By Luisa Hofmann
The side event “Interfaith, Intergenerational and Inter-Sectoral Dialogue on the Moral Imperatives to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons” was sponsored by Religions for Peace International and African Council of Religious Leaders – Religions for Peace and focused on the moral and ethical imperatives in respect of nuclear weapons and the potentials and importance of religious leaders and faith communities in this context.
Following welcoming remarks by Dr Francis Kuria, a keynote address by Dr Adedeji Eboand and opening remarks by Mr Berik Abdushev on behalf of H E Kairat Umarov, Ms Deepika Singh moderated an interesting panel discussion with Hon Melissa Parke, Mr Johnathan Granoff, Rev Dr Yoshinori Shinohara, Imam Shamsi Ali and Ms Lydia Ndinda which was concluded by a brief Q&A and reflection on the discussed topics.
It is undisputed that nuclear weapons pose an existential threat to humanity and yet the myth of deterrence persists. The discussion highlighted the urgent need to shift from conceptions of territorial defence and nationalism to those of preservation of life, dignity, our shared future, lasting peace and true security. The various panellists emphasised that religious leaders can and should play a crucial role in this movement by actively participating in the debate and raising awareness of the catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences of nuclear weapons. No matter the religion, faith communities inspire hope for a better world and thus have the power to mobilise society to reject the false premise that nuclear weapons and humanity can consciencely coexist. Though the TPNW unequivocally speaks to this moral imperative to stigmatise and prohibit nuclear weapons it is important that faith leaders foster ethical leadership and advocacy alongside other sectors to help make nuclear weapons ethically unthinkable. After all, whether used or merely possessed, nuclear weapons endanger all that is sacred and constitute an assault on the very essence of what we believe it means to be human.
A future rooted in dignity, peace and the sanctity of life is possible but it starts with challenging nuclear deterrence today!
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