CIVIL SOCIETY TO THE STATES PARTIES OF THE NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY

" As the world mobilises in response to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot afford to lose sight of the other global challenges that threaten all of us, including the worsening planetary climate emergency and the ongoing threat of catastrophic nuclear war."

More than 80 civil society organizations, concerned with nuclear disarmament, issued a joint statement to the States Parties of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) on May 11th, 2020. The Statement urges the government members of the NPT, especially the nuclear-armed states and their allies, to take serious steps to fulfill their obligations to nuclear disarmament under article VI of the NPT and join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), also known as the Nuclear Ban Treaty.

IFOR supports this initiative and is one of the endorsers of the Joint NGO Statement, which will be emailed to all Member States of the NPT, in view of the fact that the 2020 NPT Review Conference -previously scheduled at the UN in New York from April 27th to May 22nd 2020- was postponed to next spring due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

As reported by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), 2017 Nobel Peace Prize, there are currently more than 14,000 nuclear weapons around the world, 9 nuclear armed states and about 32 nuclear weapons endorsing states.

ATTACHMENTS:
1. Original text of the NGOs JOINT STATEMENT
2. More info on the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty are available at https://www.un.org/disarmament/wmd/nuclear/npt/
3. More info on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Treaty http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/t/tpnw/text

EUFOR Calls for New Vision of Europe

EUFOR – European Fellowship of Reconciliation

Wednesday 06.04.16 12:00AM

Original press release.

At a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, 25 representatives of the European branches of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR) call for a “renewed vision of Europe” based on Culture of Peace; not military might.

A new way of working in Europe is needed based on unity, solidarity and humanity to tackle 21st Century challenges.

The following areas in need of urgent and collective attention are:

1. Recognize Refugees and Migrants as Citizens
2. Disarmament and Abolish Nuclear Weapons and Arms Trade
3. Promote Peace Education, Inter-faith Dialogue and Social Empowerment
    

The European Branches made the following statements: 
 

“The European civil society has experienced on many occasions the power to transform conflicts through a firm stand for human rights, non-violence and human security. We want to build on this heritage of positive values.

Refugees and migrants are making a statement with their feet on failed policy. Europe's efforts and resources should be spent tackling the root causes of their migration as well as accepting refugees and migrants as citizens. 

Europe is in a larger value crisis and it must act and shift resources away from arms expenditure, nuclear weapons, and military strategy.

There is a further need to prioritize non-violent intervention in order to foster and create a Europe of solidarity.

EUFOR calls on the people of Europe to exercise their cooperative responsibility on forming a Europe of hope not fear, and neighbors not strangers. Together we can change our communities and governments.”

NOTES:

• EUFOR brings together groups committed to faith-based non-violence.
• The Fellowships started in 1914 with people who conscientiously objected to taking part in war because of their religious beliefs
• EUFOR continues to work for non-violence, peace and reconciliation
• EUFOR meeting (01.04.16) consisted of representatives from Wales, England, Scotland, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Netherlands, Austria and Belgium.