Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy (LCNP)

02/21/2023

Today, Putin announced that he is "suspending" implementation of New START, after many months of noncompliance already. This comes days before the one-year anniversary of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. Read more in LCNP's February eNews here:

LCNP eNews February 2023 February 2023 Dear Friend, This week, we hit the grim anniversary of Putin's invasion of Ukraine and the beginning of Russia's ongoing war of aggression. It's not an anniversa

02/08/2023

Excerpted from LCNP Executive Director Ariana Smith's op-ed "New START Noncompliance Highlights Need for Nuclear Abolition":

"Arms control experts have repeatedly emphasized how crucial New START is as well as how important it is that Russia and the United States execute an effective follow-on agreement prior to the current treaty’s 2026 expiration date.

The US and Russia not only need to take seriously their existing commitments, but they furthermore must seriously engage China, which is drastically growing its nuclear arsenal, in future negotiations. The recent confrontation over China’s suspected surveillance balloon, too, highlights the need for bilateral and multilateral diplomacy with both Russia and China.

While the 78-year nuclear taboo continues to hold today, without earnest negotiations among all nuclear weapon states—led by the largest arms possessors—it is in peril. The only route to securing the taboo forever is abolition, and the time for nuclear arms control, paving the way for disarmament, is now."

Full article here:

IDN-InDepthNews is flagship agency of the global International Press Syndicate Group speaking out for people, planet and peace.

04/29/2022

Join us next week, May 3 for this virtual event: "The Threat of Use of Nuclear Weapons and Russia's War on Ukraine: Meeting the Legal and Political Challenge," feat. Ambassador Alexander Kmentt, LCNP ED Ariana Smith, LCNP Senior Analyst John Burroughs, Arms Control Association ED Daryl G. Kimball, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)'s Policy and Research Coordinator Alicia Sanders-Zakre, and Princeton University's Program on Science and Global Security on Science and Global Security Co-director Zia Mian.

Register here 👉 https://bit.ly/3ME9vk7

Prior to and during Russia’s war against Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin has threatened the possible use of nuclear weapons should other states “interfere” in Russian military operations. Such threats of the use of force are the cornerstone of nuclear deterrence but, especially where states ...

04/25/2022

On Feb. 26, 2022 petitioned the International Court of Justice to pursue action against the Russian Federation. This ruling is binding upon the Russian Federation, but it has yet to comply. Read below for further elaboration and significance of this ICJ ruling

04/22/2022

It is imperative, above all, to end the war. So long as the war continues, both sides must comply with international law governing the conduct of hostilities and refrain from such acts as the willful killing of civilians or injuring prisoners of war, which constitute war crimes and human rights abuses.

As required by international law, all states must refrain from both use and threats of use of nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons. Further threats or steps in the direction of using illegal weapons are an affront to humanity, risk widening and escalating the war, and severely jeopardize any prospects for ending the war soon.

LCNP released a new statement on Russia's devastating war against . Read it in full here:

We are appalled and saddened by the suffering and devastation caused by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. News of atrocities committed by Russian forces adds to the outrage and sorrow. It is imperative, above all, to end the war.

04/03/2022

http://www.unitedforpeace.org/2022/03/26/ukraine-developments-at-the-united-nations/
Run-down on Ukraine-related UN developments, by John Burroughs: With the UN Security Council paralyzed by the Russian veto, in two resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly a large majority of UN member states have strongly condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine as aggression in violation of the UN Charter. The International Court of Justice, the UN judicial branch, has also weighed in.

Hearing before International Court of Justice, March 7, 2022, with representative of Ukraine addressing the Court. Russia did not attend the hearing, thus the empty seats on the right. Photo courtesy of International Court of Justice. John Burroughs, Senior Analyst, Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Poli...

03/08/2022

Happy International Women's Day! Today and every day, we celebrate women's essential contributions to nuclear disarmament and international humanitarian and human rights law.

03/04/2022

Our March newsletter is out now! Check it out below! This edition includes analysis and commentary on Russia's illegal war against Ukraine and updates on our most recent activities.

Russia's veto power does not negate its violations of law. March 2022 Newsletter Dear Friend, Over the last two weeks, we all watched the threat of Russian invasion turn quickly into an illegal war of

02/25/2022

The Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy strongly condemns Russia’s attack on Ukraine. The Russian invasion is in clear violation of international law, and is causing the people of Ukraine to experience terror, suffering, and death. Given the increased risk of nuclear weapons use, whether intentionally or by miscalculation, it also exposes the peoples of the region and the world as a whole to harm on a vast scale.

Full statement on our website:

The Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy strongly condemns Russia’s attack on Ukraine. The Russian invasion is in clear violation of international law, and is causing the people of Ukraine to experience terror, suffering, and death.

02/03/2022

An informed and thoughtful statement on the Ukraine crisis by United for Peace and Justice.

The Ukraine crisis intensifies, with no clear path to resolution. A military confrontation between the United States and Russia, the world’s most heavily armed nuclear nations, could spell disaster. It is time for the people of the world to cry Enough! No more war threats, no more War! The peace m...

10/17/2021

Changing the Nuclear Narrative - October eNews - just out. LCNP presentation to First Committee on human rights, nuclear arms, and climate; a short history marking LCNP's 40th anniversary; & more.

Human Rights, Nuclear Weapons, and Climate Change October 2021 Newsletter Dear Friend, Building on the June Putin-Biden summit, the United States and Russia are exploring next steps in nuclear arms co

08/16/2021

LCNP's August eNews is out.📬

Catch up on recent commemoration of the Nuclear Weapons Opinion, the 76th anniversary of the US's bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, & the , amplified by nuclear weapons, via the new .

New IPCC report underscores the need for nuclear abolition. August 2021 Newsletter Dear Friend, This summer marked the 25th anniversary of the International Court of Justice's Nuclear Weapons Advisory