British and French peace organisations urge governments to meet nuclear disarmament commitments
Pax Christi (England and Wales), the Fellowship of Reconciliation and the Anglican Pacifist Fellowship have joined their counterparts in France and other Christian and secular peace organisations on both sides of the channel in a joint declaration on the anniversary of the Lancaster House Treaties.
The Treaties, made in 2010, call for a "mutually beneficial long-term partnership in defence and security matters," between the two countries. In particular, they provide for a range of areas of collaboration including the joint use of the Valduc (France) and Aldermaston (UK) facilities to model and improve the performance of nuclear warheads.
At the same time, the Treaties recognise that "the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery is one of the most serious threats to international peace and security." They state that both countries will work "to strengthen the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, one of the cornerstones of the international security architecture' and will 'support ongoing efforts in its three pillars: non-proliferation, the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and disarmament."
Fourteen years on, those signing the Joint Declaration consider there is little, if any evidence that the two countries have taken any steps in the direction of disarmament, despite the responsibility they bear as nuclear weapons states at a time when the threat of nuclear war is on the rise.
The Declaration takes the opportunity of the anniversary to urge the governments of the UK and France to take meaningful and verifiable steps to honour their commitment to nuclear disarmament in the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and encourages them to take a more constructive approach to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
Andrew Jackson, Chief Executive of Pax Christ (England and Wales) and involved in the drafting of the Declaration said: "On the anniversary of these Treaties last year, we joined with colleagues in France in joint letters to the two Governments urging them to be more engaged with the then forthcoming Second Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. This year we wanted to urge them again to meet the commitment they themselves had made in 2010 to support ongoing efforts towards nuclear disarmament. In particular for us, we were able to draw on the Catholic Bishops' Conference Document published this year ' Called to be Peacemakers: A Catholic approach to arms control and disarmament' which calls on the British government to fulfil its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and challenges it to engage meaningfully with the processes of the TPNW and ultimately to sign and ratify the treaty itself."
Sue Claydon Director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation said: "The leadership shown by His Holiness Pope Francis in advocating for a world free of nuclear weapons holds a mirror up to all Christian leaders about what gospel shaped perspectives they prioritise.
As people in the Christian Church, we are about to prepare to welcome the Prince of Peace on Christmas Day. What world are we preparing to welcome him into? One riven by war. Where one in four of the world's population are affected by conflict and the nuclear nations continue to invest in weapons of mass destruction instead of building lasting peace by investing in tackling poverty and climate change. We hope this anniversary provides pause for thought for all, and reminds us all of the need to continue to act and work for a world free from nuclear weapons and lasting peace."
Sue Claydon, Chair of Anglican Pacifist Fellowship added: "Another anniversary is also looming - 80 years since the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. For eight decades humankind has lived under the threat of mass destruction. In 2018 the General Synod of CofE voted by a huge majority to encourage the UK Government to engage with the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. We urge the UK to do the same on this anniversary."
The full text of the Joint Declaration with signatories can be viewed here:
The Declaration will be open for further signature until Monday 9th December. Signatures can be added on the Pax Christi website here: www.paxchristi.org.uk/campaigns/security-disarmament/nuclear/
LINK
Pax Christi: www.paxchristi.org.uk
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