Last week, UNA-UK coordinated an open letter to the UK Government, urging them to attend the Third Meeting of States Parties (3MSP) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as an observer state.
A coalition of NGO experts, academics, and Kiribati community advocates has signed a letter urging the UK to participate as a non-signatory observer in the upcoming 2025 Meeting of States Parties (MSP). This participation would provide an invaluable opportunity for the UK to directly engage with communities impacted by the historical legacy of British nuclear testing and contribute to crucial discussions surrounding escalating nuclear risks in today's complex global security landscape.
Click here to read the advocacy letters to Secretary of State David Lammy and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The letters were written in the welcome context of Scottish Secretary Ian Murray’s pledge to lobby the government to attend the key UN meeting, stating that UK attendance as an observer state would “be a constructive step forward”. As a nuclear-armed state and an NPT signatory, the UK has responsibility to address the humanitarian and environmental consequences of nuclear weapons. The TPNW provides a vital framework for this, particularly with regards to remediation for the UK’s historical nuclear weapons testing in Australia, Kiribati and the USA between 1952 and 1991.
The Treaty’s focus on victim assistance and environmental remediation - Articles 6 & 7 - offers a valuable opportunity for the UK to engage in meaningful dialogue on the lasting impact of nuclear testing. Whether or not the UK is ready to fully support the TPNW, attending as an observer state would allow the UK to engage with and hear from affected communities, including indigenous communities and British nuclear test veterans, and reinforce its commitment to addressing nuclear harm.
With strong support for nuclear disarmament from UK parliamentarians and civil society, we urge the government to reconsider its stance and attend the 3MSP as an observer. Engaging with the TPNW and international efforts to address the devastating impacts of nuclear weapons is not just a moral obligation but a necessary step toward a safer, more secure world.
The UK must stop neglecting its responsibilities and take all possible avenues to engage with efforts to remedy the harms caused by its nuclear testing. This should begin with attendance at 3MSP and constructive participation in discussions on victim assistance and environmental remediation.
Read More:
- UNA-UK's briefing on The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
- Dr Becky Alexis-Martin's blog on addressing the harmful legacy of British nuclear testing in Kiritimati
Photo: Second Meeting of States Parties to Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Credit: UN Photo/Loey Felipe.
