Reaching Critical Will

By Ray Acheson. Applause broke out at the beginning of the day when the President of the conference to negotiate a treaty banning nuclear weapons, Ambassador Elayne Whyte of Costa Rica, opened the proceedings. Applause also broke out at the…

By Ray Acheson for Reaching Critical Will. Today we begin negotiations of a treaty banning nuclear weapons. It took incredible determination, creativity, and courage to get here. We have seen decades of activism against the bomb. Endless engagement with nuclear-armed…

It’s time This week, delegations to the UN General Assembly could help shift the course of history. This sounds dramatic, especially for First Committee. While it always presents a good opportunity for progress, First Committee can sometimes seem like a…

The final day of the open-ended working on nuclear disarmament (OEWG) was a picture of diplomatic theatre. At the last moment the Australian delegation tried to upset the process by demanding a vote on what all other delegations believed was…

Addressing the open-ended working group (OEWG) on nuclear disarmament, Dr. Nick Ritchie of the University of York thoughtfully and systematically dismantled any supposed justification for the retention of nuclear weapons. In so doing, he also providing a searing critique of…

The second week of the open-ended working group on nuclear disarmament (OEWG) is illuminating a clear delineation between those who want to abolish nuclear weapons and those who don’t. Mexico’s Ambassador Lomonaco challenged Japan and other nuclear-supportive states over their…

Back in October 2015, the UN General Assembly authorised the formation of a working group to study legal measures for nuclear disarmament.  Work started in February and the group has convened again in the first two weeks of May before…

Wrapping up the first week of the open-ended working group (OEWG) on nuclear disarmament with a focus on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons, Wednesday’s OEWG meeting provided a chance for participants to articulate their concerns with the continued existence…

Back in February, the UN General Assembly authorised the formation of a working group to study legal measures for nuclear disarmament.  This week and next week the group convenes again before finishing its work in August.  The International Campaign to…

Back in October 2015, the UN General Assembly authorised the formation of a working group to study legal measures for nuclear disarmament.  This week and next week the group convenes for the second time before finishing its work in August. …