Women Parliamentarians Appeal for Common Security, for a Sustainable & Nuclear-Weapon-Free World
Author: WUNRN
Date: June 6, 2018
FULL JOINT STATEMENT & SIGNING WOMEN PARLIAMENTARIANS: http://www.pnnd.org/article/common-security-sustainable-and-nuclear-weapon-free-world
Women Legislators Appeal for Common Security, for a Sustainable & Nuclear-Weapon-Free World
On May 24, 2018, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres released Securing our Common Future: An Agenda for Disarmament. May 24 was also Women’s International Day for Peace and Disarmament. PNND women leaders used the occasion to release an appeal Common security for a sustainable and nuclear-weapon-free world.
Governments must make better use of diplomacy, international law and common security mechanisms in order to prevent war and adequately address climate change and nuclear threats, according to an international appeal released in Geneva on May 24, 2018 by women parliamentarians from around the world.
Photo montage: Endorsers of the appeal released on May 24, Women’s International Day for Peace and Disarmament
The appeal, Common security for a sustainable and nuclear-weapon-free world, was released to commemorate Women’s International Day for Peace and Disarmament and to give support to Securing our Common Future: An Agenda for Disarmament, the new disarmament agenda released in Geneva on May 24 by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
‘We are deeply concerned about the existential threats to humanity and the environment from climate change, nuclear weapons and unresolved international conflicts, especially those between nuclear-reliant countries,’ said Dr Hedy Fry, MP (Canada), Co-Chair of the Canada Section of PNND and Special Representative on Gender Issues for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
‘The withdrawal by the United States from the Iran Nuclear deal and the cancellation of the US/North Korea Summit only adds to these concerns,’ says Dr Fry. ‘As such, we welcome the peace and security initiative launched today by the United Nations Secretary-General – to “pursue disarmament to save humanity, disarmament that saves lives and disarmament for future generations.” ‘
‘The increased threats of nuclear-weapons-use by accident, miscalculation or intent led the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists earlier this year to move the hands of the Doomsday Clock to 2 Minutes to Midnight,’ says Margret Kiener Nellen MP (Switzerland), President of the Swiss delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
‘Nuclear reliant governments must reverse these trends by taking all weapons systems off high alert, committing to never use nuclear weapons first, and commencing negotiations on the complete prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons, as urged by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.’
The appeal calls on governments, parliaments and civil society to act together to implement these goals.
‘I have joined other women parliamentarians in expressing support for the UN General Assembly’s decision for a high-level conference on disarmament to advance effective measures to build a framework for a nuclear weapon-free world,’ says Linda Duncan MP (Canada), Co-Chair of PNND Canada.
‘As women representatives, we are proud of our home countries and our national identities, but we also recognize a common humanity. We recognize the need to collaborate in building a peaceful, secure, sustainable, and just world.’
Women legislators release appeal for common security for a sustainable and nuclear-weapon-free world
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