Intern Report by Gia Mohlajee— The United Nations Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Conference

SF Bay PSR is so incredibly proud to support the next generation of health professionals. While our interns learn a lot by doing important work for the chapter, they are also supported in other learning opportunities. Recently, our Nuclear Weapons Abolition Intern Gia Mohlajee was on the ground in NYC at the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

Gia reports:
“The 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons brought diplomats, scientists, public health experts to the United Nations in New York at a time of growing concern over nuclear weapons modernization, geopolitical tensions, and weakening arms control agreements. While the conference focused on evaluating global progress on nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, many discussions also emphasized the long-lasting humanitarian and public health consequences of nuclear weapons, including radiation exposure, environmental devastation, and the experiences of atomic bomb survivors.

As survivors continue to age, participants stressed the importance of preserving their testimonies and educating younger generations about the human impact of nuclear weapons. Despite ongoing political divisions between nuclear and non-nuclear states, the conference discussed the need for stronger commitments to nuclear risk reduction, and eventual disarmament.”

Gia also connected with other PSR members and partners and attended a webinar that focused on how the Chernobyl disaster was handled in the days immediately following the explosion, as well as the long-term health effects that followed.

Another event of interest was the screening of The Postman from Nagasaki, followed by a panel discussion that included filmmaker Isabelle Townsend and UN specialists. The film follows Townsend as she retraces the steps of her father, Peter Townsend, who traveled through Japan meeting atomic bomb survivors and recording their stories.

Gia writes: “The screening was especially moving because it focused not only on the relationship between Isabelle Townsend and her father, but also on the survivors and how they rebuilt their lives after unimaginable devastation. One survivor’s story stood out in particular, as the film described how he was unable to even sit up and had to remain in the hospital for more than a year. As survivors continue to grow older, the film emphasized the importance of preserving their testimonies and ensuring that their stories do not fade.”