Nuclear Ban Campaign
Why the Campaign Matters to ACRL-RfP
Nuclear weapons pose an existential threat to humanity, capable of catastrophic destruction beyond any other form of warfare. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 demonstrated their devastating human and environmental toll, with intergenerational health effects persisting decades later. Even without detonation, nuclear testing has disproportionately harmed marginalized communities in the Global South through radiation exposure and environmental contamination. Despite disarmament commitments, nuclear-armed states continue to modernize arsenals, escalating global security risks.
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in force since 2021 provides a critical legal framework to outlaw nuclear weapons and advance global disarmament. However, major nuclear powers and their allies resist joining, making universal adherence a challenge. Africa has long championed a nuclear-free world, exemplified by the Pelindaba Treaty, which established the continent as a nuclear-weapon-free zone. With 42 African nations supporting the TPNW’s adoption in 2017, achieving full ratification remains crucial to reinforcing this commitment. Beyond direct detonation, nuclear conflict threatens food security, economic stability, and environmental sustainability, jeopardizing Africa’s development.
Building on Africa’s strong disarmament stance, ACRL-RfP is leveraging Inter-Religious mechanisms to advance the call for a world free of nuclear weapons. Through faith-based advocacy, ACRL-RfP unites religious leaders to champion the TPNW as a moral and humanitarian imperative. Rooted in principles of peace, justice, and the sanctity of life, religious leaders play a vital role in keeping nuclear disarmament a global priority. Supporting the TPNW is not just a political necessity, it is a moral duty to protect future generations and safeguard the planet from irreversible harm.
How ACRL-RfP Leads the Campaign
ACRL-RfP has been at the forefront of nuclear disarmament advocacy through a long-standing partnership with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). For over five years, ACRL-RfP has championed the TPNW’s universalization in Africa by mobilizing religious leaders, policymakers, and grassroots communities.
Through interfaith advocacy, faith leaders use their moral authority to push for ratification and implementation while amplifying ethical and humanitarian arguments against nuclear weapons. Beyond advocacy, ACRL-RfP ensures that women, youth, and indigenous groups are central to the movement, empowering them through education and grassroots mobilization. Collaboration with governments and regional bodies reinforces Africa’s commitment by integrating the TPNW into peace and security frameworks, strengthened through high-level forums and sustained engagement.
Key Focus Areas in our Campaign in Africa
- Promoting Universalisation: Encouraging African states to sign and ratify the TPNW, ensuring the continent’s full participation in the global movement for nuclear disarmament.
- Strengthening Interfaith Collaboration: Building alliances among religious leaders to advocate for peace, security, and the abolition of nuclear weapons.
- Empowering Communities: Equipping grassroots leaders with the knowledge and tools to advocate for the TPNW and engage in disarmament efforts.
- Advancing Policy Solutions: Working with policymakers to integrate the TPNW into Africa’s peace, security, and disarmament frameworks.