Building momentum to eliminate nuclear weapons

June 2023

Tags: Nuclear weapons

Since 1945, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has been working to achieve the prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons. Although the risk of use of such weapons is growing at an alarming rate, the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in 2021 has created new opportunities for progress towards their elimination. The 2022–2027 Action Plan on the Non-Use, Prohibition and Elimination of Nuclear Weapons provides National Societies with a strategy and innovative tools to address risks and create momentum towards the complete elimination of nuclear weapons.

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Towards a Movement position on autonomous weapons

April 2022

Tags: IHL – national implementation / IHL – strengthening / IHL compliance / IHL dissemination / IHL ratification / IHL violations (repression of) / Nuclear weapons / Weapons

Almost ten years have passed since the Movement first called on states to consider the potential humanitarian impact of autonomous weapons. For the past year, the ICRC has been recommending that states adopt new legally binding rules on autonomous weapons, and momentum towards that goal has been building at the international level. Because of that momentum and especially given how quickly the technologies and practices for using of autonomous weapons are developing, now is the time for the Movement to consider taking collective action to support adoption of such rules. Moreover, a recent workshop co organized by Norcross and the ICRC for the 2022 Council of Delegates indicated that there is broad support for the Movement helping to build, nurture and shape an effective international response to the humanitarian concerns raised by autonomous weapons.

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