Report by Ms. Loréna Schlicht, AFCDRP-Mayors for Peace France
AFCDRP-Mayors for Peace France participated in the conference “The first meeting of the States Parties to the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW): issues and objectives.” It was organized by ICAN France and Senator Guillaume Gontard, who is the Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Armed Forces. The event was held on 4 March at the Palais du Luxembourg (Sénat).
The aim of holding this conference was to reflect the voices of different organizations (ICRC, IPPNW, ICAN, etc.), researchers, and parliamentarians to the current French nuclear deterrence policy, highlighting the importance of abolishing nuclear weapons and given the current situation in Ukraine. There were several round tables with representatives from France, Norway, Germany, and Austria, including Ambassador Alexander Kmentt, President-designate of the first meeting of States Parties to the TPNW (1MSP).
I was the moderator of the first session “The humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons: a review of the fundamentals.” At the session, I presented about the Mayors for Peace network and underscored that security, conflict prevention, and peacekeeping are at the heart of the local missions of cities and elected officials.
Mayor Jacqueline Belhomme of Malakoff, who is a Vice President of Mayors for Peace and AFCDRP-Mayors for Peace France as well as a signatory of the ICAN Cities Appeal reminded the audience of the importance of the TPNW regarding the disastrous situation in Ukraine and the threats to the population, cities, and territories.