Historic Global Conference on Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons Prepares Ground for New Initiative Towards Ban Treaty
Historic Global Conference on Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons Prepares Ground for New Initiative Towards Ban Treaty
AsiaNet 52313
OSLO, Mar. 6, 2013 /PRN=KYODO JBN/ --
The historic Oslo Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons
has concluded with the announcement of a follow-up meeting to be hosted by
Mexico. A wide range of states and organisations agreed that an understanding
of the global humanitarian consequences of nuclear detonations should be the
starting point for urgent action to ban and eliminate nuclear weapons.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130305/600503-a )
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130305/600503-b )
At the meeting hosted by Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide,
around 130 states, several UN agencies-including OCHA, UNDP and UNHCR-as well
as the international Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, and ICAN, presented
their findings on the environmental, developmental, and health consequences of
nuclear detonations. They concluded that no international response plan could
effectively be put in place to respond to such an event. As the facts and
evidence sank in, many states expressed their recognition of a shared
responsibility to act to prevent any accidental or intentional use of these
weapons of mass suffering.
The announcement by Mexico to build on the Norwegian initiative by hosting
a further meeting provides a new platform from which to consolidate the
humanitarian arguments and to engage all states in a constructive dialogue to
outlaw and eliminate nuclear weapons.
Dr Rebecca Johnson, ICAN Co-Chair said: "This Conference has shown that any
use of nuclear armaments would cause mass suffering, with calculations of
climate disruption and famine in non-nuclear as well as nuclear-armed
countries. This global impact makes it the responsibility - and right - of
everyone to take action to stop this from happening. The P5 have missed an
opportunity for dialogue here, but it has not stopped countries moving forward.
On the contrary, Mexico's welcome decision to host a further meeting on this
issue recognises that the nuclear weapon free countries have an important role
to play."
Thomas Nash, ICAN Steering Group member, said: "This conference is a new
beginning towards the elimination of nuclear weapons. It is the first time
states have come together to consider the humanitarian effects of nuclear
weapons. 130 countries have chosen to confront the horror of these weapons and
have realised that far from being powerless to do anything about it, they can
and must take responsibility for putting in place a long overdue international
ban."
Dr Bob Mtonga, ICAN Steering Group member and physician from Zambia: "This
Conference has shown us that the countries that have renounced nuclear weapons
and concluded regional Nuclear Weapons Free Zones, such as Africa and Latin
America, are providing important moral leadership to carry forward
international efforts to free the world of nuclear weapons and prevent the
global public health disaster that their use would create."
Opinion articles from ICAN experts can also be provided upon request.
An opinion piece from Desmond Tutu:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/mar/04/nuclear-weapons-must-be-eradicated
Video statement of civil society screened during the opening ceremony:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7t6BmRzDS0&feature=youtu.be
About ICAN
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) is a global
campaign coalition working to mobilize people in all countries to inspire,
persuade and pressure their governments to initiate negotiations for a treaty
banning nuclear weapons. It has 300 partner organizations in 70 countries, and
was launched in 2007.
Details available at: http://www.icanw.org
Resources
For information about the effects of nuclear weapons see:
- Unspeakable Suffering (2013)
Download at: http://www.icanw.org/resources/publications
- Banning Nuclear Weapons (2013)
Download at:
http://www.article36.org/cat2-nuclear-weapons/banning-nuclear-weapons-2
- Catastrophic Humanitarian Harm (2012)
Download at: http://www.icanw.org/resources/publications
Interviews
For interviews with ICAN spokespeople or conference speakers, please
contact:
Daniela Varano
+41-78-7262645
daniela@icanw.org
Magnus Lysberg
+47-94-366089
lysberg@icanw.org
SOURCE: International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)
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