By Tariq Rauf* VIENNA (IDN) — Originally scheduled for April-May 2020, due to postponements because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Tenth Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) finally convened in these turbulent times at the United Nations in New York on 1 August and will conclude its deliberations on 26 August. NPT review […]
NPT Review Conference Urged to Seek “No First Use” of Nuclear Weapons
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — When academics, anti-nuclear peace activists and civil society organisations (CSOs) met at the United Nations earlier this month to discuss the growing threats of a nuclear war worldwide, one of the underlying themes was captured in the title: “Avoiding Nuclear War: What Short-Term Steps Can be Taken?” The […]
A Nuclear Review Conference Amidst Loud War Drums
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — The Tenth Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which runs from August 1-26, takes place amidst a raging battle: a nuclear Russia vs a non-nuclear Ukraine and potential military conflicts on the horizon, including a nuclear China vs a non-nuclear Taiwan, a […]
Nuclear Weapons Policies of Japan and South Korea Challenged
By Jaya Ramachandran GENEVA (IDN) — The Basel Peace Office, in cooperation with other civil society organisations, has challenged the nuclear weapons policies of Japan and South Korea in the UN Human Rights Council, maintaining that these violate the Right to Life, a right enshrined in Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and […]
Let’s Eliminate Nuclear Weapons, Before They Eliminate Us
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — When UN Secretary-General António Guterres congratulated States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) on the successful conclusion of their first meeting in Vienna, his warning was dead on target. “Let’s eliminate these weapons before they eliminate us,” he said pointing out that nuclear […]
US Declares an Exception to Its New Policy Against the Use of Landmines
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — The anti-landmine treaty, which came into force in 1999, has more than 160 signatories who pledged to ban the use of these weapons, along with the destruction of remaining stocks, and clearance of mined areas, and assistance to victims. But at least seven key countries—including the US, Russia, […]
Faith Communities Greet First Nuclear Weapons Ban Conference
By IDN-INPS Team VIENNA (IDN) — Faith communities “from a diversity of traditions and located all over the world” have joined together “with one voice to mark” the first meeting of the States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (MSP) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).”
World Threatened with More Nuclear Arms as Modernization of Arsenals Continues
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — The growing modernization of the world’s nuclear arsenal is threatening an increase of deadly weapons in the not-too-distant future. The grim prediction comes from the latest Yearbook released June 13 by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) 2022. One of the key findings is that despite a […]
Nuclear Weapons Pose the Greatest Immediate Threat to Human Health
By Radwan Jakeem NEW YORK (IDN) — A Joint International Health Statement for the 1st Meeting of States Parties (1MSP) of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) has stressed the urgent need to eliminate nuclear weapons as a matter of global health and survival. The joint statement expresses a “united voice” of […]
Nuclear Policies Violate Right to Life, Warn Civil Society Organisations
By Jaya Ramachandran GENEVA (IDN) — While arms control and disarmament efforts have come to a halt, civil society organisations are insisting that nuclear policies contravene the right to life. “Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life,” […]