The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) aims to galvanize public and government support for multilateral negotiations on a Nuclear Weapons Convention without further delay. Such a treaty would outlaw the production, testing, possession and use of nuclear weapons, and establish the mechanisms needed to eliminate them within an agreed timeframe. Already, a majority of nations support this plan, as do a majority of the world’s people. But we need your help to make it a reality.

Building the movement

ICAN was launched in a dozen countries in 2007, including at a meeting of parties to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in Austria, where we presented an updated model Nuclear Weapons Convention to representatives of more than 180 nations. Since its inception, ICAN has developed strategies and strengthened networking between national and international campaigners, broadening the abolition movement and building understanding of why a Nuclear Weapons Convention is the most realistic path to zero.

To date, more than 200 organizations in 60 countries have joined the campaign, with International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War and Mayors for Peace among the first partners. Notable figures have also come on board as ICAN ambassadors — including the Dalai Lama, anti-apartheid leader Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize-winning anti-landmines advocate Jody Williams, jazz legend Herbie Hancock and cricket champion Ian Chappell. With their support, we have taken our message to new constituencies.

NPT review conference 2010

In the lead-up to the NPT review conference in May 2010, ICAN coordinated a global lobbying effort aimed at bringing the idea of a Nuclear Weapons Convention into the mainstream of the nuclear debate as a legitimate, practical and near-term objective to complement and strengthen the non-proliferation regime. This strategy bore fruit when the final document of the conference recognized the importance of a comprehensive treaty approach, paving the way for concerted action on a convention.

Building on the unprecedented level of support for a Nuclear Weapons Convention generated at the NPT review conference, ICAN will now work to strengthen the commitment of civil society and governments to prioritize a Nuclear Weapons Convention as the next big negotiating objective of the international community. We will seek the full backing of major international and national humanitarian, human rights, anti-war, environmental and disarmament organizations, and work closely with supportive governments.

ICAN will develop and disseminate materials to inspire and explain the need for a nuclear abolition treaty to a range of audiences, from young to old, across a spectrum of regional and political interests. These will utilize new technologies, internet-based means and viral media as well as more traditional communications techniques. We will continue to publicize the Million Pleas initiative to create the world’s largest video chain letter calling on leaders to negotiate a nuclear abolition treaty, which was started by a group of Hiroshima students.