All civilized states to Mexico in February

In March 2013, representatives from 128 countries met in Oslo, Norway for the first intergovernmental conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons. It was, however remarkable that all the nuclear-weapon states were absent and gave incredibly bad excuses for not attending. They were sorely missed. The conference was a huge success and made it absolutely clear—what has always been the message of IPPNW—that no state, under any circumstance, will ever be able to protect and help its own citizens in case of an attack with nuclear weapons. 

A follow-up conference hosted by the Mexican government will be held in the city of Nayarit on February 13-14 this year. Many states have already registered for the conference but, again, so far none of the nuclear-weapon states.  What are they afraid of? That a majority of states and humanitarian organizations shall declare their nuclear weapons as inhuman? Their absence cannot change that. Whether they like it or not, there is a growing demand, both from more and more people and more and more states to have nuclear weapons abolished.

So, instead of continuing to bury their heads in the sand, the nuclear-weapon states should rather join the ongoing process to find a real path to a safer world without nuclear weapons.  In his five years as US President, Barack Obama has repeatedly made statements advocating for a nuclear-weapons-free world. It is time that he now shows some courage and moves from rhetoric to action.  

The first nuclear-weapon state to join the process for real nuclear abolition will become historical. Nobody will ever remember the state leaders who cling to their weapons of mass extermination, while the one who takes the lead in abolishing them will receive the gratitude and praise of every world citizens. Humanity welcomes all civilized states to the most significant conference in Nayarit in Mexico in February.