From April 28 – May 9, States parties to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) will meet at the United Nations in New York for the third Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) meeting for the 2026 NPT Review Conference. The NPT represents the only binding commitment to the goal of disarmament by the five original nuclear-armed States – the U.S., UK, USSR/Russia, France, and China. In Article VI, all States pledged “to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament.” Clearly this has not happened. All NPT members aside from the five acknowledged nuclear-armed states are obligated not to acquire nuclear weapons. The NPT entered into force in 1970. In 1995, it was extended indefinitely, with a Review Conference to be held every five years, and PrepComs to be held in between. Every country in the world is a party to the NPT with five exceptions: India, Israel, Pakistan, and North Korea (all nuclear-armed), and South Sudan.
There is a robust civil society presence on the margins of the NPT meetings. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, there was a brief period of optimism about the possibility of nuclear disarmament. The Abolition 2000 Global Network to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons was founded during the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference, with the launch of an appeal to the NPT States Parties calling on them to commence negotiations on a nuclear weapons convention (treaty) and to undertake a number of other measures to end the nuclear arms race, prevent nuclear war, and support the global elimination of nuclear weapons.
The Abolition 2000 Network is open to individuals and organizations to join. By the year 2000, over 2000 organizations had joined.
A lot has changed since 1995, but Abolition 2000 is still here and will be celebrating its 30th anniversary during the 2025 NPT PrepCom.
Abolition 2000 Live from the NPT Prep Com (virtual). On Wednesday, April 30, from 1:30 – 2:15 pm EDT, Abolition 2000 presenters, speaking from the United Nations, will give a short update on the deliberations – the good, the bad and the ugly – plus the main civil society proposals that are gaining traction at the PrepCom. As this will be on Zoom, the audience will be able to ask questions through the question box and chat box. Register here.
On Tuesday, May 6, Abolition 2000 be holding an interactive side event, Abolition 2000: On our 30th Anniversary, Past Lessons; New Realities, from 3:30 – 5:30 pm in Conference Room A of the UN. If you’re attending the PrepCom, please join us and share your reflections.
Abolition 2000 30th Anniversary Celebration: Lighting the Way to Peace! To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Abolition 2000 is planning a joyful, intergenerational anniversary celebration in New York on May 7 – coinciding with the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s “Ode to Peace.” Plans are in motion for a musical performance and community gathering at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, across the street from the UN. This event will honor the longevity of our movement and engage local allies, musicians, and friends. It will feature 2000 LED tea candles (flameless) arranged in the shape of the international peace symbol. Please join us if you’re in NYC!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! If you can help with set up, we’ll be meeting at 4:00 pm to lay out the tea candles. Contact Jackie Cabasso at wslf(at)earthlink.net
If you can’t join in person, look for #2000Candles and #4NuclearFreeFuture in your social media.
2000 Candles for Abolition Social Media Campaign. With renewed leadership and growing momentum, Youth Fusion, the youth network of Abolition 2000, is launching a global social media campaign: 2000 Candles for Abolition, a call to remembrance and resistance for Abolition 2000’s 30th anniversary. Please join!
“Every flame we light is a step toward a world where no generation must fear the horror of nuclear weapons.”
How to Participate
Take a selfie holding a candle
1. Post on social media
2. Use the hashtag #youthFusionForNoNukes
3. Share your reflections: what concerns you most about nuclear weapons? What in the world do you love enough to protect from destruction?
Join: youth-fusion.org/join
Subscribe: youth-fusion.org/newsletter
Hashtag: #YouthFusionForNoNukes
United for Peace & Justice is proud to be an affiliated network with Abolition 2000.
