ICANi's Australian Chair, MAPW Vice-President Associate Professor Tilman Ruff, has been invited to be an NGOi Adviser to the Co-chair of the International Commission for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament.

The invitation was issued to Associate Professor Ruff in his capacity as Australian Chair of ICAN by Gareth Evans, as Co-chair of the International Commission. It is expected that one or two further civil-society advisers will similarly invited by the Co-chairs.

This invitation is very significant both in recognising Associate Professor Ruff's expertise and commitment; and in providing a direct channel to pass on both this expertise and concerns.

28 OCTOBER 2008:   The UNi Human Rights Committee meets this week to determine a list of issues to raise with Australia in March 2009, concerning compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

ICANi has made a submission to the Committee, arguing that Australia is in breach of Article 6 Covenant in respect to nuclear weapons. 

In the 1980s, the Committee issued a strong general comment to the effect that nuclear weapons are incompatible with the right to life under the treaty. It does not appear to have challenged any States party on nuclear issues (although, significantly, praising the Ukraine for relinquishing its nuclear weapons).

ICAN argues that Australia is in breach of its obligations in four ways:

• by supporting preparations for nuclear war carried out at Pine Gap;
• by allowing US nuclear-armed vessels to enter our waters;
• by relying on the "protection" of US nuclear deterrence; and
• by exporting uranium to nuclear-armed countries. 

ICANi Australia's report on the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty Preparatory Committee (NPTi PrepCom) held in Geneva from 28 April to 9 May, has now been finalised.

ICAN Board member Tim Wright prepared the report for the information of ICAN and MAPW supporters. Tim attended the PrepCom on behalf of ICAN, participating in the many NGOi forums and workshops held in parallel to the official meeting.

MAPW Vice President Tilman Ruff , together with Yarra Councillor Jenny Farrar, were NGO representatives on the official Australian delegation to the meeting. They believe that it was well worth attending and that there have been positive changes in the Australian position.

The report is comprehensive and beautifully presented, and well worth a read, and is available to read and download here.

GENEVA, 8 MAY 2008. The Australian government has raised several important issues which could help advance the abolition of nuclear weapons, during meetings on the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty this week.

MAPW Vice-President Dr Tilman Ruff, attending as an NGOi representative on the official delegation, believes that this position has allowed NGO input to be considered in the drafting of Australian government statements. This is the first time in that Australia has had NGO representatives on an NPTi delegation.

MAPW is pleased to see that official Australian government statements to this meeting have raised three important issues highlighted by MAPW and other concerned community organisations: 

• The possibility of a Nuclear Weapons Convention has now been raised officially by Australia.
• Australia welcomed the efforts of African states "to bring into force Pelindaba (African nuclear weapons free zone) treaty; and to practical cooperation among "existing nuclear weapons free zones in the Southern Hemisphere." 
• MAPW has been strongly advocating for medical isotopes not to be sourced from highly enriched uranium, which can be used for bombs. An Australian statement has now raised this issue: "We encourage States to work towards the minimisation of highly enriched uranium (HEUi) in civil applications, including radiopharmaceutical production."

Tim Wright, observing the meeting on behalf of ICANi, reports that NGOs will establish a working group to advance an African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty, which needs countries which haven’t yet done so to ratify the Treaty in order to bring it into force. This would be a key step towards a nuclear weapons free southern hemisphere. Read ICAN's Geneva Blog

MAPW immediate Past President Dr Tilman Ruff has been invited to represent Australian non-governmental organisations on the Australian delegation to the 2008 Preparatory Committee for the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPTi PrepCom), which begins in Geneva in late April. 

City of Yarra Councillor Jenny Farrar, from Mayors for Peace, is the second NGOi representative.

Dr Ruff is the Australian Chair of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. The invitation to join the delegation comes after a successful round-table discussion on the NPT PrepCom, where representatives of 19 NGOs - including churches, peace organisations, environment groups and the ACTU - met with officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

This is the first time that NGO representatives have been invited to join an official Australian delegation to an NPT meeting, and represents a significant advance in recognising the important role and expertise of civil society organisations.

ICANi's Tim Wright will also be attending the PrepCom, as an NGO participant.