Peter Maurer, Chairman of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), spoke at the first meeting of the States Parties to the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty, which began today in Austria. Maurer explained that in the event of an atomic bomb explosion, no one and no organization would provide adequate assistance to the victims.
“If a nuclear weapon were to detonate in or near a populated area, no state or international body would be able to adequately address the humanitarian emergency or long-term consequences, or provide adequate assistance to victims,” Maurer said at the meeting, which began today in Vienna, Austria.
Maurer emphasized that the nuclear deterrent theories had visibly gained strength and legitimacy with the conflict in Ukraine: “The continued existence of nuclear weapons is one of the greatest threats to humanity.” On the first day of the meeting, which runs from June 21-23, Maurer stated that nuclear weapons pose major risks to individual and collective health, well-being, the environment and human security, including food security and climate.
‘NUCLEAR USE IS A BAD SITUATION’
In his speech, Maurer addressed the danger of using nuclear weapons and said: “Any use of nuclear weapons violates the principles of humanity and public conscience. “The threat of using nuclear weapons is equally repugnant in the ICRC’s view because it implies the possibility of actually using them,” he said. ICRC President Maurer stressed that the ICRC had produced a working document with specific recommendations to the “States Parties” on the implementation of the agreement and the outcome of this meeting, and strongly recommends taking this document into account.
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