Report by Sean Morris, UK & Ireland Mayors for Peace Chapter Secretary
Over 150 prominent cities, towns and counties have now passed resolutions giving their full support to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
Since the TPNW was agreed upon in July 2017, a process has begun for its full ratification into international law, which takes place when at least 50 states ratify it into their national law. At present, 33 states have ratified this treaty, and it is expected to become international law in 2020, the 75th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic weapon attacks, and the 50th anniversary of the NPT.
However, a clear coalition of Nuclear Weapon States, NATO members and states in their sphere of influence have consistently opposed the TPNW. In December 2018, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) established an ‘ICAN Cities Appeal’ to encourage municipalities in these states to pass resolutions to show there was considerable local support for the TPNW. Mayors for Peace supports this initiative.
The latest cities to have supported this initiative include Philadelphia (USA), Leipzig (Germany) and Norwich (UK). They join a number of prominent Mayors for Peace President and Vice Presidents who support the appeal including Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Manchester, Hannover and Granollers. Leading capital cities to support the TPNW and the ICAN Cities Appeal include Washington DC, Sydney, Berlin, Paris, Oslo, Berne and Edinburgh. The States of California and Oregon and the New Jersey Assembly have also passed similar resolutions. The resolutions call on their respective national governments to more actively engage with the TPNW policy process and work for multilateral nuclear disarmament.
In the UK, six Mayors for Peace members have passed resolutions supporting the TPNW. They are Manchester, Edinburgh, Renfrewshire, Norwich, Fife and Hebden Royd. A number of other members are in the process of doing so. The UK and Ireland Mayors for Peace Secretary Sean Morris can provide a model resolution if that would be helpful. Email:s.morris4@manchester.gov.uk
Mayors for Peace would welcome other towns, cities, counties and federal regions to consider passing similar resolutions and supporting the Cities Appeal / TPNW. It also encourages states to continue to ratify the TPNW so that it becomes international law in 2020.