Honoring Nuclear Victims and Survivors

MEI is raising funds to support nuclear justice efforts and to host Nuclear Victims' Remembrance Day in New York City on March 1, 2025. This will be the first time the event is held in NYC and in conjunction with nuclear nonproliferation efforts at the 3MSP at the United Nations.

Nuclear Victims Remembrance Day (NVRD) is a national holiday commemorated in the Marshall Islands on March 1st each year to honor the victims and survivors of the nuclear testing conducted by the United States in the Marshall Islands between 1946 and 1958. The tests, which included the detonation of more than 67 nuclear weapons, left behind devastating effects on the environment and the health of the local population. Many Marshallese people suffer from long-term health issues, including cancer and other radiation-related diseases, due to their exposure to nuclear fallout.

The 2025 commemorative event in NYC will include a traditional memorial ceremony and also bring together other frontline, nuclear-affected community members to educate about the consequences of nuclear weapons development, use, and testing around the world, as well as promote ongoing dialogue about disarmament and human rights for impacted communities.

Held just before the 3rd Meeting of States Parties for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons at the United Nations, NVRD 2025 will memorialize nuclear testing, foster healing, and enhance global awareness of the nuclear legacy within the United Nations community.

Funds will be used to pay for costs associated with hosting the event - specifically venue rental, food, and speakers.

Photos: MEI's Nuclear Legacy Week in 2024 in Arkansas (above), and MEI's ED, Benetick Kabua Maddison, receiving the Nuclear-Free Future Award for his work toward nuclear justice (below).