The Australian Embassy Manila hosted a roundtable discussion on “Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament: Are We Going Backwards?” with Prof. Gareth Evans, Chancellor of the Australian National University (ANU) as guest speaker last 16 October 2014 at the Sofitel Hotel.   Prof. Evans used the forum to raise awareness on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation issues in his capacity as Convenor of the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network (APLN). The APLN is a broad-based advocacy group that seeks to energize and encourage high-level policymakers around the world to consider the very real threats posed by nuclear weapons, and do everything possible to contain, diminish, and ultimately eliminate them.

At the same forum, Prof. Evans, with Dr. Ramesh Thakur provided a brief of their book “Nuclear Weapons: The State of Play”, which outlines the implementation of the commitments and recommendations of the NPT Review Conference 2010, Nuclear Security Summits 2010 and 2012, and International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament 2009.

The event was attended by representatives from various government agencies, the academe and think-tanks.  FSI Director Carlos Sorreta participated in the roundtable discussion.  Ms. Karla Mae Pabeliña, a researcher of the Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies also attended the event.