclusive dialogue, and a willingness to compromise—qualities that appear to be in short supply. Of course, operationalizing diversity initiatives within the nuclear policy workplace cannot singlehandedly make the international nuclear dialogue more empathic. Still, it is worth thinking seriously about how progress in one domain could lead to progress in the other. This outcome is one from which we would all benefit regardless of gender. It is also yet another argument for finally devoting the attention to gender diversity that it has deserved for decades.

Sarah Bidgood is a senior research associate and project manager at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) in Monterey, California. Her areas of focus include U.S.-Russia non-proliferation cooperation, multilateral diplomacy, and gender issues. She has been a member of the CTBTO Youth Group since its founding in February 2016.

Women in science: Putting an end to a stereotype

All photographs: CTBTO

Science. It is a familiar word in the English language, seven letters long containing two syllables.

Short, simple, sweet. Short, but it carries a long history. Simple, but the art of it is difficult. Sweet, but the journey to the product is bitter.

Science is the pursuit of the truth and the good. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) uses it to help provide safety and security to the world. Its science covering us like a blanket, ensuring we are guarded with the utmost care.

From this perspective, science is the good, a protector and a guardian. The truth remains the pursuit of unanswered questions. And as it is put to our assistance to understand threats to our survival science is assuming more significance and more women are pursuing scientific careers.

The CTBTO provides a good example of how to maintain a balance between the truth and the good.

Not only does its International Monitoring System translate into waveform signals the dynamics of a living planet that could also be evidence of nuclear explosions, but its techniques are also advancing scientific knowledge about the planet and offering advance warning of natural disasters such as tsunamis. By Salwa Cassi Darling Member of the CTBTO Youth Group Vienna, Austria

During her career as a scientist, she said, she has not experienced a male female division as far as she has been treated as a scientist.

Jolanta Kusmierczyk-Michulec, also an analyst specialising in atmospheric science, shares the same view about not be

Confidence and motivation are incredibly important for any career path a woman decides to pursue.

Of course someone needs to interpret the significance of the data from 300 monitoring facilities after machines have processed it and that is the task of data analysts in the CTBTO. ing treated differently from male scientists during her scientific career. While both women have many male colleagues they would be happy to see more women pursue choose science oriented career path.

It is a commonly held stereotype that women are more drawn to the ‘arts’ and men are inclined towards the ‘sciences.’

Some may think that women in science often feel the need to prove themselves in a self-proclaimed ‘man’s world’, and that for them, science is no longer the pursuit of the truth or the good, but it is the pursuit of justification.

But there is no difference between male scientists and female scientist, “ we are all scientists at the end of the day,” Paulina Bittner, a data wave analyst for the CTBTO, said in an interview. Yet no one is born with an affinity for a specific subject, Kusmierczyk-Michulec said in an inerview. If you enjoy a subject then pursue it. You cannot force someone to become interested in something that they dislike, she said.

One of the reasons why she became so interested in science, is because she had a good physics teacher, which led her to enjoying the subject more.

Francesca Giovannini, a strategy and policy planning officer, in an interview said she believes that it is extremely important for women to have a strong mentor in their specific field. This will help to give them confidence to pursue their career, as well as provide valuable insight and knowledge to help strengthen their expertise and skills, she said. It also allows women to get into the network of their field.

For Bittner, her family was her mentor. She came from a scientific background, and this may explain why she enjoys the scien tific aspect of the CTBO so much, she said.

Giovannini also believes that young women need to publish more, and that writing is key. This will lead to garnering more interest from other women, as well as leading them to being taken seriously as scholars.

All three women said that confidence and motivation are incredibly important for any career path a woman decides to pursue.

Giovannini also believes in the need to maintain a balance. An international career is quite isolating, she said, because it is a constant choice between family and work.

This struggle was also echoed by Kusmierczyk-Michulec, who said that she loves her family, and the atmosphere at home motivates her as well. In that way, her family is another mentor for her, providing her with constant support and motivation to work harder.

It can be difficult to balance both a family and a career at the same time, but it only proves how strong-willed and confident these women are in their lives. As Giovannini said, it is important to defend your way of life. Being self-disciplined, self-motivated and self-confident is key in pursuing any type of career path, no matter the field.

From theories of vitalism to theories of relativity and from looking at the sun to harnessing the power of the atom, science is always growing, ever changing. It has long leap frogged the boundaries that confined it to pursuing the truth.

With its potential to control and destroy, scientists have to consider how much sci ence is too much science. The pursuit of the good is tangled with the pursuit of the truth. Whatever the answer to such dilemmas it will be women as well as men who find them.

Salwa Cassi Darling is 17 and a member of the CTBTO Youth Group. She has many passions, among which are writing, theatre and spreading the message of the CTBTO.

Proliferating science

Meeting the SDGs through education

clear explosions is a scientific enterprise. Yet most people have never heard of the CTBTO and may not be interested in the CTBTO’s areas of expertise. The long march Broaden collaboration

My proposal then is to invite the net- work of UNESCO clubs and centres to pro- vide tailored courses on the basics of nu- clear non-proliferation for high schoolers.

By Kyrill Burmistrov Institute of International Relations Moscow Engineering Physics Institute Moscow, Russian Federation

Take a closer look at all 17 goals of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and upon analysis the com- mon denominator running through them is – education. CTBTO efforts to reduce nuclear dan- gers and make the world a safer place also underpins the SDGs and education is no less important in building awareness and support for the test ban treaty.

Agenda 2030’s goals of eradicating poverty and hunger, among its targets, requires economic growth and industrial- ization and the use of clean energy to pre- vent adverse effects on the environment.

New groundbreaking technologies and innovations, which drive progress are in- vented by people and high-quality educa- tion is needed to support the training and development of the women and men who will provide them. So by necessity edu- cation is a cornerstone of global develop- ment.

However, peace and security on the planet are also indispensable to ensuring our future and this is a task the test ban treaty can fulfil by establishing progress on the road to world free of the dangers from nuclear weapons.

The 18th Century German philosopher Johann Gottlieb Fichte declared “a scien- tist is a teacher of the human race.” And it is scientists who are instrumental in pro- viding humanity with knowledge, making it the bedrock of education.

The contribution of science to the de- velopment of modern society cannot be underestimated. A scientific approach based on fact, logic and research demands a certain level of education to use.

The CTBTO’s global verification system policing the planet for any evidence of nu- Education in the broadest sense reflects the steps we humans take during our en- tire lives to obtain knowledge. In the long march from childhood to old age we keep learning new things daily.

And that is why people should be pro- vided access to education at every point of the way - to establishing an understanding of science making it accessible and popu- larizing it. The CTBTO collaborates with some universities and there is a possibility to do more. The organization could create edu- cational programmes taking into account key issues of the treaty for technical uni- versities or other institutions of learning specializing in international relations, in- ternational law and relevant fields. People should be provided access to education at every point of the way.

JOHANN GOTTLIEB FICHTE (1762-1814)

But how can education raise public awareness about the nuclear test ban and its entry into force, nuclear non-prolifera- tion and disarmament?

Trying to draw everyone’s attention to nuclear-related topics is futile. Instead I propose the CTBTO should focus on specific groups, students in schools, colleges and universities, and academics.

Most national systems of education are complicated and specific. Neither the UN nor the CTBTO can rewrite all the text- books in all schools of the world.

But the UN runs a number of successful international education programmes, and I experienced one of them, run by UNESCO in my hometown Yekaterinburg when I was 14 years old and belonged to it. We learned a lot about the UN, but nothing about other organizations in the UN family, such as the CTBTO. Involving academics in these univer- sities in the development of such pro- grammes would encourage new ideas and provide unique perspectives. Moreover, local academics may encourage their stu- dents to enroll in such in new courses.

Since 2012, online learning platforms have become popular providing a variety of courses on different subjects in coopera- tion with many universities and publishing courses involving UN bodies. The CTBTO has an opportunity to create online cours- es for some of these platforms. Dividing them into three levels – the first an intro- duction to nuclear non-proliferation issues and arms control, the second and third an analysis of treaties and how disagreements have been resolved, would meet the needs of students at different levels.

The CTBTO has an opportunity to be- come a leader in the area of promoting sci- ence to non-scientists and the first steps in breaking the ice are represented by the CT- BTO Youth Group (CYG). By raising aware- ness of CTBT-related topics we CYG mem- bers can also contribute to this endeavor.

Kyrill Burmistrov is a MEPhI Institute of International Relations student. Interest- ed in history, non-proliferation and in- ternational relations, he has been writing articles since 2017. Since 2011, Burmis- trov is a member of the UNESCO club in Yekaterinburg, Russia. After the CTBTO Youth Group Conference 2017 in Moscow, he became a member of the CTBTO Youth Group. He lives in Moscow, Russia.

BRINGING THE NUCLEAR DEBATE INTO THE CLASSROOM

Nuclear Free Schools is a Los Angeles (USA) based initiative promoting support for nuclear disarmament among high school students. Cristopher Cruz is one of its pioneers, eager to share how the initiative came about and help others take a similar track. This is his story.

By Cristopher Cruz First-year University Student United States It began with high school students, their teacher, and an idea - how can we engage more students and promote real progress towards nuclear disarmament, especially when it seems like our politicians are doing nothing? Unanimously, we agreed that we had to begin with the youth. And not just with college students and young professionals; but with high school students who are just as capable of promoting real change.

From the Nuclear Free Schools Website

Young people are making great strides becoming engaged with a cascade of issues threatening their future. But hardened by its technology, history, politics and secrecy, nuclear proliferation resists efforts to curb it nearly 75 years after the first nuclear explosion. Nuclear history is a wide and deep pool of information. The goal was not to cram as much information as possible into the minds of developing teenagers, but employ a method of “productive fear” as coined by Andrew King.

This was a response from observing current events in US society at the time: nothing stimulates conversation better than fear.

So with fear and uncertainty on their minds, our students began to ask, “is there anything we can do?” The answer was the Alliance Dr. Olga Mohan High School Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (ADOMHS – NWFZ) – yes, it’s quite a mouthful.

Nuclear Free Schools was created as a response to the growing lack of nuclear awareness and denial. The project bridges the gap between high schoolers and young professionals.

The initiative started in 2017 as a collaborative effort by our Assistant Principal and CIF participating instructor, Andrew King, classmate Lesly Tobon and me. We used our Critical Issues Forum presentation to showcase our research on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation while providing practical steps other students could follow.

Our high school, Alliance Dr. Olga Mohan High School, is in downtown Los Angeles, California and has a strong sense of community towards education and youth empowerment due to its small student population and interest in politics, both domestic and foreign. I am Cristopher Cruz, a college student aspiring to help others work together for our common good. I developed an interest in nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation watching science fiction movies of the 1950’s and 1960’s in my childhood as well as reading about the horrors of Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

In my third year of high school I had the opportunity to travel to Nagasaki with the Critical Issues Forum (CIF) to speak about proposals for disarmament as well as promoting immediate entry into force of the CTBT.

That’s when I was asked by Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of rhe CTBTO to share our Nuclear Free Schools initiative with the 2017 CTBTO Science and Technology conference. Our NWFZ declaration was modeled after the Oakland and Berkeley Nuclear Weapons Free Zone acts. Several sessions crash-coursing students on the dangers of nuclear weapons and nuclear testing, were required to win support. The next step was to implement a “nuclear literacy curriculum” offering the following topics to high school students:

• A Nuclear Primer – providing a historical and scientific introduction to nuclear weapons and their effects;

From these and other related experiences my life has forever changed and encouraged me to immerse myself in this work. I joined the CTBTO Youth Group because I see it as a responsibility to share my experiences and knowledge with others so that we can put an end to nuclear explosions and rid the planet of nuclear weapons.

I try to demonstrate this responsibility through my personal blog at The Atomic Scholar and as the new administrator of Nuclear Free Schools. • The CTBT and History of Nuclear Testing - an in-depth lesson about the health and environmental impact of testing and the political ramifications of continuing it; Hibakusha Stories from Hiroshima and Nagasaki – readings of testimonies from atomic bomb survivors;

• Nuclear Close Calls: Terrorism, Accidents, Miscalculations - a module exploring accidents, nuclear terrorism, dangers and risks both foreign and domestic.

At the time of writing in 2019, ADOMHS has been only partially successful in introducing some of these elements. Students in US History and first year classes discuss the use of atomic bombs in Japan and third year physics students dissect nuclear fission and fusion, and explore the beneficial and detrimental uses of nuclear energy.

But Nuclear Free Schools didn’t stop there. In the fall of 2017, the first ever “Youth Disarmament Conference” (YDC) was organized and held in Los Angeles, California.

It was held with The Los Angeles chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility – (PSRLA), which works against nuclear proliferation, climate change, and environmental dangers.

Guest speakers included Shigeko Sasamori, a Japanese atomic bomb survivor, Daryl Kimball of the Arms Control Association and the successful event welcomed high school and university students and teachers from across southern California.

Our work has been met with both interest and challenges. Outside of energetic and informative discussions between high school students sparking interest in others progress is slow.

How do we move forward? Here are some views:

Fatima M. (ADOMHS Class of 2020) is concerned over the stagnant growth of nuclear literacy, “[it] is limited because of the way high school curriculums [in the US] work.”

Luis C. (ADOMHS Class of 2020), after a Critical Issues Forum event observed that his fellow programme participants were the only young individuals con cerned about the nuclear issue. Outside of the keynote speakers—people were on the older side. “It’s disheartening to see that many young persons are not as ac tive when it comes to this topic. There’s a disparity in the age gap of people who are actively reading and talking about this [topic.]”

So what’s to be done to close the gap? Co-founder and current NFS leader, Andrew King, argues that “the issue is that [people] talk about [this topic] in grandiose terms as opposed to [taking small] steps or bullet points that other people could follow.”

Edgar L. and Yeslie B. (both class of 2019) concur that the educational aspect of the club (NFS) needs to be able to change the way people think about nuclear weapons and the threat overlaps with concerns about climate change.

Former CIF participant and ADOMHS classmate, Kimberly Nunez, now study ing at Georgetown University expresses dismay over its lack of non-proliferation initiatives while praising the work of NFS for its potential to become a national grassroots campaign that high schools (and colleges) around the country can participate in. To ensure the CTBT becomes international law and the world takes the next step towards ridding itself of nuclear weapons it must do more to engage young people. We are not somehow superior to established experts, but who else is going to continue this work? Who else can ensure what has been learned about nuclear non-proliferation, making the world safer, is sustained? This is the goal I want to serve, setting an example not just for my peers, friends and family, but for those who will come after me. Young minds crave information and knowledge and what better way than providing us a template to follow.

Cristopher Cruz Colorado is in first-year college in the US where is studying towards obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Global Studies/International Relations. He stresses the important role of young people to help rid the world of nuclear dangers and currently helps administrate the Nuclear Free Schools project and runs a personal blog at The Atomic Scholar.

CTBTO Data is Supporting Climate Change Research CTBTO data are supporting climate change research

Awareness of the existence of a problem is the first step towards dealing with it, and if science helps us see an issue, then it can certainly help us in solving it. Awareness of the exis tence of a problem is the first step towards dealing with it, and if sci ence helps us see an is sue, then it can certain ly help us in solving it.

By Shereen Nanish Freelance journalist, writer and translator Amman, Jordan

Huangdan2060 , CC0, https://commons.wikim edia.org/w/index.php?curid=60592228

While the main mission of the CTBTO is to ban nuclear explosions, the scientific data provided by 300 sensors in its global monitoring system is also being used for civil and scientific purposes, including climate studies.

The impact of climate change, such as the calving of icebergs and insights gained from radiation data collected from the atmosphere, are among the many contributions the CTBTO International Monitoring System (IMS) is making to climate science.

In a rapidly changing physical world the CTBTO system is an indispensable source of knowledge about the dynamics of its moving parts.

The CTBTO International Data Center (IDC) provides seismic and hydroacoustic monitoring data. Although the test ban treaty has yet to enter into force, its monitors - 337 when the system is complete - actively take the planet’s pulse at all times. One of them, for instance, is Auxiliary Seismic AS056 located in Tel-Alasfar, in my home country, Jordan.

It may sound counter-intuitive but data from CTBTO IMS hydroacoustic facilities detecting sounds underwater are contributing to urgent research about the climate. Such data are being studied for their significance to direct or indirect measurement of ocean temperature variations and wave action of major storms to better understand how the climate is being disrupted. Hydroacoustic technology is also effective in providing tsunami early warning such as in 2010 off the west coast of Sumatra in Indonesia. How does the CTBTO collect data?

In addition, the monitoring system also detects other natural phenomena such earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides and avalanches.

The atmosphere that we live in closest to the surface of the earth is called the troposphere. Above it is the stratosphere containing different concentrations of gases and sometimes radioactive residues. IMS radionuclide facilities provide data that can be extracted ton help in climate studies.

This can be achieved measuring the beryllium that exists in the air we breathe as a tracer. Beryllium-7 is one of the sampled particle-bound natural radionuclides, which means it attaches to aerosol particles. In addition to its rate of radioactive decay, 7Be is removed from the atmosphere by several mechanisms; it could be transported by winds and redistributed vertically by gravitational sedimentation and or ultimately removed by wet and dry deposition in the lower troposphere. Radionuclides stations collect data about 7Be which transports a good indicator of stratosphere-troposphere exchange and can be used to monitor its intensity. My interest in climate change and why it is in yours

Apart from my interest as a young journalist in environmental issues, I believe that learning about climate change and advocating for its mitigation should be part of everyone’s interests.

Although the issue needs the collaboration of policy and decision makers at a global level, our collective and individual efforts can make a real difference because our lives and our impact on this world are marked by the decisions we make, both big and small. We all should work to avoid the consequences of climate change.

I’ve witnessed some of the devastating consequences of climate change personal

FOR A SAFER WORLD

ing mentorship, fellowships, conference opportunities and other support.

When Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the CTBTO visited JMI and I heard him talk about the role of youth in supporting the treaty and ensuring a better world and environment for all, I realized that contributing to these two organizations were steps I could take to protect the planet. Shereen Nanish is a freelance journalist, writer, content creator and translator. Currently enrolled in a Master's degree programme in journalism and new media at the Jordan Media Institute, she has a Bachelor's degree in English Language and Linguistics from the Jordan University of Science and Technology. ly. In October 2018, 20 people were swept to their death by a flash flood in, Jordan, in an area close to the Dead Sea. Most of them were children who went to a school near my house.

Many blamed poor area infrastructure and doubted that such an extreme weather event could be attributed to climate change, especially that it had only rained for around 15 minutes, despite it being stormy. However, due to the unstable weather conditions in the following month, heavy rain created more flash flooding which killed another 12 people and injured 29.

According to Jordan’s Third National Communication on Climate Change submitted to The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), rural areas in Jordan are most likely to be affected by the consequences of climate change; agricultural productivity could be reduced and water scarcity makes it even harder for farmers to cope with these changes. Moreover, the conditions of coastal areas like, Aqaba will be subjected to rising sea levels and rainfall - factors both connected to climate change. Jordan is a pioneer in developing a national climate change policy and 88 per cent of Jordanians consider climate change a serious problem for their country, according to the 2009 report of the Arab Forum for Environment and Development. CTBTO & Climate Tracker?

In 2017, I enrolled in the Jordan Media Institute (JMI) for a master’s in journalism and joined the Climate Tracker organization to draw attention to environmental issues through my work.

Climate Tracker connects young journalists globally who are passionate about raising awareness of climate issues, offerRural areas in Jordan are most likely to be affected by the consequences of climate change.

The pictures on this page are among 1,000 entries received from young people in the Peace and Cooperation School Award 2019: “For a safer world – let’s join forces with the CTBTO.” BY JANA SWANEPOEL, AGE 16 (NAMIBIA)

Artwork was entered in the contest by young artists, ranging in age from five to 18 years old, from 25 countries: Austria, Azer baijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina,

BY MELINA VULKOVA, AGE 7 (BULGARIA)

Bulgaria, Cameroon, China (Hong Kong), Cyprus, Co lombia, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Iran, Ken ya, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Mexico, Montenegro, Namibia, New Zealand, Peru, Russian Federation, Seychelles Is lands, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

There will be 12 winners from three categories who will receive their awards at a ceremony during the CTBTO Science and Technology Conference 24 – 28 June 2019 in Vienna. Judging took place in Madrid in Spain in April. An exhibition of the artwork will be on display during the CTBTO Science and Technology Conference.

BY ILIJA KOVAČ, IVANO MATANOVAC, MARTINA MATANOVAC, EMA MATIJAKOVIĆ, IVAN MATKOVIĆ, ANTONIO SAKS, KRISTIJAN SAKS, FILIP ZORBAS, AGES 9-10 YEARS (CROATIA)

Peace and Cooperation is a Spanish non-governmental organization founded in 1982 by peace activist and writer Joaquin Antuña.

It is a promoter of universal education among the most vulnerable, and promotes development assistance and human rights. Its worldwide School Award initiative recognises students, teachers, and schools that work towards the ideals of peace, multicultural relations and diversity.