ANIN jitbon mar—a spiritual calling from the islands—set the tone for Nuclear Victims Remembrance Day commemorations in Suva today, as Pacific leaders and advocates renewed unified calls for justice and accountability over the region’s nuclear legacy.
Reflecting the deep cultural and spiritual bond uniting Pacific people with their land and ocean, the theme also amplified the voices of communities who continue to live with the impacts of nuclear testing.
Speaking at the University of the South Pacific, Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa said remembrance must go beyond ceremony and translate into meaningful action.
“Remembrance is shared across the Pacific, uniting our communities and bridging generations,” he said.
Across the Pacific, more than 300 nuclear tests were conducted. The resulting environmental, health, and social impacts have left a lasting legacy that continues to affect communities today.
Waqa said the Pacific Islands Forum remains committed to supporting efforts to assess the full extent of contamination and its effects, particularly in the Marshall Islands.
“This work is essential to ensuring Pacific peoples have access to the truth,” he said.
Waqa added that those affected by nuclear testing deserved accountability, transparency and long-term support.
The issue of nuclear justice will also play a role in global discussions. As Pacific leaders ready themselves for the upcoming Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference, they aim to present a unified stance.
Marshall Islands representatives at the event highlighted the scale of nuclear testing across the region, including sites in Ma’ohi Nui, Kiribati and parts of Australia.
Nearly 80 years have passed, yet the legacy of nuclear testing continues to affect lives, livelihoods, and cultural identity, they stressed.
Chairperson of the Marshall Islands National Nuclear Commission, Ariana Tibon-Kilma, said the narrative around nuclear testing has often excluded the voices of those most affected.
“This is not just a story of nuclear testing – it is a story of our people,” she said.
By sharing accounts of displacement, ongoing health issues, and intergenerational trauma faced by Marshallese communities, she called for greater recognition of lived experiences.
Marshall Islands Ambassador to Fiji Junior Aini said young people are playing a critical role in ensuring these stories are not forgotten.
“Our region must continue to stand together in unity for a safer future free from nuclear weapons,” he said.
Participants at the commemoration reaffirmed their united and collective commitment to a nuclear-free Pacific.
Together, they called on the international community to take specific, stronger actions—such as increased support for health, environmental remediation, formal acknowledgement of harm, and ongoing monitoring—to address the legacy of nuclear testing and ensure such events are never repeated.