Bending the Arc

The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes endorsed the Joint Appeal for Nuclear Abolition Day, September 26. The number, breadth and diversity of endorsements is exciting. More than 560 organizations and 1100 individuals from 98 countries, covering all regions of the world, endorsed the appeal (see the list of countries below).

Endorsing organizations are from a range of fields including peace, disarmament, human rights, environment, sustainable development, youth and faith-based organizations. Endorsing individuals come from all walks of life – including parliamentarians, local body representatives, religious leaders, Nobel Laureates, former government ministers and UN officials, academics/scientists, medical professionals, youth leaders, business leaders, educators, retirees and more. 

The appeal was presented to UN member States at the UN High-Level Plenary Meeting on September 26 by Dr. Deepshikha Kumari Vijh, Executive Director of the Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy and Coordination Team Member of NuclearAbolitionDay.org. Dr Vijh was one of only two civil society representatives invited by Annalena Baerbock, President of the UN General Assembly, to speak at the High-Level Session. The other civil society speaker was Satoshi TANAKA, Executive Board member of Nihon Hidankyo, the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations that won the Nobel Peace Prize last year.  

Please see Stop Nuclear Weapons: Leaders of the UN and Member States, Celebrities and Civil Society Called for Action on Nuclear Abolition Day, September 26, for a blog report on the presentation of the Joint Appeal to the UN, plus some other actions and events on Nuclear Abolition Day. If you are interested, you can watch the video of the September 26 UN High-Level Plenary meeting. The meeting was opened with speeches by the UN Secretary-General and President of the UN GA, followed by Presidents, Prime Ministers, foreign ministers and ambassadors, with the two civil society reps speaking near the end.

The Joint Appeal will be presented again to the First Committee of the UN General Assembly on October 17. This committee, which includes representatives from all UN Member States, considers disarmament resolutions for adoption by the UNGA. The Joint Appeal will remain open for further endorsement until then. Sign on here.

Endorsements came from 98 countries, covering all regions of the world:
Aotearoa/New Zealand, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cymru (Wales), Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Egypt, Erub/Yuwibara Territory (Australia), Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia/ Ma'ohi Nui, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, Scotland, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tokelau, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe.