Dear Friend,

On January 22, 2021 the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, or the Nuclear Ban, went into effect. For the first time, a treaty is in force that puts nuclear weapons in the same category as other weapons of mass destruction. That happened because of the dedication and commitment of countries, international organisations and ICAN partners. Now, five years later, we want to celebrate this bright light in an otherwise bleak geopolitical context.

Since 2021, the treaty has:

• Brought together a global majority of states as parties or signatories
• United the world in rejecting nuclear threats, challenging deterrence doctrine, and proving that true security doesn’t require nuclear weapons
• Put the human realities of nuclear weapon impacts front and center
• Re-anchored nuclear disarmament debates in humanitarian and environmental truths
• Helped divert $4.7 trillion away from the nuclear weapons industry

Working together in a global community of resistance, we have made this happen. Let’s make sure we tell the world that there is an antidote to doomsday, and this treaty has proven to be the best way for countries to work together so that nuclear weapons are not used, shared, or spread.

Together we closed the legal gap on nuclear weapons and banned them under international law. Let’s kickoff 2026 with a moment to celebrate this success, and prepare ourselves for the year to come.

Thank you,

Venessa Hanson,
Social Media Officer