29 Mar. 2017

Fighting to Ban Nuclear Weapons

For photos from this event, go to our Flickr page.


This year the United Nations will convene negotiations for a new international agreement to ban all nuclear weapons. Representatives from governments, international organizations, and civil society in general will discuss a new treaty to place nuclear weapons on the same legal grounds as other long outlawed weapons of mass destruction. The First Session of the UN Conference to Negotiate a Legally Binding Instrument to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons, Leading Towards their Total Elimination, will take place at the UN headquarters in New York City from March 27-31.
RLS–NYC is co-organizing two side events for this conference as well as a reception, with international speakers and in cooperation with peace organizations from Europe and the United States, including the International Peace Bureau (IPB), American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Peace & Planet, and the International Network of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility (INES).


Wednesday, March 29 | 10am-1pm | Conference Room B @UN

Developing an International Coalition toward the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons


Ray Acheson, Canada, WILPF: Working with governments toward the elimination of nuclear weapons.
Massimo Artini, Italy: Involving parliamentarians in the ban negotiations.
Joseph Gerson, USA, AFSC-US: New threats around nuclear weapons in the US.
Jürgen Scheffran, Germany, INES: The responsibility of scientists.
Hiroshi Taka, Japan, Gensuikyo: Japan’s contribution to mobilize public opinion.
Dave Webb, UK, CND: Building the momentum against nuclear weapons.
Chair: Reiner Braun, IPB & Yayoi Tsuchida, Gensuikyo.
Organized by RLS–NYC, Gensuikyo, IPB, and Peace & Planet


Thursday, March 30 | 1pm-2:30pm | Conference Room B @UN

The Making of an Effective Ban Treaty


John Burroughs, USA, IALANA: How can the ban treaty lead to nuclear weapons elimination?
Arielle Denis, France, IPB: What core prohibitions should be addressed in the nuclear ban treaty?
Sergio Duarte, Brasil, Pugwash: What procedures would make the ban treaty process both unblockable and inclusive?
Lou Maresca, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Susi Snyder, Netherlands, PAX/ICAN: Would the ban treaty challenge the nuclear umbrella cooperation?
Chair: Amela Škiljan, IPB.
Organized by RLS–NYC, IPB, and Peace & Planet
RLS–NYC is additionally holding an international reception to exchange views, thoughts, and experiences about the discussions at the UN, co-organized with IPB, Peace & Planet, AFSC, and Peace Action.


INTERNATIONAL RECEPTION

Friday, March 31 | 5pm-7pm
All Souls Church | 1157 Lexington Avenue (corner of 80th St.), New York City


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