Joint News Release No. 16/107
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
26 September 2016
Geneva/New York (IFRC/ICRC) – On the occasion of this year’s International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement renews its call on States to begin negotiations on a treaty to prohibit the use of and completely eliminate nuclear weapons, in accordance with their existing commitments.
This call comes during the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, which may decide to convene a conference in 2017 to negotiate a treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading to their total elimination. In doing so, they would be acting on the recommendation made in August by a United Nations Working Group on nuclear disarmament with the wide-spread support of States.
For the first time in over 70 years, a ban on nuclear weapons could become a reality.
Read more: E-briefing – A price too high: Rethinking nuclear weapons in light of their human cost