Women in Black will gather again this evening at 6.00pm at the Edith Cavell statue, Trafalgar Square. The focus for this evening is nuclear disarmament and a challenge to our government to sign and support the 2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Our message is here. You can also download the leaflet below.
No to nuclear weapons. Yes to to peace and disarmament
Over 70 years after nuclear bombs were first used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the UN adopted the longawaited
2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Nuclear weapons, like biological and
chemical weapons, have now been banned because they create catastrophic environmental harm and
appalling humanitarian suffering, including the long-term health impacts of radiation, which especially harm
women and girls.
The TPNW bans the use, development, testing, deployment, possession and transfer of nuclear weapons. It
requires the total elimination of all arsenals, and provides legal pathways for countries that currently possess
or host nuclear weapons to end those policies and programmes safely and securely. The Treaty also means
that International Law now enshrines our moral understanding that no-one has the right to possess or use
such inhumane weapons.
To Britain’s shame and embarrassment, the UK Government boycotted the UN’s multilateral disarmament
negotiations, along with the US and a handful of other states. But campaigners all around Britain are putting
pressure on the Government to join the TPNW and cancel Trident, the UK’s nuclear weapons programme.
By signing the Nuclear Prohibition Treaty, the UK would enhance national and global security. Taking this step
would enhance Britain’s role and influence for peace and security, and create much needed jobs in
disarmament and verification. It would also free up resources to tackle urgent security threats such as climate
destruction, violence against women and girls, and the deadly arms trade.
Today Women in Black invite you to tell the Prime Minister that Britain needs to disarm
We face increased threats of nuclear use and war now that Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin killed off the
landmark 1987 Treaty that removed intermediate-range nuclear forces (INF) from Europe in the 1980s. If new
INF weapons are deployed in the future, nuclear war could be triggered by mistake or intention within
minutes. If these or the Trident system’s 19,000 Hiroshimas carried on one UK nuclear submarine is fired,
millions could die from the immediate blasts, heat and radiation. Billions more would starve to death as a
global nuclear winter would cause crops to fail in Britain, Europe and across the world.
To The Prime Minister, 10 Downing Street, London SW1.
As governments and citizens around the world mark the UN Disarmament Week, I urge you to:
- Sign the 2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on behalf of the UK, and implement this and all
of Britain’s international disarmament obligations, including the 1968 Non-Proliferation Treaty. - Halt UK nuclear patrols, dismantle existing weapons and cancel all leases for US Trident missiles.
- Immediately halt further expenditure on new warheads and submarines designed to carry these prohibited
weapons of mass destruction. - Use the billions this will save for our real security needs: health, education, poverty reduction and tackling
climate change and environmental destruction.
Signed……………………………………………………………………..Date…………………………….
Name: ……………………………………………………………………..
Address: …………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Women in Black hold vigils every Wednesday between 6-7 pm at the Edith Cavell Statue, opposite the door of the
National Portrait Gallery, St.Martin’s Place, London, WC2. Our vigils are silent, women-only and if possible we wear
black. See our website at www.london.womeninblack.org Contact us at: wibinfo@gn.apc.org
www.facebook.com/womeninblack.london Twitter: @WIB_London
Donations for leaflets gratefully received. If you are a woman and agree with us, then do come and join us.