Joint Interfaith Statement to the Third Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

As people of faith representing diverse traditions, united in our common belief in the sanctity of life and the pursuit of justice, peace, and human dignity, we commend the States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) for your historic commitment and leadership in working toward a world without nuclear weapons. Each signature and ratification affirming this Treaty is an act of courage and beacon of hope, and we applaud you.

At this third meeting of States Parties, we find ourselves yet again at a critical juncture, with ever-rising global tensions, humanitarian crises in many regions of the world, worsening impacts of climate change, and heightened threat of the use of nuclear weapons. In our continuous struggle against such existential threats, abolishing nuclear weapons cannot be a distant goal; it is a requirement for our collective survival.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the horrific atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We solemnly remember and honor all hibakusha, who have suffered the unimaginable pain as a result of such inhumane weapons. We celebrate Nihon Hidankyo for receiving the latest Nobel Peace Prize, and for their unending leadership and courage in ushering in a world without nuclear weapons. Building upon the heightened global awareness of the devastating consequences of nuclear weapons, we must seize this opportunity and momentum to create tangible progress toward nuclear disarmament.

As people of faith, we pray. We pray that nuclear weapons will never be used again. We pray that those whose lives were impacted by such horrific weapons receive assistance and remediation as soon as possible. We pray that all nations awaken to the folly of the logic of claiming their own security at the cost of the survival of humanity and our planet, and choose the path of nuclear abolition.

But our prayers are not abstract ideology or wishful thinking. Our actions are our prayer, as exemplified by many courageous individuals of faith, who have stood up against nuclear weapons and spoken the truth, because they truly believed that their faith demanded such actions. And this is why we, as faith communities, are again uniting our voices today.

As faith communities, we affirm the TPNW and celebrate this Treaty which signals the world’s moral, legal, and practical rejection of nuclear weapons. We join you in your efforts to universalize and implement the Treaty.

We stand in solidarity with victims and survivors, recognizing the deep suffering of hibakusha, Indigenous communities impacted by nuclear testing, and all who have borne the brunt of the nuclear arms race. Their testimonies are a testament to their resilience and a clarion call for justice.

We commit to interfaith collaboration to educate, advocate, and mobilize our communities to support the Treaty and the broader goal of nuclear abolition. We will challenge apathy, ignorance, powerlessness and silence through our work grounded in our spiritual commitment. Our collective spiritual and moral voice is vital in shaping the world’s public opinion and strengthening the norms against nuclear weapons.

We commend the leadership of the TPNW States Parties, and urge you to implement the Treaty with integrity, ensuring transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in its processes. We encourage each State Party to continue to invite other states to join this work, to participate in this process of nuclear disarmament as we universalize the Treaty.

We urge all nations, particularly those currently possessing nuclear weapons or under their deterrence umbrellas, to join the Treaty without delay, to formalize the commitment that  nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. Addressing the UN General Assembly in 1998, Nelson Mandela stated: “We must ask the question, which might sound naive to those who have elaborated sophisticated arguments to justify their refusal to eliminate these terrible and terrifying weapons of mass destruction – why do they need them anyway?”

The future of humanity is a world without nuclear weapons. We are here today, because of this shared vision, and we cannot be complacent as our world is heading toward its destruction.

Nuclear faith is a faith that secures death. We want to pursue a faith that leads to life.

We invite all of you to join us in connecting once again with your religious, spiritual and moral compass, and courageously imagine a future we want, for ourselves, and for our future generations. Let us awaken to the truth that we all are connected, that we cannot build security at the cost of others’ pain and suffering. Let each of us take full responsibility in ushering in such a future—because there is no alternative.

Endorsing Organizations
ACT Alliance – Action by Churches Together
American Friends Service Committee
Anglican Church of México, Social Ministrie
Association Modeste et Innocent
beHuman
Buddhist Council of New York
Buddhist Council of NSW
Cameroon Youths and Students Forum for Peace (CAMYOSFOP)
Catholic Religious Australia
Center for Peace Education, Miriam College
Centro de Estudios Ecuménicos
Christian CND
Christians for Peace Newcastle Australia
Church and Peace – European Ecumenical Peace Network
Church of Norway Council on Ecumenical and International Relations
CIDSE – International family of Catholic social justice organisations (International)
Colonie des Pionniers du Developpement(CPD)
Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations, Blacktown NSW Australia
Columban Region of Oceania
Comisión General Justicia y Paz
Communauté du Christ France
Community of Christ
Community of Christ (British Isles)
Community of Christ (Western Europe)
Community of Sant’Egidio
Congregazione Poveri Serví Divina Provvidenza- Ópera Don Calabria
Derechos de la Infancia y la Adolescencia, México
Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids
Dorothy Day Catholic Worker
Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils
Fellowship of Reconciliation – USA
Friends World Committee for Consultation Asia West Pacific (Quakers)
Heiwa Peace and Reconciliation Foundation of New York
Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Loreto Generalate
Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada
International Convocation of Unitarian Universalist Women
International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR)
International Peace Research Association
Interreligious Council of Albania

InterReligious Task Force on Central America
Islamic Relief Worldwide
JESC – Jesuit European Social Centre
Justice and Peace Office Sydney Archdiocese
Justice & Peace Scotland (Scottish Catholic Justice and Peace Commission)
Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission Union of Superiors General (USG) and
International Union of Superiors General (UISG)
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Medical Mission Sisters, Justice Office
Mennonite World Conference
Misioneros Javerianos
Missionary Society of St. Columban
Multifaith Voices for Peace & Justice
National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA)
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
Norfolk Catholic Worker
North American Unitarian Association
North Carolina Council of Churches
Northern Friends Peace Board
Orcas Island Friends Worship Group
Parliament of the World’s Religions
Pax Christi Aotearoa New Zealand
Pax Christi Flanders
Pax Christi Greensburg
Pax Christi Illinois
Pax Christi International
Pax Christi Little Rock
Pax Christi Long Island
Pax Christi New York State
Pax Christi Pacific Northwest
Pax Christi Scotland
Pax Christi Southern California
Pax Christi USA
People for Peace in Africa
Pope John XXIII Community Association
Presbyterian Peace Fellowship
Qld Quakers Peace & Social Justice working group
Quakers Australia
Quakers SA and NT

Raelian Religion
Red de Entidades para el Desarrollo Solidario-REDES
Red de Seguridad Humana para América Latina y el Caribe (SEHLAC)
Religions for Peace UK
Rissho Kosei Kai of New York
Shepparton Interfaith Network
Sisters of Charity Federation
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa USA
Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace
Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield
Soka Gakkai International
The Church of the Lord (TCL) Worldwide
The Swedish Society of Friends
The United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society
Union for the Promotion/Protection and Defense of Human Rights and the Environment
(UPDDHE/GL)
Uniting Church in Australia
United Church of Christ
Vision GRAM INTERNATIONAL
Voices for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons, a Cooperation Circle of the United Religions
Initiative
Wellspring Community of Australia
Wings for Amazon Project
Won Buddhist International, Inc.
World Council of Churches
World Yoga Community
Yearly Meeting of Aotearoa New Zealand / Te Hāhi Tūhauwiri