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Media Release: Australian Lawyers call on PM to sign nuclear weapon ban treaty

Aug 9, 2024 | News

MEDIA RELEASE: Australian Lawyers call on PM to sign nuclear weapon ban treaty

Today, on the 79th anniversary of the US atomic bombings of the Japanese city of Nagasaki, a group of Australian lawyers have called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) “without further delay.”

In an open letter signed by thirty-five lawyers and international law academics, Lawyers for Peace stated that “With two nuclear-armed powers involved in heated conflicts overseas, and the risk of nuclear escalation growing, now is a vital time to take necessary steps for nuclear disarmament.”

They write, “We believe that international law can play a powerful role in nuclear disarmament and the creation of new norms, leading to increased peace and security for all.”

The letter—whose signatories include Robert Tickner AO, Former Australian Minister and Humanitarian Campaigner, Katie Robertson, Human Rights Lawyer and Director of Stateless Legal Clinic, and Corinne Grant, Human Rights Lawyer, Comedian, and Television Presenter, among others—highlights the complementarity between the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the TPNW, stating that together they create a “robust legal framework for a nuclear-free world.”

“The TPNW enhances the NPT through a comprehensive prohibition on nuclear weapons that applies to all parties. It also establishes frameworks for the verified, time-bound elimination of nuclear-weapon programmes and for addressing harms caused by nuclear weapons.”

Rachel Croucher, a member of Lawyers for Peace and a co-author of the letter, stated, “I joined Lawyers for Peace because of my vision for a safer and fairer world for all.”

“I believe that our government signing the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is a crucial step in achieving this vision.”

“This treaty is not just a symbolic gesture but a tangible step towards global disarmament. By acting now, Australia can demonstrate its commitment to international peace and security and set a powerful example for other nations.”

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