Nuclear threats, common security and disarmament
A reflection on the 35th anniversary of New Zealand’s nuclear weapons ban, and what we can do now to prevent nuclear war and achieve global nuclear abolition. by Alyn Ware* If you have been following the conflict in Ukraine, you will no doubt have noticed that not only has Russia been undertaking a horrific ‘military […]
UN Human Rights Committee condemns the threat or use of nuclear weapons and other WMD
by Alyn Ware* On October 30, 2018, the UN Human Rights Committee adopted a new General comment No. 36 (2018) on article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), on the right to life. According to the General Comment (paragraph 3), the Right to Life as codified in Article 6 […]
Doomsday clock warning makes UN High Level Conference even more important
Last week, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved the hands of the symbolic Doomsday Clock to 2 Minutes to Midnight, indicating that the threat of a nuclear war through accident, miscalculation or intent has risen to an alarming level, and that climate change is not being averted. The Bulletin highlighted nuclear threats between the […]
UN to hold High Level Conference on nuclear disarmament
On December 3, 2016, the UN General Assembly adopted ground-breaking Resolution 71/71, supported by over 140 countries, calling for the start of negotiations on an international treaty to prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons, and affirming its decision to hold a High Level Conference on Nuclear Disarmament no later than 2018 to review progress. The UN […]
Nuclear weapons versus the sustainable development goals
On September 25th 2015, member countries of the United Nations adopted a set of 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. This was followed by the adoption of a specific plan of action to address climate change at the COP 21 Conference in Paris in December […]
Nuclear Disarmament – A Challenge for the New UN Chief
NEW YORK (IDN) – The United Nations General Assembly has on October 13 affirmed António Guterres, the former Prime Minister of Portugal and UN High Commissioner for Refugees, as the next United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG). The UN Security Council had on October 5 nominated him for the position after considering 13 candidates. Guterres will have […]
Nuclear bombs, cooperative games and the prisoners’ dilemma
‘The fact that we have not destroyed the world yet with nuclear weapons is indeed a miracle of good luck that cannot last forever’, announced policy expert Alyn Ware from Aotearoa Lawyers for Peace and the Basel Peace Office, the opening keynote speaker for the International Students Week in Ilmenau on May 30. ‘If we […]