New publication: The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and Gender, Feminism, and Intersectionality

As a contribution to the intersessional work of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), Reaching Critical Will has published a briefing paper that outlines the gender-related provisions of the TPNW and offers recommendations for states parties and others to consider ahead of the Second Meeting of States Parties (2MSP).

Nuclear weapons are gendered. They have gendered impacts; their existence is predicated on and perpetuated in part due to gendered norms about power, violence, and security; and their abolition is challenged by the lack of gender and other forms of diversity in discussions and negotiations related to nuclear policy. In recent years, the TPNW has done some work to address these issues, but more is needed to advance gender transformative and intersectional approaches to nuclear weapons, which is an imperative for achieving nuclear abolition.

Ahead of 2MSP, states parties and others engaged in the implementation of the TPNW and the Action Plan from 1MSP must develop guidelines for age- and gender-sensitive victim assistance and for integrating gender perspectives in international cooperation and assistance; meaningfully include women, LGBTQ+ people, Indigenous Peoples, and other marginalised people from affected communities; and elevate critical perspectives about nuclear weapons—including feminist, queer, anti-racist, and Indigenous thought and analysis. This paper offers specific recommendations for the advancement of each of these considerations.

Written by Ray Acheson • Published in February 2023 by Reaching Critical Will, the disarmament programme of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom

We are delighted to offer the online version for free, but please consider making a donation to Reaching Critical Will to help us cover the costs of producing this book and the other materials and information services that Reaching Critical Will provides.