Hosts: Austria, Chile, Costa Rica, Holy See, Indonesia, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, Australian Red Cross, Austrian Red Cross, Chilean Red Cross, Colombian Red Cross Society, Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Japanese Red Cross Society, The Netherlands Red Cross, New Zealand Red Cross, Norwegian Red Cross, The Red Cross of Serbia, Suriname Red Cross, The Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross Society, and International Committee of the Red Cross
Short title: The humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons
Languages: English
Where: room 2
Description:
The ICRC concluded as early as September 1945 that the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons were unacceptable, as President Maurer recalled in his speech of 18 February this year, referring to their unique destructive power and the scale of human suffering they cause, the fact that the consequences would be trans-boundary and the risk of their intentional or accidental use. Since 2010, the international community has refocused its attention on the humanitarian consequences and the risks associated with nuclear weapons. This evolution was reflected through cross-regional humanitarian statements in UN fora and in the context of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The deep concern at the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons informed the resolution of the 2011 Council of Delegates of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Three Conferences on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons were organized in Oslo (March 2013), Nayarit (February 2014) and Vienna (December 2014).
This side event seeks to transmit the key conclusions and evidence that have emerged from the focus on the humanitarian dimension of nuclear weapons during recent years to the participants of the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.