WMA calls on governments to ban and eliminate nuclear weapons

The General Assembly of the World Medical Association, meeting this week in Moscow, has adopted a powerful new resolution condemning nuclear weapons, stating that the medical profession has a duty to work for the elimination of nuclear weapons, and urging all governments to work to ban and eliminate them. IPPNW and its affiliates, many of whose members are active in national medical associations, will work to ensure that this resolution is promoted and acted upon as widely as possible. [Resolution follows]

World Medical Association (WMA) Statement on Nuclear Weapons

Adopted 17 October 2015

1. The WMA Declarations of Geneva, of Helsinki and of Tokyo make clear the duties and responsibilities of the medical profession to preserve and safeguard the health of the patient and to consecrate itself to the service of humanity. The WMA considers that it has a duty to work for the elimination of nuclear weapons.
2. Therefore the WMA:

2.1 Condemns the development, testing, production, stockpiling, transfer, deployment, threat and use of nuclear weapons;

2.2 Requests all governments to refrain from the development, testing, production, stockpiling, transfer, deployment, threat and use of nuclear weapons and to work in good faith towards the elimination of nuclear weapons;

2.3 Advises all governments that even a limited nuclear war would bring about immense human suffering and substantial death toll together with catastrophic effects on the earth’s ecosystem, which could subsequently decrease the worlds food supply and would put a significant portion of the world’s population at risk of famine; and

2.4 Requests that all National Medical Associations join the WMA in supporting this Declaration, use available educational resources to educate the general public and to urge their respective governments to work towards the elimination of nuclear weapons.

2.5 Requests all National Medical Associations to join the WMA in supporting this Declaration and to urge their respective governments to work to ban and eliminate nuclear weapons.