Maat: About 70% of young people in the Arab region have no knowledge of the dangers of nuclear and chemical weapons

Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights indicated that about 70% of young people in the Arab region have no knowledge of the dangers of nuclear and chemical weapons. The International Humanitarian Law (IHL) has addressed the use of these weapons in areas affected by armed conflicts, after conducting a number of opinion polls in the recent period.

This came on the sidelines of Maat’s participation in the discussion organized by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations, on the review of nearly 20 years of developments and contributions by Member States, international organizations and civil society, since the United Nations released a study on disarmament and non-proliferation education.

Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights was the only Arab and Egyptian organization among the participants in that discussion. Maat presented the activities it had undertaken in raising awareness in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation in the Middle East.

Maat added that the Arab region is the one most affected by the spread of weapons in the hands of irregular forces and the exploitation of children in this conflict as fighters, especially in Yemen and Syria, which leads to an increase in the number of fighters. It also recommended the need to promote the capabilities of Arab civil society organizations in advocacy against the proliferation of these weapons.