Tag Archives: Nuclear Weapons

Vienna Declaration and Action Plan: Eliminating Nuclear Weapons

Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons,
Source: Culture of Peace News Network

The first Meeting of States Parties to the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) was held in Vienna from 21 to 23 June 2022.

There were 82 states in attendance, including a delegation with observer status from the Australian Government led by Susan Templeman MP. Nuclear-endorsing states Germany, Norway, Belgium and the Netherlands also attended.

A Declaration and Action Plan were adopted on the final day of the meeting. Continue reading Vienna Declaration and Action Plan: Eliminating Nuclear Weapons →

Celebration of Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty’s entry into force

Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, , , ,

The Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) entered into force on January 22, 2021.  Antoinette Riley (pictured holding the Nobel Peace Prize medal awarded to International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) in 2017) was amongst members of MPG who attended an event to celebrate the occasion in Martin Place (Sydney). They heard Gem Romuld (Director of ICAN Australia) who explained that the event in Sydney was just one of more than 150 similar events taking place around the globe.

Continue reading Celebration of Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty’s entry into force →

Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons enters into force on January 22, 2021!

Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, , , ,

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) enters into force on Friday January 22, 2021.

So far the TPNW has gained 86 signatories and been ratified by 52 nations. The Treaty required a total of 50 ratifications before coming into force. The current list of signatories and ratifications can be viewed here.

To celebrate this historic achievement, a number of events are being organised in Australia and around the world.

Continue reading Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons enters into force on January 22, 2021! →

UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons – only 6 ratifications to go!

Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, ,

A total of 44 states are now parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (also known as the Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty) which was adopted by the United Nations on July 7, 2017. This landmark treaty prohibits nuclear weapons and establishes a legal framework for their elimination. It will enter into force after 50 states have signed and ratified the treaty.

The latest endorsements of the treaty coincided with the 75th anniversary of the US atomic bombing of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9 in 1945. To mark Hiroshima Day, Ireland, Nigeria and Niue ratified the treaty on August 6, while the Caribbean state of Saint Kitts and Nevis has moved to do the same this Nagasaki Day. Continue reading UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons – only 6 ratifications to go! →

UN adopts historic Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty

Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty,

A historic global agreement was reached at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Friday, July 7, 2017 when 122 nations adopted a treaty to ban nuclear weapons. Known officially as the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, it will acquire legal force once 50 nations have signed and ratified it. Continue reading UN adopts historic Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty →

First session of UN’s Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty negotiations a success

Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty, ,
Ban the Bomb*

The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in December 2016 that agreed to “negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination” and encouraged all member states to participate. The vote was 113 in favour, 35 against including Australia, with 13 abstentions. Continue reading First session of UN’s Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty negotiations a success →

US alliance and the movement to ban nuclear weapons: Labor’s role?

Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty, , , ,

Ban the bombA forum entitled ‘Banning Nuclear Weapons: Labor’s Role’ was held on February 14 during the NSW Labor Conference in the Sydney. The forum was part of the conference’s Fringe Program and its purpose was to explore “how a future federal Labor government could lead the way” on banning nuclear weapons. However, the inconsistency between Labor’s current policy on banning nuclear weapons and its ongoing support for the US “nuclear umbrella” was strongly criticised. Continue reading US alliance and the movement to ban nuclear weapons: Labor’s role? →