International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as ICAN, is a worldwide coalition of civil-society organizations seeking the prohibition and eventual elimination of nuclear weapons. Rather than treating nuclear disarmament primarily as a strategic balance-of-power issue, ICAN frames it as a humanitarian, legal, public-health, environmental and human-rights concern. Its central argument is that the destructive effects of a nuclear detonation would be so extensive and indiscriminate that no government or international relief system could adequately respond, and that the only reliable way to prevent use is to eliminate the weapons themselves. ICAN was publicly launched in 2007, drawing inspiration from the campaign model that helped produce the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. Its international launch took place in Vienna during a meeting connected with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, following an earlier public event in Melbourne. The campaign grew from work initiated by the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War and subsequently developed into a broad coalition of national and regional partner organizations. Its staff and coordination functions are based in Geneva, while partner groups conduct advocacy, public education, research, campaigning and political engagement in many countries. The campaign's principal strategic achievement was helping create the political conditions for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, or TPNW. ICAN supported the humanitarian initiative that brought the consequences of nuclear weapons to the center of multilateral debate, organized civil-society participation at conferences and United Nations processes, and promoted the Humanitarian Pledge through which governments expressed support for negotiations toward a prohibition treaty. In July 2017, United Nations member states adopted the TPNW. The treaty prohibits activities including development, testing, production, possession, stockpiling, transfer, use and threatened use of nuclear weapons. It entered into force in January 2021 after the fiftieth ratification. ICAN does not manufacture or sell conventional products. Its principal outputs are advocacy campaigns, policy research, public briefings, educational material, coalition coordination, diplomatic engagement and mobilization of campaigners. Its initiatives have included work on nuclear-weapons divestment, public commemoration of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, support for treaty negotiations, and engagement with governments and international organizations. The campaign also works with groups representing communities affected by nuclear testing, uranium mining, nuclear attacks and other aspects of the nuclear-weapons life cycle. In October 2017, ICAN received the Nobel Peace Prize for drawing attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons and for its efforts to achieve a treaty-based prohibition. The award significantly increased the campaign's international visibility and reinforced its position as a leading civil-society voice in the nuclear-disarmament movement. Its approach has also attracted criticism from commentators who argue that a prohibition treaty without the participation of nuclear-armed states may have limited immediate strategic effect. ICAN continues to promote universal adherence to and implementation of the TPNW, while coordinating a large network of partner organizations. In 2022, the campaign reported 661 partner organizations in 110 countries.

ICAN's origins lie in the medical and humanitarian nuclear-disarmament movement. In September 2006, the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War adopted a proposal at its congress in Helsinki to establish a new global campaign. The Australian affiliate, Medical Association for Prevention of War, supported fundraising and coordination for the proposed initiative. The campaign was influenced by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, which had demonstrated how a coordinated civil-society network could help move a weapons issue from advocacy into treaty negotiations. ICAN was launched publicly in 2007. An initial event took place in Melbourne on 23 April, followed by an international launch in Vienna on 30 April during a meeting of states parties connected with the Non-Proliferation Treaty process. From the outset, the campaign sought to change the language of nuclear disarmament. Instead of accepting nuclear weapons primarily as instruments of deterrence, ICAN emphasized the medical consequences of blast, heat and radiation; the inability of hospitals and emergency services to respond adequately; environmental destruction; and the long-term effects on affected communities. During the early 2010s, ICAN expanded national campaigning and focused increasingly on the humanitarian initiative. It helped mobilize civil-society participation at the 2013 Oslo Conference and the 2014 Nayarit Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons. The Vienna conference in December 2014 further developed the argument that existing international law contained a gap because nuclear weapons were not comprehensively prohibited in the same manner as several other weapons of mass destruction. Austria's Humanitarian Pledge, issued after the Vienna conference, called on governments to work toward an instrument prohibiting and eliminating nuclear weapons. ICAN also supported the Humanitarian Pledge campaign among governments and engaged with United Nations processes. In 2015, the campaign reported that 127 states had endorsed the pledge, while additional states supported its objectives in General Assembly voting. In 2016, ICAN participated actively in the United Nations Open-Ended Working Group on nuclear disarmament. The group recommended negotiations on a legally binding instrument prohibiting nuclear weapons and leading toward their elimination. The UN General Assembly subsequently authorized negotiations, which took place in 2017. On 7 July 2017, states adopted the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The treaty prohibits the development, testing, production, acquisition, possession, stockpiling, transfer, use and threatened use of nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices for states parties. Although nuclear-armed states and several states under nuclear umbrellas did not join the negotiating process, the treaty represented the principal legal and political outcome of the humanitarian initiative supported by ICAN. The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded ICAN the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. The award recognized the campaign's work to publicize humanitarian consequences and its contribution to a treaty-based prohibition. The prize brought substantial international attention to ICAN and its partner organizations. It also prompted debate about whether a treaty lacking participation from nuclear-armed states could produce immediate strategic disarmament. ICAN has responded by emphasizing the treaty's normative, legal and financial effects, including pressure on governments, institutions and companies associated with nuclear weapons. The TPNW reached the required fiftieth ratification in October 2020 and entered into force on 22 January 2021. In June 2022, ICAN served as a civil-society focal point at the first meeting of states parties in Vienna and organized side events concerning disarmament and treaty implementation. The campaign continues to operate from Geneva through a network of partner organizations. In 2022, its reported network comprised 661 organizations in 110 countries.

• 2022

  First meeting of TPNW states parties

  [1]International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weaponsen.wikipedia.org

  ICAN served as a civil-society focal point and hosted side events at the first meeting of states parties in Vienna.

• 2021

  TPNW enters into force

  [1]International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weaponsen.wikipedia.org

  The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons entered into force after reaching the required fiftieth ratification.

• 2017

  Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons adopted

  [1]International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weaponsen.wikipedia.org

  The United Nations adopted the TPNW, the principal treaty objective of ICAN's humanitarian campaign.

• 2017

  Nobel Peace Prize

  [2]The Nobel Peace Prize 2017nobelprize.org

  ICAN received the Nobel Peace Prize for its humanitarian advocacy and efforts to achieve a treaty-based nuclear-weapons prohibition.

• 2016

  UN working group recommends treaty negotiations

  [1]International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weaponsen.wikipedia.org

  The Open-Ended Working Group recommended negotiations on a legally binding instrument prohibiting nuclear weapons and leading toward elimination.

• 2014

  Humanitarian Pledge gains prominence

  [1]International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weaponsen.wikipedia.org

  Following the Vienna humanitarian-impact conference, Austria issued a pledge supporting work toward a legal prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons.

• 2013

  Oslo humanitarian-impact conference

  [1]International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weaponsen.wikipedia.org

  ICAN coordinated civil-society involvement in the first major conference focused on the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons.

• 2012

  Don't Bank on the Bomb begins

  [1]International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weaponsen.wikipedia.org

  ICAN launched a campaign promoting financial divestment from companies involved in nuclear-weapons production.

• 2007

  International launch of ICAN

  [1]International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weaponsen.wikipedia.org

  ICAN was launched publicly in Melbourne and internationally in Vienna during the Non-Proliferation Treaty preparatory process.

• 2006

  IPPNW adopts the proposal to launch ICAN

  [1]International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weaponsen.wikipedia.org

  The International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War approved the creation of a global campaign at its congress in Helsinki.

International civil-society advocacy coalition focused on humanitarian, legal and environmental arguments for nuclear disarmament.

Product categories. Policy advocacy · Nuclear-disarmament research · Public education · Coalition coordination · Campaign and diplomatic support

• 2015Global Hiroshima and Nagasaki seventieth-anniversary actions

  Global

  ICAN campaigners organized events worldwide marking the seventieth anniversaries of the atomic bombings and linking historical memory with contemporary disarmament advocacy.

  Source
• 2014Humanitarian Pledge

  Global

  ICAN mobilized governments and civil-society organizations around a pledge to fill the perceived legal gap concerning nuclear weapons and pursue a prohibition and elimination instrument.

  Outcome. The campaign reported 127 government signatories by 2015 and helped build support for negotiations that produced the TPNW.

  Source
• 2012Don't Bank on the Bomb

  Global

  A divestment and financial-accountability campaign urging banks, pension funds and other investors to avoid companies involved in nuclear-weapons production.

  Outcome. The initiative became a continuing component of ICAN's effort to increase the economic and reputational costs associated with nuclear weapons.

  Source

• 2017

  Support for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear WeaponsOther

  Background

  The UN treaty negotiations culminated in adoption of a comprehensive prohibition on nuclear-weapons activities for participating states.

  Action taken

  ICAN promoted the treaty as a landmark legal instrument and continued campaigning for signatures, ratifications and implementation.

  Aftermath

  The treaty entered into force in 2021 and became the central framework for ICAN's continuing advocacy.

  Source

• 2010

  Shift toward a dedicated prohibition treatyStrategy

  Background

  Experience with the Non-Proliferation Treaty review process led ICAN to consider whether a separate treaty banning nuclear weapons could give non-nuclear-weapon states a more effective leadership role.

  Action taken

  The campaign increasingly prioritized a legally binding prohibition instrument rather than relying exclusively on consensus-based disarmament processes.

  Aftermath

  This strategy became central to the humanitarian initiative and ultimately supported negotiations for the TPNW.

  Source

1. 1International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weaponsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Nobel Peace Prize 2017nobelprize.org
3. 3Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weaponsun.org