No More Nuclear Weapons: WFWPI Attends the NPT Conference in Vienna
Written by: Renate Amesbauer
On August 1, 2023, the WFWPI Office for UN Relations in Vienna participated in the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) at the Vienna International Centre. It was chaired by Ambassador Jarmo Viinanen from Finland.
The Committee opened with statements of 16 NGOs and NGO networks, which took around two hours! Statements of Member States or groups of Member States followed. During lunchtime Side Events and various working groups were offered. (Single statements and more information can be found here.
WFWPI endorsed a Joint Statement to the 2023 Preparatory Committee for the 11th NPT Review Conference, which was initiated by the Basel Peace Office, UNFOLD ZERO, World Future Council and World Federalist Movement, together with 152 organizations and 32 countries.
The title of the statement was “Common Security and Nuclear Deterrence: How to replace the current reliance on nuclear weapons with sustainable security for all.” There were specific areas of particular interest to WFWPI representatives, such as a paragraph about alternative methods to ensure common security and the intention to invest more in developing these methods of conflict resolution through mediation, peace building and many other points. This aligns with WFWPI’s values of leading with a parental heart, promoting mutual prosperity and universal values.
In the course of the Commission the attendees were also made aware of the devastating effects of a nuclear war on several occasions, using the example of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. However, nuclear weapons today have a much greater – and more disastrous – effect than those used in 1945. So, whoever starts using it against his enemy, the effect will be almost the same on both parties, and in fact on everyone, even those not involved in the conflict. More information can be found on the NPT website.
A number of side events of the conference dealt with the effect of nuclear testing on the health of people: a heightened risk of cancer, higher numbers of babies born with deficiencies and disabilities and the destruction of nature, which is the source of income and nutrition for the local population. It was also explained that nuclear testing is often done in secrecy, ignoring the rights of people living in the area who are most affected.
In conclusion, recommendations were given by the Chair of the first session of the Preparatory Committee for potential areas of focused discussion at the second session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference.
Representatives of WFWPI were glad they could attend the conference. They learned a lot about the aspect of peaceful use of NCL Technology, but also gained a deeper understanding of the hindrances concerning nuclear non-proliferation.
WFWPI hopes that this process develops much faster into a good direction, fostering a world of peace and prosperity for all. The WFWPI Office for UN Relations in Vienna will explore possibilities to contribute to this goal even more.
