The 22nd January was the 5th Anniversary of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons coming into force.
This landmark Treaty imposed a comprehensive ban on nuclear weapons, making it illegal to (amongst other things) develop, possess, use or threaten to use them. A total of 74 states have now ratified or acceded to the Treaty and a further 25 States have signed the Treaty but are yet to ratify it. There is a growing majority bringing moral pressure on the nuclear armed states, including the UK, to make much greater progress on nuclear disarmament.
The Catholic Church supports the Treaty and its aims. The Holy See signed the Treaty on the day it was opened for signature. Both Pope Francis and Pope Leo have confirmed that Catholic teaching requires disarmament and a world free of nuclear weapons. Pope Francis said that it is not just the use of nuclear weapons that is immoral but ‘their very possession’. In his message for the World Day of Peace (the message we reflected on for Peace Sunday last weekend), Pope Leo said ‘The idea of the deterrent power of military might, especially nuclear deterrence, is based on the irrationality of relations between nations, built not on law, justice and trust, but on fear and domination by force’.
The UK’s approach to the TPNW has been recalcitrant, constantly refusing to engage with the Treaty processes whilst at the same time failing to fulfil its obligations as a party to the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty – the treaty which it claims is the only route to nuclear disarmament.
As we mark the 5th anniversary of the TPNW, we confirm that, in the words of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference (England and Wales) in ‘Called to be Peacemakers’, we continue in ‘prayer and public witness’ to campaign for the UK to sign and ratify the Treaty and, until they do, engage meaningfully with the treaty framework, not least in participating as an observer in future meetings of signatories.
Take Action on Nuclear Weapons
If you would like to be involved in our campaigns on Nuclear Weapons, why not join other members and supporters in our Disarmament Working Group ? For more detail, contact us on info@paxchristi.org.uk
Also have a look at our calendar of events where you will find details of a number of upcoming webinars on nuclear weapons themes.
And why not read this short article by Jonathan Frerichs, Pax Christi International Main Representative at UN Geneva:
Half the world’s countries are united in new Nuclear Ban Treaty
Image: Former Vice President and Pax Christi Member Ann Dodd marking the 5th anniversary of the TPNW with Abingdon Peace Group
