To the Second Meeting of States Parties to the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, 2023.
We are people bound together by what nuclear weapons have inflicted. Our lives, our lands, our waters and our communities were permanently changed by the development, testing and use of nuclear weapons. Our struggles against radioactive violence have continued for many decades, throughout the generations. We have the right and responsibility to speak about what nuclear weapons really do.
War rages around us. It’s heartbreaking that nuclear weapons still exist in the 21st century. Are we adding to life or are we adding to death? Our common humanity is undermined by the existential threat hanging over us, that nuclear weapons will again unleash mass terror, contaminating our homes and our bodies, again.
Nuclear weapons do harm every day. From the mining of uranium, to the creation of the bomb, and the everlasting radioactive waste, our planet carries the scars of so many nuclear sacrifice zones. Nuclear colonialism has disproportionately impacted Indigenous Peoples and marginalised communities. Indigenous Peoples lands were taken. Bodies were used, people were bombed.
Indigenous Peoples carry responsibility and share connections to the lands, air, oceans and waters, acting as guardians of life. This includes all living creatures, animals and plants, some of which are sacred and others of which are food and medicine. Environmental violence impacts all of Mother Earth. Our sacred cultural heritage has been under attack, creating displacement for many survivors. We feel as though governments are waiting for us to vanish, hoping their responsibilities will die with us. But the effects continue for our children and grandchildren and beyond. We are anxious about the future. How much longer will we suffer?
As affected communities, we acknowledge the initial and robust advocacy of our predecessors and Elders. We have rights and dignity to firmly reclaim the life force that nuclear weapons attempted to take away. With the next generations, there is not only hope but also an assurance of continued advocacy for justice, as long as nuclear colonialism is not ended and justice is not granted to our communities.
Together with the global community, we have banned nuclear weapons. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons holds great potential and is the first of its kind to take into account communities affected by nuclear weapons.
Healing comes through action.
We call for all states to do everything in their conscious power to implement Articles 6 and 7.
We call for the clean-up of our contaminated lands and waters. We call for assistance for victims and survivors, whether we are Indigenous Peoples, hibakusha, hibakunisei, nuclear veterans, test survivors, downwinders or anyone whose lives are scarred by the intergenerational harms caused by the development and production of these weapons of mass destruction. We deserve recognition, respect and reparations.
States, institutions and companies that are enabling and funding nuclear destruction must stop.
We call for the nuclear-armed states in particular to join the treaty and be accountable for their actions.
We call on States Parties to the TPNW to push relentlessly for its universalisation.
We hope that governments of the day recognise that Indigenous Peoples rights matter, as do the rights of all victims of nuclear bombs everywhere.
Finally, let us all commit to put an end to the possession, development, testing, use and threat of use of nuclear weapons, so that not one more person will suffer as we have.
END.
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Endorsed by:
Asia Pacific Network of Environment Defenders Pacific
Australian Nuclear Free Alliance Australia
Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety USA
Eastern Navajo Diné Against Uranium Mining USA
Fiji Nuclear Veterans Association Fiji
Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition Japan
Indigenous Life Ways Inc USA
Indigenous World Association Canada
Japanese Liaison Council of Second-Generation
Atomic Bomb Survivors Japan
Jharkhand Organisation Against Radiation India
LABRATS UK
Laguna Acoma Coalition for a Safe Environment USA
Marshallese Education Initiative Marshall Islands
Moruroa e Tātou Maohi Nui / French Polynesia
Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment USA
NIHON HIDANKYO (Japan Confederation of A- and
H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations) Japan
Nuclear Truth Project International
Pacific Conference of Churches Pacific
Pacific Network on Globalisation Pacific
Radiation Exposure Awareness Crusaders for Humanity Marshall Islands
Southwest Indigenous Uranium Forum USA
Taourirt Association Algeria
Tewa Women United USA
The Lop Nor Project China
West Mallee Protection Australia
Youngsolwara Pacific Pacific
Supported by:
ANT-Hiroshima Japan
Article 36 UK
Association of Citizens for the Support of
South Korean Atomic Bomb Victims Japan
Australian Conservation Foundation Australia
beHuman Singapore
Congolese Civil Society of South Africa South Africa
Connect Hiroshima Japan
Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace USA
GENSUIKIN (Japan Congress against A-and H-Bombs) Japan
Global Campaign for Peace Education Japan Japan
HELP Resources Papua New Guinea
ICAN International
ICAN Aotearoa New Zealand New Zealand
ICAN Australia Australia
ICAN France France
ICAN Germany Germany
International Association of Liberal Religious Women Japan
International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War International
KNOW NUKES TOKYO Japan
Norwegian Physicians Against Nuclear Weapons Norway
Nuclear Age Peace Foundation USA
Nuclear Free Western Australia Australia
Nuclear Resister USA
Nuclear Watch New Mexico USA
Nukewatch USA
Peace Action USA
Peace Boat Japan
Peace Depot Japan
Peace Movement Aotearoa New Zealand
Peace, Justice, Sustainability NOW! USA
Peaceplatform Japan
Peoples’ Federation for National Peace and Development Malawi
Physicians Against Nuclear War Japan
Reverse the Trend: Save Our People, Save Our Planet USA/Pacific
Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament Scotland
Secure Scotland Scotland
SHOAA for Human Rights UK
Soka Gakkai International International
Swedish Physicians Against Nuclear Weapons Sweden
WE Rotary WORLD USA
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom International
World Friendship Center Japan
Youth for TPNW International
Youth Nuclear Peace Summit Canada
YWCA of Japan Japan
