ICAN is a Melbourne-based organisation which has engaged with faith and interfaith groups on many occasion over these many years. They were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday last, 6 October 2017. They are extremely humbled and cheered by this prize.
ICAN writes:
We received the Prize from the Norwegian Nobel Committee for our efforts to “draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons and for (our) ground-breaking efforts to achieve a treaty-based prohibition of such weapons.” We have received a torrent of congratulations from our supporters, parliamentarians, celebrities, diplomats and the UN.
ICAN’s successes would not have happened without the diverse movement of nuclear survivors, dedicated individuals, organisations and parliamentarians who have made up this campaign coalition.
Some of the ICAN Australia team in Melbourne on Saturday 7th October. Credit: Chris Hopkins.
Since we heard the news we’ve been busy in the media and taking our message to the UN. We are utilising the limelight to draw attention to the Australian Government’s position on this issue.
This Treaty forces decision-makers to choose whether they genuinely oppose, or support nuclear weapons. Australia’s failure, so far, to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is undermining global efforts for disarmament, and inciting proliferation.
We hope the Nobel Peace Prize will encourage more more Australian parliamentarians to sign the Parliamentary Pledge, which we hope will lead to Australia rejecting nuclear weapons completely by joining this landmark agreement.
We must celebrate and continue our efforts to realise the intention of the nuclear ban treaty: the total elimination of nuclear weapons.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee stated that “we live in a world where the risk of nuclear weapons being used is greater than it has been for a long time”. We must forge ahead to avert this peril.
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