By Cherrill Spencer and Ellen Thomas, co-chairs of DISARM/End Wars Committee
WILPF US Signs Statement Calling on UN Member States to Defend Human Rights
Since 1948, WILPF has held consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), enabling us to influence policy, monitor U.N. activities, and attend U.N. conferences. The U.N. is facing a severe financial crisis as major contributors—including the United States, Russia, and China—have accumulated significant arrears or intentionally delayed payments. This has created liquidity pressures and raised concerns about possible disruptions to core U.N. operations.
WILPF US has joined 566 other organizations and 697 individuals in signing a feminist statement warning that powerful Member States are using non-payment of financial obligations as political leverage, putting the United Nations at risk amid escalating global crises. The statement will be formally delivered to relevant permanent missions and U.N. decision makers.
When New START Expires, WILPF Members Take Action
New START was the last active nuclear arms control agreement between the US and Russia. It limited each country to 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads and 700 deployed launchers, with verification measures to ensure compliance. The treaty expired on Feb. 5, 2026. Without a successor, there is now no legally binding cap on the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals—for the first time in over 50 years—significantly increasing the risk of a costly and dangerous arms race.
Arms control agreements are crucial for reducing the chance of miscalculation. Verification and transparency measures help prevent misunderstandings that could escalate into conflict and avert worst-case strategic planning. Since New START’s expiration, serious calls are expected for the nuclear weapons establishment to upload additional warheads onto US sea- and land-based missiles.
WILPF US members are urged to contact their representatives and senators, encouraging them to publicly support new international nuclear arms control and disarmament agreements, and to cosponsor H.Res.100 and S.Res.61. These resolutions call for urgent negotiations to replace the New START treaty, continued unofficial compliance with established limits, and separate engagement in nuclear diplomacy with China. Find talking points for your letters to Congress in this Google doc.
June 3: Rally for 45th Anniversary of Round-the-Clock Anti-Nuclear Vigil in D.C.
On June 3, 2026, the final day of the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability’s D.C. Days, WILPF members and supporters will gather in Lafayette Park, north of the White House at 1601 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, to mark the 45th anniversary of the round-the-clock anti-nuclear, peace, and justice vigil. This historic vigil began on June 3, 1981, when William Thomas sat on the White House sidewalk with a sign calling for wisdom and honesty, refusing to leave. The vigil continued, day and night, for more than 44 years until President Donald Trump ordered it be dismantled in September 2025.
We encourage everyone to bring signs, music, flyers, and drums to nonviolently demand that the White House uphold the Constitution—especially the 1st, 4th, 6th, 14th, and 15th Amendments—and to urge the president to prioritize global nuclear disarmament and meeting human needs, rather than supporting unconstitutional efforts to intimidate the population, weaken environmental protections, and silence dissent.
If you can’t make it to D.C., organize a rally in your area. Let us know what you are planning by email or by posting to WILPF SMART on Facebook. Ellen Thomas will coordinate activities in D.C.; text her at 202-210-3886 with announcements, photos, or questions.
Thank you for taking action and supporting these important efforts.
Join the DISARM/End Wars Issue Committee
We welcome new members to the DISARM/End Wars Issue 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 request to join the DISARM listserv, write to disarmchair@wilpfus.org.
