Twenty-one members of WILPF from seven countries attended the Third Meeting of the States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (3MSP to TPNW) at the United Nations in New York City from March 3 to 7. Eight members of WILPF US’ DISARM committee were at the event. They attended many official diplomatic sessions and the so-called side events arranged by other non-governmental organizations (NGOs). We learned a lot about the implementation of the TPNW and the effects and costs of nuclear weapons. We plan to write a detailed report on these topics.

Seventy-three countries have ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Their ratification signals that they want no involvement with the nuclear weapons enterprise. Fifty-six of these countries sent diplomats to attend the third meeting about the treaty. They met in the Trusteeship Council Chamber at the U.N. for six hours each day. From the visitors’ galley above the main floor, we could listen to their discussions, decisions, and statements from organizations such as ICAN, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, Nihon Hidankyo (Japanese hibakusha), and Reverse the Trend–a representative from Christmas Island that suffered many nuclear bomb tests in the 1950s and 1960s.

Knowing there would be WILPFers from other sections at the 3MSP, WILPF US’ DISARM/End Wars co-chair Cherrill Spencer arranged a dinner at a local restaurant. We met with WILPFers from Austria and Italy and other feminists from Italy and France to learn more about their work to abolish nuclear weapons. We also held a debriefing lunch at the end of the 3MSP to plan future collaborations across WILPF sections. You can read a detailed article by Judith Fenton of WILPF Scotland describing her view of the 3MSP.

There were many concurrent side events at 3MSP. Spencer focused on events dealing with women, nuclear weapons, and the TPNW. She heard about the risks of girls and women getting cancer later in life after exposure to above-background radiation and that data shows they are diagnosed with cancer much more often than men and boys. The associated report, co-authored by Mary Olson, who gave a DISARM webinar on this topic some years ago, can be found here.

Demonstrations Outside the U.N. Buildings and DISARM Handouts

Several rallies and demonstrations occurred outside the U.N. buildings and the US Mission to the U.N. building. Hugonot-Haber and Spencer attended one early on March 5. About 20 anti-nuclear groups attended, including some from New York City. We marched along First Avenue with many banners and spoke briefly to the crowd about WILPF.

We had prepared some handouts about getting countries that own nuclear weapons to ratify the TPNW and a list of pertinent websites on the TPNW. We gave these to 3MSP attendees and left copies where others could pick them up or scan their QR codes. You can access two of these flyers here and here.

Overall, our attendance at the 3MSP was informational and invigorating, and we look forward to attending the first review conference on the TPNW in November 2026.

Please Join Our DISARM/End Wars Issue Committee

We welcome all new members to our committee. We meet by Zoom on the second and last Sundays of each month at 4:30 p.m. PT/6:30 p.m. CT/7:30 p.m. ET. To receive the Zoom link and to request to join the DISARM listserv, write to disarmchair@wilpfus.org.