6 September 2023
Together with other partner organisations of ICAN Germany, Church and Peace has written an Open Letter to the German Federal Minister Annalena Baerbock. The letter refers to the upcoming Second Meeting of State Parties to the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (GCPT / TPNW) and appeals to the German government to actively and constructively advocate for nuclear disarmament and support for victims of nuclear weapons.
The letter stresses that Germany should use the opportunity to take a leading role in promoting nuclear disarmament at the conference, which will be held in New York from 27 November to 1 December 2023. The letter underlines the need to support those affected by nuclear weapons and to clean up contaminated areas, as mentioned in previous speeches and announcements.
The signatories of the letter draw attention to the current threats posed by nuclear weapons: “The current situation clearly shows us how necessary nuclear disarmament is: we are seeing dangerous threats from Moscow and the deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus. The G7 countries have not taken the opportunity of their summit in Hiroshima to condemn any threat of nuclear weapons and to rule out first use.” In addition, the fact that nuclear weapon states have made considerable investments in their nuclear arsenals despite the disarmament ban is highlighted.
The signatories emphasise the importance of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and its role in promoting nuclear disarmament. They encourage Germany to support the process of banning nuclear weapons.
Click here to read the open letter in German.
