Region

The 17th of May marked the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO). Events were held in tens of countries around the world to send a strong message that these forms of discrimination should be consigned to the dustbin of history. Portugal legalised same-sex marriage. Malawi sentences 2 gay men for the crime of homosexuality.

The tired old mantra of arms control and incremental steps is still dominating discussions at the NPT Review Conference, despite the growing push for a Nuclear Weapons Convention. Calls by Nuclear Weapons States, for the most part, lack any sense of real urgency — even though it is clear that meaningful action for abolition is needed now, and cannot continue to be postponed.

UN Secretary-General remarks to the Inter-Parliamentary Union and Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament:
“Ten years ago, the NPT Review Conference described the total elimination of nuclear arsenals as “the only guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons”. Ten years on, I urge you to help to make disarmament a truly global cause”.

This year International Conscientious Objectors’ Day will be celebrated as usual in the UK with a small ceremony at the CO’s Memorial consisting of a lump of volcanic rock in Tavistock Square, London, close to the statue of Gandhi and the Hiroshima blossom tree. It commemorates those who refused to kill, even when they faced their own death for disobeying military orders.

Non-governmental organizations at the NPT Abolition Caucus express dismay at the unashamed pushing of a nuclear energy agenda at the NPT conference. They condemn the false advertising of the benefits of nuclear energy by the IAEA and the P5. “985,000 people died of cancer caused by the Chernobyl catastrophe between 1986 and 2004.”

The NPT conference continues in New York with expectations high among anti-nuclear organisations that an intention to move towards a Nuclear Weapons Convention – a treaty to eliminate nuclear weapons – will be expressed in the final documents. The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons is closely following what different nations are saying about such a convention.

The official World March documentary film is premiered at the United Nations in New York one year after it was officially presented in the same location. The video, produced by Spanish filmmaker Alvaro Orus is a 45 minute compilation of some of the most emotional, touching and inspiring moments of the 93 day globe trotting adventure in the name of Peace and Nonviolence.

With the aim to create a sustainable, national children’s organ, the Finnish Children’s Parliament is having a positive impact on the establishment of local parliamentary activities.
Direct network democracy is enabled through weekly chat meetings with electronic voting and permanent forum in children’s Finnish Parliament.

NPT conference kicks off with acrimonious interchanges between Iran and the USA. Ban Ki-Moon reminded delegates that the last conference failed, “This time we can… and must… do better”. Iran condemned US deterrence policies as the source of proliferation and the US replied that, “Iran’s president offered the same tired, false, and sometimes wild accusations against the US.”

The Mayor of Hiroshima headed a list of dignitaries at the front of a Great March to the United Nations in order to meet with UN Disarmament Chief, Sergio Duarte. The Abolition Torch carried around the world on the World March for Peace and Nonviolence was handed over to the UN as a reminder to conference delegates attending the NPT conference of their important task.