The Rotary Action Group for Peace (RAGFP) was represented at these three events in 2022: The INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE ABOLITION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS (ICAN) NUCLEAR BAN FORUM, June 18-19, 2022; The VIENNA CONFERENCE ON THE HUMANITARIAN IMPACTS OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS, June 20, 2022 and The FIRST MEETING OF STATES PARTIES OF THE TREATY ON THE PROHIBITION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS (TPNW), June 21-23, 2022. Here are their reports .......
The Rotary Action Group for Peace (RAGFP) was represented at these three events by Dr. Ann Frisch and Dr. Frances Jeffries. Rotarians Dr. Ira Helfand (International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War) and Gina Langton (80,000 Voices) also attended. The main objective of their participation was to meet other delegates and to learn directly from them what their organizations are doing to reach the goal of eliminating all nuclear weapons. There were 700 participants from 100 countries at the ICAN Nuclear Ban Forum. Many of those stayed for the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons Conference and First Meeting of States Parties TPNW.
Throughout all three events, the RAGFP observers focused especially on meeting with and identifying those with whom Rotary International and/or Rotarians might form partnerships to address this urgent matter. They also encouraged the participants to contact their local Rotary Clubs about speaking at club meetings and collaborating on various actions and events. The Civil Society Observers sent two email reports to the signers of the Japanese Survivors’ appeal.
Report on the First Meeting of States Parties Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
The First Meeting of States Parties TPNW met from June 21-23, 2022. Forty-nine States Parties attended the meeting with 34 additional states attending as observers, among them countries which have not yet signed but were interested in observing the meeting. Many civil society observers, like the RAGFP delegation, were present. States parties were invited to speak in turn, followed by selected civil society observers. The RAGFP delegation applied to speak but was not selected.
The First Meeting of States Parties TPNW concluded with a 50-point action plan in preparation for the Second Meeting of States Parties TPNW for November 27-December 1, 2023, in New York, for which Juan Ramon de la Fuente, Ambassador to the United Nations from Mexico, will serve as President. The 50-point action plan for the TPNW included:
- • provision for how nuclear weapons
- • states could join the TPNW: 10
- years to dismantle nuclear weapons, having removed their arsenals from operational status prescribed in Article 1 (a). Countries that host nuclear weapons have 90 days to remove their arsenals;
- • designation of competent international authority, and requirements for verification of nuclear weapons and materials;
- • commitment to use good scientific knowledge as the basis for decisions;
- • commitment for universalization of the TPNW (bringing in the remaining 193 UN member states), including states parties actively helping signatories to move toward ratification;
- • expansive approach to the inclusion of civil society, especially gender, youth, and people affected by nuclear weapons use;
- • implementing TPNW provisions to provide victim assistance and environmental remediation; and,
- • intersectional work to encourage states to join the TPNW and to operationalize the 50-point action plan.
Recommendations to Rotary International
The civil society observers recommend that Rotary International humanitarian activities related to nuclear weapons
• use as their foundation the Rotary mission and vision statements;
• shift from being reactive to being proactive;
• reflect the urgency and extreme danger of the weapons;
• endorse the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons;
• arrange global meetings with representatives of states parties and Rotarians; and,
• focus on practicing dialogue and conflict resolution essential in building a sustainable peace.
b https://www.icanw.org/vienna_
declaration_action_plan_ overview Recommendations for Rotary Action Group for Peace:
The civil society observers recommend that Rotary Action Group for Peace activities related to nuclear weapons
• work in collaboration with delegates of states parties, parliamentarians, and others to assist states in joining the TPNW;
• prepare Rotarians to attend the Second Meeting of States Parties in New York City in 2023 as Civil Society Observers; and,
• follow up with 1st Meeting of States Parties President Ambassador Alexander Kmentt of Austria who said, "It would be great if Rotary were to endorse the TPNW.”
