<[link removed]>Dear Friend,

In Jakarta today, ICAN co-hosted a major diplomatic conference with the Indonesian and Austrian foreign ministries and the International Committee of the Red Cross, bringing together senior government officials from more than 20 countries across Asia and the Pacific to discuss the urgent need to eliminate nuclear weapons.

<[link removed]>“The reality we face is clear. Nuclear risks are rising, driven by heightened geopolitical tensions and the continued reliance on nuclear deterrence. For the Asia-Pacific, this is not a distant concern. It is a direct and growing security challenge. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons offers a principled response,” said the head of the Indonesian delegation, Ambassador Tri Tharyat.

In February, the Indonesian president, Prabowo Subianto, warned <[link removed]> that a war involving the use of nuclear weapons would have devastating, widespread consequences, including for nations with no direct involvement. He highlighted the potential for “nuclear winter” – a period of prolonged darkness, resulting in global agricultural collapse and famine – if a large number of nuclear weapons were used.

Today's conference took stock of the progress made under the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and discussed the security concerns arising from the existence of nuclear weapons in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

Austria co-hosted the conference in its capacity as a co-chair of the TPNW's working group charged with bringing more countries on board the treaty. The Austrian ambassador George-Wilhelm Gallhofer said that the “only effective measure to eliminate the risk stemming from nuclear weapons is abolition”. He hailed the TPNW as reinforcing “the legal and normative taboo against the possession and use of nuclear weapons” and giving “the majority of non-nuclear-armed states a united voice”.

In the current geopolitical climate, characterised by increased rivalries and insecurities, the risk of a nuclear weapon being used is as high as it has ever been. With the first Review Conference of the TPNW scheduled to take place at the end of this year, ICAN is urging all countries that have not yet joined this crucial treaty to do so without delay.

<[link removed]>Donate to ICAN <[link removed]>Without the support of generous donors like you, ICAN would not be able to bring countries together for these important regional events. Can we count on you as we continue our efforts?

For more information on the work leading to the TPNW Review Conference, see our Treaty Progress pages <[link removed]>.

Kind regards, 

Tim Wright
Treaty Coordinator

<[link removed]> <[link removed]>Support our work <[link removed]> <[link removed]> <[link removed]> <[link removed]> <[link removed]> <[link removed]>ICAN is the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
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