On April 12, 2023, the Youtube Channel of the Brazilian branch of the International Law Association (ILA Brazil) hosted the seminar “The importance of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons for the reduction of nuclear risks” organized by ILA Brazil, Pugwash Brazil and the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG).
The President of Pugwash, the Secretary for Multilateral Political Affairs of the Foreign Ministry of Brazilian and the Director of ILA Brazil opened the Seminar. Discussants were Ambassador Alexander Kmentt (Austria), Minister Marcelo Paz Saraiva Câmara (Brazil) and Professor Monica Herz (Brazil). The speakers discussed arguments in favor of and against the TPNW as well as the protagonism of non-nuclear-weapon members of the international community in its elaboration. They highlighted the value of the treaty in an international scenario of crisis of multilateralism and the perspective of bringing international humanitarian law closer to the debate over nuclear weapons, promoting the centrality of the individual in the face of weapons of such magnitude and destructive potential.
An on-line debate led by Professor Lucas Lima followed the presentations of the discussants, with the participation of other researchers, students and interested parties, focusing on themes such as the role of international courts and tribunals to rule in nuclear disarmament issues, further support for the TPNW, further ratifications of the Treaty, including by Brazil, the Ukrainian conflict and its capacity to influence European countries to join the TPNW and, finally, the process of bringing the nuclear weapons debate closer to international humanitarian law.
The full conference can be accessed below.
Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs 